Coltart says he is comfortable if he does not make it to the senate

Former Education Minister David Coltart has been placed number 6 among the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance senatorial candidates but he says he is comfortable with this even if he is not elected.

Coltart said he had opted out of the House of Assembly candidates for Bulawayo East because being a constituency MP had taken its toll on his family and law firm.

“My reason for not taking up the National Assembly seat in Bulawayo East was because both my family and my law partners were concerned about such a move,” Coltart said in a statement.

“In the 14 years I was in Parliament between 2000 and 2013 both my family and law firm suffered from me not being around as a husband, father and senior partner respectively.

“Although a Senatorial seat is taxing, it does not hold the same demands as a National Assembly seat, in which some 30 000 constituents look to their MPs far more than they do Senators.

“In short it was felt that I could better play my role as a husband, father and senior partner as a Senator,” he said.

“So I am at the bottom of the list – number 6. This means that I will only be elected to the Senate if the MDC Alliance literally scores a landslide victory in Bulawayo.

“Given the massive contestation now underway that prospect is unlikely. Even though I am confident that the MDC Alliance will sweep all the National Assembly seats in Bulawayo it is unlikely we will secure the percentage of votes needed to secure all 6 Senatorial seats on offer.

“I am comfortable with this and my family and law partners are happy with the compromise.”

Full statement:

Statement by Senator David Coltart regarding his inclusion on the MDC Alliance Senatorial party list for Bulawayo in the 2018 general election

June 15, 2018

I have been included on the MDC Alliance party list for the Senate in Bulawayo Province. As many know I was very graciously and generously offered a relatively safe National Assembly seat being Bulawayo East by the MDC Alliance which I declined to take up. Now equally graciously I have been included in the MDC Alliance’s party list for Bulawayo.

My reason for not taking up the National Assembly seat in Bulawayo East was because both my family and my law partners were concerned about such a move. In the 14 years I was in Parliament between 2000 and 2013 both my family and law firm suffered from me not being around as a husband, father and senior partner respectively. Although a Senatorial seat is taxing, it does not hold the same demands as a National Assembly seat, in which some 30,000 constituents look to their MPs far more than they do Senators. In short it was felt that I could better play my role as a husband, father and senior partner as a Senator.

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