The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
BULAWAYO Mayor, Councillor David Coltart’s decision to boycott the provincial Independence Day celebrations at White City Stadium on Thursday, arguing that he needed a personal invitation to attend, has been met with widespread criticism and condemnation.
The mayor snubbed the celebrations that were attended by leaders from his party — the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) across the country as well as the national celebrations at Murambinda B High School, Buhera District, Manicaland Province.
His counterparts in Bulawayo thronged White City Stadium to attend the provincial celebrations.
Councillor Coltart took to X (formerly Twitter) to note his reason for not attending, claiming that councillors received a general notice for the event, but the Office of the Mayor did not receive the actual invitation to attend.
“Whilst a general notice has been sent out to councillors the office of Mayor has not been invited by Government to attend. This is a basic courtesy which should be extended to the office, not me personally as such.
“I have also been advised that in recent years Mayors were snubbed at Independence Day celebrations to such an extent that they no longer attended. Whilst I hope this treatment of Mayors has ended I am not prepared to allow it to happen again,” reads the post.
He further points out that a few weeks back he was invited to a Business Expo where the Office of Mayor was snubbed by the Government at the event.
“I registered a protest and left. I am not prepared to allow the office of Mayor (to) be denigrated again. I have made sure that at events I have control over, appropriate Government officials are invited personally and I expect that the office of Mayor will be respected in a similar fashion going forward,” said Clr Coltart.
However, the decision by the mayor has left a sour taste in the mouths of many Bulawayo residents with analysts saying Independence Day celebrations are national events that do not require any special invitation.
The mayor’s actions have been viewed as a rejection of the very people who elected him.
Independent analyst, Mr Methuseli Moyo accused Clr Coltart of attempting to draw attention to himself.
“David Coltart must stop presenting himself as self-righteous and very important. Such pronouncements by leaders tend to ramify the needless political polarisation that has engulfed Zimbabwe since 1999 and must be shaken off.
“We need progressive leaders who are selfless, who put bigger issues ahead of their self or the offices they hold. He could have just kept quiet about his non-attendance. No one was going to notice anyway. He likes drawing attention to himself,” said Mr Moyo.
Another analyst, Dr Luyanduhlobo Makwati said Independence Day celebrations needed no special invitation as these were national festivities to celebrate the democracy that was being enjoyed in the country.
“Independence Day celebrations, for lack of a better phrase, are like a funeral, they need no special celebration or maybe the mayor is not happy about the democracy that we are enjoying today, because that is what the celebrations are for, to celebrate our democracy.
“Anyone who appreciates the values and ethos which come with independence would know the importance of the day and would not grandstand saying they require a special invitation to attend. Were the people who thronged White City Stadium given special invitations? We even had traditional leaders (Chief Dakamela) who attended without any special invitation, they just saw the importance of attending,” said Dr Makwati.
Bulawayo United Residents’ Association (Bura) chairperson, Mr Winos Dube said it was unfortunate that Clr Coltart had taken a stance of putting the mayor’s office above the Independence Day celebrations.
“When we look at the Office of the Mayor, we view it as being above partisan issues. National events are open to every Zimbabwean and there should be no special invite as is being insinuated by the mayor.
“As residents, we are disappointed as we believe, if anything, the Mayor should lead us in celebrating our independence unless they are hidden agendas, which Coltart is not mentioning,” said Mr Dube.
“Coltart’s snub has sparked outrage and disappointment. We will not let this go unnoticed. We will continue to demand leadership that puts the people first, leadership that celebrates our freedom and our city’s rich history,” added the residents association’s chairperson.
