Coltart Does Not Regret Representing ZANU PF Bigwigs In Court
Doug Coltart, a human rights lawyer and son to the former Education Minister and current MDC Treasurer, David Coltart, says that he does not regret representing ZANU PF bigwigs who were under the cosh during the Robert Mugabe-era.
Coltart represented the controversial ZANU PF MP for Goromonzi West, Energy Mutodi and War ZANU PF MP for Gokwe Central, Victor Matemadanda in 2017.
Writing on microblogging site Twitter on Wednesday, Coltart said:
I was part of the legal team who represented Energy Mutodi and Victor Matemadanda when they were being persecuted by G40 in 2017. We did so because their rights were being violated. Now they’re in power they turn around and threaten to kill citizens for exercising their rights.
When Mutodi was detained at Harare Central, I asked him: “If things go your way and you come to power, will this experience change the way you do things?” He responded “Yes, we have to do things differently. People shouldn’t be persecuted for exercising their rights.”
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While I was sitting with Matemadanda when he was detained at Harare Central, he told me and the police officers: “This is what we went to war to fight against, the violation of human rights. What is being done by this Government is the same as what was done by the Rhodesians.”
I don’t regret representing either of them. Human rights violations are human rights violations, and we have to fight against them no matter who the victims and perpetrators are. I’m just sad they’ve forgotten so quickly what it’s like to be on the receiving end.
