'Bulawayo has Mugabe to thank,' says Coltart

FORMER Minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture David Coltart yesterday said Bulawayo has President Mugabe to thank for hosting the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Games to the city.

Coltart confirmed a majority of Cabinet members were against the Games, set to be held in Bulawayo from December 4 to15, coming to the second largest city and that he almost felt he was fighting a losing battle to have the games in the city until the President's intervention.

Those against the Games coming to Bulawayo cited the issue of costs, arguing that Harare had existing and better facilities.

The government has since availed $14 million which will go towards renovations and administrative costs of the games.

Writing on his website in response to President Mugabe's revelation that some within the government were against having the Games in Bulawayo, the former Minister said the intervention by the Head of State was critical.

"When the matter came for final discussion it appeared as if I was losing the battle to have it allocated to Bulawayo and in all fairness to President Mugabe his intervention was critical.

"After arguing the case for Bulawayo, it was clear to me that I was losing the argument because an overwhelming majority were against it coming to Bulawayo, including certain heavyweights, and I assumed that it was a lost cause. I said as much and it was then that President Mugabe intervened for the first time saying that I needed to be bolder in advancing my argument and that he agreed it should be held in Bulawayo. The moment he disclosed his hand all the opposition coming from a few Zanu-PF heavyweights evaporated and a final decision was made to hold it in Bulawayo," said Coltart in his statement.

Speaking during the a ceremony to light the torch for the Games at State House on Thursday, President Mugabe said it appeared the view in Cabinet was to move the games to Harare and it was then that he asked Coltart whether he was becoming spineless.

"I said are you becoming spineless Mr Coltart, come on, strengthen your spine, the Games will be held in Bulawayo. It jolted him a bit and he said well, we will try and he went on coming to Cabinet, reporting progress here, the lack of it elsewhere, especially in regard to funding of the programme and right up to the day we had our elections, July 31," said President Mugabe.

The President also said that the region's secretary general Mvuzo Mbebe had tried to have the Games moved from Bulawayo by approaching Vice-President Joice Mujuru, apparently in bid a to canvas for her support.

To Coltart, that came as no surprise to him.

"I am not surprised to learn from President Mugabe's statement that after I left Ministry, there were some who tried again to get the Games moved to Harare. No doubt this was a case put forward by those who had opposed me on this issue from the beginning and who thought that once I was out of office it would be easy to roll Cabinet over on the matter. In this regard I am obviously pleased and grateful that President Mugabe maintained his support for the Games to be held in Bulawayo," said the former Cabinet Minister.