'This is complete nonsense': Coltart tells Mangwana

Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has dismissed as “complete nonsense” claims by government spokesperson Nick Mangwana that legislators and ordinary citizens no longer want elections every five years.


Mangwana had posted on X that “nobody wants elections every 5 years”, arguing that both MPs and voters were uninterested, citing low voter turnout in the 2023 polls.

“Current MPs don’t. Even voters don’t, either. Did you see the percentage of people who voted in 2023 in comparison with the number of those eligible to vote?” Mangwana wrote.

Coltart swiftly rejected the assertion, saying MPs may dislike elections because they fear losing their seats and benefits, but this does not reflect public sentiment.

“With respect, this is complete nonsense. Obviously MPs don’t want to face the electorate again for fear of losing their seats and perks,” Coltart said.

He added that voter apathy had nothing to do with the length of parliamentary terms.

“As for voter apathy, that has little to do with the length of Parliament and everything to do with the electorate being uninspired by the crop of parties, policies and MPs presented to them. But the bottom line is: what empirically backed evidence can you present to support this outlandish claim?”

The exchange comes as the Zanu PF government pushes for constitutional amendments that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term to 2030 — a move that has sparked widespread concern.

A recent Afrobarometer survey found that most Zimbabweans prefer leaders to be elected through regular democratic processes.