Violet Gonda Productions

11/04/2024

Can the tribunal process proposed by President Mnangagwa to address the Gukurahundi massacres succeed when it does not seek testimony from the alleged perpetrators of the violence? Spotlight on Zimbabwe presents: ED’s Justice - don’t mention the perpetrators

04/03/2024

US Treasury Sanctions Zimbabwe’s President and Key Actors for Corruption and Serious Human Rights Abuse

Following U.S. termination of the Zimbabwe Sanctions Program, Treasury designates key actors under the Global Magnitsky ProgramWASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 11 individuals, including Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangag...

19/02/2024

'Spotlight on Zimbabwe' explores the country’s chaotic opposition following the exit of CCC President Nelson Chamisa. In just under half a year, Chamisa's stance has shifted significantly, from relying on divine intervention for a positive 2023 election outcome for his CCC party to proclaiming that God will facilitate change through a fresh entity. Following his resignation, he stated the Holy Spirit as his advisor. Chamisa's moves raise questions about the state of leadership in the country. Is Zimbabwe’s problem weak leadership from both government and opposition? Journalist Violet Gonda presents: ‘Nelson says CCC you later’

'Spotlight on Zimbabwe' examines the chaotic opposition after CCC leader Nelson Chamisa quit. Chamisa went from seeking divine intervention for his party’s v...

05/02/2024

David Coltart explains why he will not resign as Mayor of Bulawayo

Full statement by David Coltart, Mayor of Bulawayo

Since the resignation of Nelson Chamisa as President of the CCC, and from the party itself, on Thursday the 25th January, followed by the subsequent resignation from Parliament of some respected colleagues I have been considering my own position.

As I indicated last week my main concern was to consult widely before making any decision. In this regard I have consulted a wide cross section of people, particularly in Bulawayo. I have indicated on social media sites, such as X and Whatsapp, that I am consulting and have invited people to let me have their views. During this past week I have received numerous responses on X, Whatsapp and e mail.

The overwhelming response, particularly from the Bulawayo public, has been to remain in office. I have also been written to by people I deeply respect, some of whom have been involved in the struggle to bring democracy and freedom to Zimbabwe for over 6 decades, asking me not to resign. These are people who have fought consistently during their entire lives for freedom and I take their views exceptionally seriously.

Bulawayo faces unique challenges at the present time. Aside from being in a disastrous state after decades of neglect, it is running out of water and faces severe water shortages this coming year. Whilst of course there is little that I as one person can do to remedy this, I have been involved in critically important initiatives during the last few months to provide short, medium and long term solutions to the crisis. If I were to resign now some of these initiatives may be undermined to the detriment of the City as a whole. Whilst the resignation of any MP is of course tragic, and a great loss to debate in Parliament, it does not have the same direct impact on citizens as would the resignation of the Mayor of a city.

It is also pertinent to mention that when Nelson Chamisa telephoned me to notify me in advance of his intention to resign I asked him what his expectations were of me. His response was that I should keep on the work I have been doing. At no point has he asked me to resign.

It is also important for me to state my own views regarding resignation in general. Whilst I have no doubt that Parliament has become an intolerable place, and that its Constitutional role has been severely undermined, I have always believed that it is important to not to cede whatever democratic space which has been obtained in the struggle against tyranny.

As a Christian I believe in Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5 that we are to be salt and light in corrupt and darkened society. In other words tiny grains of salt, and single shafts of light from a candle, can prevent blocks of meat from corrupting and provide guidance to people stumbling around in the dark. And history is replete with individuals, such as Wilberforce, Gandhi, Martin Luther King and, closer to home and much lesser known, Ahrn Palley, who have done just this - namely spoken truth to power as individuals against powerful forces and governments.

This may seem irrelevant to many but as the Mexican philosopher George Santayana once wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The danger we face in Zimbabwe today is that in our anger with all that has happened in the past year to undermine the will of the people and to subvert constitutionalism and the rule of law, we take steps which will end up consolidating ZANU PF’s grip on all institutions including Parliament and our Cities. So whilst I deeply respect and understand when principled people resign from Parliament, I remain saddened that they will no longer be able to exercise Parliamentary privilege (which is unique) to expose corruption and to fight against undemocratic and unconstitutional laws. It may seem a pointless exercise with ZANU PF being able to ride roughshod over them, but it will now be so much easier for ZANU PF to do this, without any comeback or exposure in Parliament.

The same considerations apply to Bulawayo. If I resign as Mayor I have no doubt that ZANU PF will simply be provided with a foot in the door to assume much greater power in the running of the City, with all that that entails, and the entrenchment of their corrupt politics at the local level. As difficult as the current situation is in running Bulawayo, the fact is that we do have an opportunity to do whatever we can to stabilise and develop the City for the benefit of all its residents.

In closing I need to address two further issues, the one being any false perception that a decision not to resign is an indication that I have turned against Nelson Chamisa, the other being that I have made any such decision solely on the grounds of what I will gain out of it personally.

Long before Nelson Chamisa resigned I publicly expressed my sadness and regret about the apparent rift between Nelson Chamisa and Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube. All three of these men are friends of mine with whom I have been in the trenches ever since the MDC was launched on the 11th September 1999. I have admired their resilience, bravery and commitment to democracy and freedom all these years. I refuse to be cajoled into a zero sum game which pits me against any of these old and trusted colleagues.

Regarding Nelson Chamisa himself I deeply sympathise with and understand the decision he has taken. Although my political instincts have always been to hold on to whatever democratic space one has, I understand his deep frustration with the brazen breaches of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the Political Parties Finance Act, both before and after the election. I have been appalled by the conduct of unscrupulous politicians over the past few months to cause the destructive recalls, undermine our institutions and hand a two-thirds majority in Parliament to ZANU PF. I have been shocked by successive decisions of our Courts which have ignored, in my opinion, centuries old legal principles in order to deny citizens the right to elected representatives of their choice. The point is that a decision not to resign as Mayor of Bulawayo should not be interpreted as a hostile act against Nelson Chamisa. I stand with him against this brazen attempt by the regime to create a one party state. I remain utterly committed to our overall collective and common strategy to bring about a new democratic and free Zimbabwe.

Regarding any argument that I am making any decision for personal gain, that is simply risible. I reiterate that I did not seek this office; I was asked to take on this role by Nelson Chamisa and several other church, civic and political leaders in Bulawayo. I have always viewed it as a poisoned chalice, and after four months in office I am more convinced of that now than when I started - Bulawayo is in a terrible mess. What many may not know is the fact that my sole income for being Mayor of Bulawayo is a monthly allowance of US$25. That may seem ludicrous but it is true - it is a fact that any person can confirm by contacting the City of Bulawayo. So if anyone thinks that I am in it for the money they do not understand the facts.

In other words one of the ironies for me is that any decision to resign as Mayor, far from being principled, would in fact be in my own self interest. At present I have two jobs, one as Senior Partner of my law firm, which includes running a busy practice, the other as Mayor of Bulawayo. I have never worked this hard as Mayor for so little remuneration in my life. It would suit me and my family perfectly to step back from the immense challenges Bulawayo faces; far from being a principled decision it would in fact be a selfish decision which would result in me having a far easier life going forward.

In conclusion my decision is that I will not resign as Mayor of Bulawayo and will endeavour to see out my 5 year term. I am conscious that I can be recalled at any time, but so be it. I would rather be removed from office by unscrupulous politicians than betray the trust and goodwill of innocent, hard working and principled residents of Bulawayo by resigning.

Senator David Coltart
Mayor of Bulawayo
5th February 2024

30/01/2024

I had the incredible honour of serving as the Master of Ceremonies at the inaugural global conference on Artificial Intelligence in Political Campaigns, held in Cape Town, South Africa this past week.

With 130 delegates from almost 30 countries, I understand this event achieved two significant milestones: hosting the world's first political campaign expo and the first conference focused on AI in Political Campaigns.

The conference explored pressing topics such as:
- the role of AI in shaping modern political campaigns,
- AI and big data in political campaigns,
- navigating truth and deception in political communication in the AI era, - and the regulation of AI in political campaigns.

These discussions shed light on Africa's readiness for this technological advancement and the unique challenges it presents, ensuring our continent's active participation in shaping the future of AI.

It was particularly encouraging to see more than 20 African countries represented, including representatives of electoral management bodies and members of ruling and opposition parties all in one room.

The theme of the conference was "Transforming Political Campaigns: How AI and Big Data Amplify Voter Engagement and Shape Political Campaigns in Africa".

Supported by International IDEA, Afrobarometer, 22 @ Sloan, and Shikamo Political Advisory and Campaigns Services, the event brought together global experts in political campaigns, researchers and academics, policymakers, and tech giants to explore the potential of AI.

The conference provided valuable insights into pressing issues
and raised important questions regarding the regulation of a technology that is still developing; Africa's readiness to embrace AI; the impact of deepfake videos during elections especially in Africa; and the prioritisation of legislative efforts over adaptation to the African context
- attendees asked why people were more concerned with legislating the use of AI as opposed to adapting it to the African context and making it fit for purpose on the continent.

With more than 60 elections taking place worldwide in 2024, including 24 in Africa, it promises to be an exciting year for electoral processes.

The İPE initiative will continue, and we look forward to the next follow-up expo.

So don’t miss IPE25 on the 23 & 24th January in Cape Town next year.

05/12/2023

'The Controversial By-elections in Zimbabwe: CCC You Later?'

Is history repeating itself? In this episode of our 'Spotlight on Zimbabwe' series, we dive into the ongoing political turmoil surrounding the upcoming by-elections on December 9.

Join us as we explore the controversy of the ruling ZANU PF party's support for a proxy candidate, aimed at removing recently elected opposition MPs and local government councillors from office.

Is another political circus looming as both President Nelson Chamisa's and controversial ‘rebel Secretary General’, Sengezo Tshabangu's factions are set to compete under the same party name while fielding candidates for these crucial elections?

Tune in to 'CCC You Later' and let's expose the intricacies of this developing situation in Zimbabwe.

Like, comment, and subscribe on Violet Gonda’s YouTube,
Twitter: https://twitter.com/violetgonda, page and TikTok for more thought-provoking content on the political landscape in Zimbabwe.

https://youtu.be/Y3kimLF02Is

Is history repeating itself? In this episode of our 'Spotlight on Zimbabwe' series, we dive into the ongoing political turmoil surrounding the upcoming by-el...

16/09/2023

The moment in 2018 when Jealousy Mawarire exposed President ED’s family member, ‘Tarirai David Mnangagwa of running a corruption ring at the RBZ’. The heated debate included a response from ZANU PF’s Chris Mutsvangwa.
NB: Tarirai is not the Mnangagwa that has been appointed to government.

08/09/2023

Zimbabwe Elections 2023 – Its all over now!
Spotlight on Zimbabwe brings you a post election analysis titled - Zimbabwe Elections 2023 - what happened?

Spotlight on Zimbabwe brings you a post-election analysis titled - Zimbabwe Elections 2023 - what happened?

04/09/2023

https://fb.watch/mRpxyqNcu3/

29/08/2023

One by one various countries are sending their congratulatory messages to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in an election that has been ruled inadequate by the SADC.
Is SADC still a functional regional institution when, regional presidents undermine it and pull the rug from under its feet, by sending congratulatory messages in stark contrast to its preliminary findings?

28/08/2023

South Africa congratulates Zimbabwe on the recent polls and blames Zimbabwe’s economic woes on sanctions:

*TO : ALL MEDIA*
*ATTENTION : NEWS EDITORS*
*DATE : MONDAY, 28 AUGUST 2023*

*SOUTH AFRICA CONGRATULATES ZIMBABWE ON RECENT POLLS*

The Republic of South Africa congratulates the government and the people of The Republic of Zimbabwe for organizing and holding the harmonized elections to elect the President, National Assembly and Local government representatives, which took place on 23 and 24 August 2023.

South Africa is conscious that these elections took place under a difficult economic environment due to the burdening sanctions which the people of Zimbabwe continue to unjustly endure.

Furthermore, South Africa has taken note of the preliminary pronouncements by the invited International Observers Missions including the African Union (AU) and the South African Development Community (SEOM) Observer Missions.

South Africa calls on all the parties in Zimbabwe to work in unison in sustaining peace and work towards development and shared prosperity in the country.

*Media enquiries:* Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315

*ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA*

www.thepresidency.gov.za

Pretoria

27/08/2023

Following election results announcement, Nelson Chamisa now faces a true test of his leadership capacity. Commentators say this situation was foreseeable (unfair playing field). So does he and the CCC have v11s across all polling stations, and a concrete plan?
What is needed now are facts and figures, as the next 72 hrs are crucial. Is the time for strategic ambiguity over?

26/08/2023

26/08/2023

Police say they want to arrest the new CCC spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi over an outstanding warrant from 2020.
This comes after a CCC press conference in Harare was disrupted this morning by men in plain clothes who seized papers from Promise Mkwananzi.
He had been reading out a list of election transgressions, when an unidentified man stepped forward and grabbed the statement from him.

26/08/2023

Video showing the moment unidentified men disrupted a CCC press conference at SAPES trust in Harare.
New CCC spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi was reading out a list of election transgressions, when an unidentified man stepped forward and grabbed the statement from him.
Video credit: Newsroom Afrika.

26/08/2023

NEW JUST IN:

CCC press conference at SAPES Trust in Harare has been disrupted by men in plain clothes, who seized papers from the new party spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi.

He was reading out a list of election transgressions when unidentified men stepped forward to seize the statement from the CCC spokesperson

25/08/2023

WHERE IS ? Why is ZEC so quiet?
Previous elections ZEC would have at least held a post-polling briefing/press conference by now.
What is happenning behind the scenes? Why is everyone but ZEC talking about the electoral environment?

25/08/2023

SADC Gives ZEC Worst (Preliminary) Report Card Ever:

Delimitation Process - FAILED

Delimitation Boundaries - FAILED

Equal Number of Voters per constituency - FAILED

Nomination fees fair? - FAILED

Voters roll access - FAILED

As for the govt’s Patriot Act ? Mission said it’s incompatible with Zimbabwe’s constitution.