HARARE — The long-simmering tensions between Senator David Coltart and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) burst into the open this week, with a war of words over allegations of racism, bias, and the administration of the national game.
On August 12, ZC issued a blistering statement accusing Coltart of a “relentless smear campaign” against its black administrators, fuelled by “personal bitterness and racial prejudice.” The board said the former Sports Minister’s social media criticism was “disguised as the voice of concerned cricket lovers” but in reality pushed “a deeply divisive and damaging narrative.”
ZC defended its selection process as “strict, merit-based and transparent,” challenging Coltart to provide “concrete, factual evidence” for his claims. Without such proof, it said, his allegations were “empty noise” that undermined unity and progress.
The board also defended its transformation drive since independence, citing increased racial representation, compliance with ICC anti-discrimination rules, and successful hosting of high-profile tours. It accused Coltart of politicising cricket during his ministerial tenure and linked him to the 2003 black armband protest by Andy Flower and Henry Olonga, as well as England’s refusal to play a World Cup match in Harare — a freeze in cricket ties that lasted until this year.
Two days later, Coltart fired back with a 10-page rebuttal, dismissing ZC’s statement as “shockingly mendacious” and more akin to political propaganda than a sports body’s communication. He denied orchestrating the 2003 protest or pressuring England to boycott Zimbabwe, insisting he had urged them to play.
Coltart accused ZC of:
– Allowing grassroots cricket in government schools to collapse.
– Concentrating investment and matches in Harare, with selectors and most national players from the capital.
– Prioritising a new stadium in Victoria Falls over upgrading existing facilities.
– Running a biased selection system influenced by region, race, and club affiliation.
– Fostering a toxic team environment and maintaining a board without any former first-class cricketers.
He said these failures were to blame for the decline in national team performance, warning that “unless these concerns are addressed, cricket in Zimbabwe will continue to decline.”
The standoff has polarised opinion among cricket supporters, with some backing ZC’s transformation stance and others echoing Coltart’s governance concerns.
As the dispute rages, Zimbabwe’s next international fixtures — and the fragile unity of its cricket community — could be overshadowed by one of the sport’s most public and personal feuds in years.
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