Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) chairperson Tavengwa Mukuhlani, has publicly criticised Bulawayo mayor David Coltart for alleging that the ZC board is racist, nepotistic, and corrupt.
During a media session at Harare Sports Club on Friday, Mukuhlani accused Coltart, who is also an avid cricket fan, of spreading misinformation.
"I believe that patriotism is not defined by criticising those who do nothing. And it's unfortunate that his definition of patriotism is the amount of criticism that he gives for what he believes is not true," he said.
"I believe he misleads. I'm a champion of democracy, not because the system wanted me to be a champion.
“I'm a product of fighting to be a man. And I was fighting racism. To turn around and call an entire institution racist is a problem because Zimbabwe cricket is not."
The ZC chairperson also stated that after presenting a clean bill of financials, Coltart has paid a blind eye at the milestone to bring up new allegations.
"I'm surprised that he has stopped calling us thieves because his tagline was they are thieves, they are corrupt, they steal money. That is wrong. It's no longer there. “He conveniently forgets that," Mukuhlani said.
"We are not a racist country. We don't seek power. And to put context to it, in 2015, Kyle Jarvis and Brendan Taylor had county contracts in England.
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“We brought them back and matched their salaries.
“We brought back Gary Balance and matched his county contract, we did the same with Dave Houghton, they are all whites, they are not black but Coltart kept quiet.”
Mukuhlani said it was sad that Coltart, a minority within a black majority city, still does not believe in democracy.
"He is a minority in Zimbabwe and a Mayor in a city where the majority are black people. But Coltart does not believe there is democracy in this country.
“He is in opposition because he doesn't believe there is democracy in this country. “For as long as it's not his way, it's not ours.”
Earlier Coltart had responded to Mukuhlani's criticism in a lengthy statement.
"With regard to the allegation that I have been involved in 'divisive interference of cricket' a few facts need to be stated: I did not play a 'key role in planning' Henry Olonga and Andy Flower's 2003 black-armband protest,” the former Education minister said.
“The facts are that they planned the protest and only sought advice from me regarding their statement issued at the time," said Coltart.
"If anything my advice was that they protest in a way that would not disrupt the World Cup.
“It is in fact demeaning to these two cricket legends that it even be suggested that they didn’t have minds of their own and that I played a key role in planning their protest.
“As for their protest being “infamous” the fact is that their brave, selfless (both of them willingly forfeited their remaining international cricket playing careers), non partisan and peaceful protest was widely lauded throughout the cricketing world."
Coltart also rebuffed ZC's allegation that "thanks to pressure from Coltart England refused to travel to Harare for their World Cup match, triggering a long-lasting diplomatic and sporting rift."
He said, "This is a total distortion of the truth. During the World Cup I met with the England team in Cape Town and tried to persuade them to play against Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe but failed."
