A group of Zimbabwean political activists led by firebrand Abigail Mupambi has alleged that prominent lawyer Douglas Coltart is the United States Embassy’s focal person used to pay doctors to remain on strike.
In an interview with this publication on Monday, Mupambi alleged that the US has channelled a ‘considerable amount of money’ to fund and sustain activities including demonstrations and civil service.
Said Mupambi:
“Doug Coltart is the focal point person between the American Embassy and the NGO’s and workers’ Unions that include the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) which represents Medical Doctors.”
“These Doctors are being paid in US Dollars to remain on strike.
“These strikes are a tool to help to put more pressure on government. All these activities are part of a multi-pronged approach to force the MDC Alliance into a negotiating agreement with the ZANU PF government and find their way in government through the back door,” said Mupambi.
“This is true.
“At some point Douglas once offered to pay Bulawayo activists (myself included) for some operations during the 2016 uprisings on the regime change Agenda. This is very possible.
Doug once did this to me. I challenge Doug to say if l am lying,” she said.
Efforts to get a comment from Coltart proved fruitless as his mobile phone continuously went unanswered.
Coltart did not respond to questions forwarded to him via Whats App.
However, the United States Embassy in Harare denied the allegations.
Ken Wetzel, the embassy’s Public Affairs Officer said: “This is completely false allegation and blatant disinformation.”
Zimbabwean public service doctors are on an ongoing strike demanding better salaries and improved conditions of service.
