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US
Lawmakers Criticize Repression, Democratic Setbacks in Zimbabwe
VOA News
April 21, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-04-21-voa81.cfm
UNITED States
lawmakers on Capitol Hill have criticised President Robert Mugabe’s
government as they examined the situation in Zimbabwe during a congressional
hearing.
Zimbabwe’s political
and economic crisis, as well as setbacks to civil liberties and
human rights, have been the subject of intense concern in Congress.
Last Thursday’s
hearing provided another opportunity for lawmakers to voice their
views about what many believe to be a worsening situation.
Congressman
Chris Smith, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global
Human Rights, began with this observation about Zimbabwe’s long-serving
president: "Robert Mugabe was a hero to his people and his
fellow Africans for successfully standing up to racism and oppression.
"More than
two decades later, however, he has so tarnished his image that it
now must resemble the fictional portrait of Dorian Gray showing
an increasingly repugnant picture of a hero who has gone astray."
Donald Payne,
ranking Democrat on the sub-committee, said developments in Zimbabwe
have gone from great potential for good governance and rule of law
in the years following Independence to today’s conditions of autocratic
rule.
He questioned
whether an approach of isolating Zimbabwe through sanctions and
other steps has produced results.
"I think
our policy and the policy of international communities to isolate
the government of Zimbabwe, as we can see, has not worked,"
he noted. "President Mugabe’s behaviour over the past few years
has been deplorable."
Payne said the
United States with help from members of the African Union should
continue to engage and press Mugabe to change direction.
Constance Berry
Newman, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, repeated
the US view that the March parliamentary election in Zimbabwe was
neither free nor fair, and listed the likely effects.
"The result
is a parliament that will continue to do the bidding of Robert Mugabe
and will not speak for all of the people of Zimbabwe," she
explained. "This means the challenges of unemployment, food
prices, refugees, limited investment, failure to address HIV and
Aids will continue.
Worst of all,
Zimbabwe through this period may be on the brink of another food
emergency."
Greg Mills,
former head of the South African Institute of International Affairs,
believes Mugabe aims to create a facade of stability while moving
to further strengthen his hold.
Among steps
the international community could take, Mills says, strategic engagement
by the United States, South Africa and other African Union members,
has the best chance of having some impact.
"This will
crucially have to involve placing on the table an attractive recovery
package for Zimbabwe, including on (the issue of) land, and be conditional
on political reform, as well as an exit strategy for Mugabe,"
he said. "This may usefully involve also the appointment of
a US special envoy for Zimbabwe."
Mugabe rejected
recent criticisms of the election results, saying his government
does not need what he called Anglo-American validation and indicating
Zimbabwe would look to China and other countries for help.
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