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U.S. Ambassador deplores continuing violence, welcomes U.N. Statement

Washington -- Zimbabwe's ruling party intends to force people to vote in the June 27 presidential runoff where incumbent President Robert Mugabe will be the only candidate on the ballot, the U.S. ambassador in Harare said, adding that the violence against the political opposition "has not abated" despite opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai's decision not to contest the election.

Speaking in a conference call from Harare on June 24, Ambassador James McGee said Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) "continues in full campaign mode" despite Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Tsvangirai's decision to withdraw after weeks of violent attacks and intimidation against MDC supporters.

"We've received reports that Zanu PF will force people to vote on Friday and also take action against those who refuse to vote.  So, they're saying 'we want an election at all costs.  We want to validate Mr. Mugabe's victory here,'" McGee said.

"There's really nothing that we can do here in the international community to stop these elections," McGee said, adding that Zimbabwe's electoral commission has said the June 27 vote will go forward "no matter what."  The ambassador urged the 500 international election monitors on the ground from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) to remain in the country and report what they can on the June 27 vote... (More)

No Pretense Zimbabwe Vote Will Be Free and Fair, Rice Says

 
 
Condemnation of the violence and intimidation orchestrated to keep President Robert Mugabe in power is increasing.
Washington -- With only a short time left before Zimbabwe’s June 27 presidential runoff election between incumbent President Robert Mugabe and opposition challenger Morgan Tsvangirai, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the ongoing campaign of violence and intimidation by Mugabe supporters against their political opposition shows that Zimbabwe’s government does not intend the vote to be free and fair.

“By its actions, the Mugabe regime has given up any pretense that the June 27 elections will be allowed to proceed in a free and fair manner,” Rice said June 19 at a round table meeting at the United Nations in New York, adding, "We have reached the point where broader, stronger international action is needed."

The Mugabe government and supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF party have engaged in an "orchestrated campaign of violence and harassment," she said.

Mugabe has denied being responsible for the violence that has swept the country since the March 29 presidential and parliamentary elections, but on June 13 he threatened civil war in Zimbabwe if he does not win the runoff vote. (More)

United States Will Continue to Speak Out for Freedom in Zimbabwe

Washington -- The United States government is "going to continue to speak out ... to be a voice and beacon for freedom" in Zimbabwe as that country approaches its June 27 presidential runoff election, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said June 2.

McCormack, speaking at the department's daily press briefing, had been asked if the United States had a contingency plan to monitor conditions inside Zimbabwe if the Mugabe government made good on its threats to throw U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe James D. McGee out of the country.

"We have a whole embassy of people who are focused either in whole or in part on issues in this election. We are going to continue to speak out. We are going to continue to be a voice and beacon for freedom," McCormack said.

Ambassador McGee and the chiefs of mission from the United Kingdom, the European Union and Japan, plus officials from the Netherlands and Tanzania, recently were detained and questioned for 45 minutes by security forces at a roadblock near the capital, Harare, and again outside a hospital. (More)

Latest Headlines From the Embassy

US Embassy invites applications for USAP

 
For the tenth year, the United States Embassy seeks to identify highly academically qualified and motivated, low-income, Upper Sixth “A” level students in Zimbabwe to join the United States Student Achievers Program (USAP). USAP assist highly-talented and determined, economically-disadvantaged 'A' Level students to negotiate and finance the admissions process for colleges and universities in the United States. USAP works closely with students through regularly scheduled meetings and seminars to assist them throughout the application process to secure admission and scholarships for colleges and universities in the United States. Eligible applicants are top students who must be currently enrolled in their final year of A level studies in 2008, writing their A level exams this November. The deadline for applications is May 16, 2008. 

Women’s History, Accomplishments Celebrated Every March

Washington -- In 1981, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution establishing National Women's History Week. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month, and has since passed such a resolution every year. Congressional action is followed by a U.S. presidential proclamation declaring March as Women’s History Month.
Since its founding in 1980, the National Women’s History Project (NWHP) has recognized and celebrated the rich and varied contributions of women to the history and culture of the United States. In introducing the 2008 Women's History Month theme, Women’s Art: Women’s Vision, NWHP says, “The history of women and art is quintessential women’s history. It is the story of amazing women’s accomplishments acclaimed at the time but written out of history.”
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 Democracy in action

 
watch the political process unfold as the world’s oldest democracy prepares for its next national Election Day.

- - SPOTLIGHT ZIMBABWE- -

Human Rights Practices (2007) Zimbabwe
Country reports on human rights practices

White House Statement on Zimbabwe
Statement on blocking of additional persons undermining democratic processes

Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey 2005-2006
Preliminary Report

Scorched earth in Zimbabwe
Visual evidence of the cost of destroying property rights


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