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US Bill on Zimbabwe Arouses Wide Condemnation
The recent repassing of a bill on seeking to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe by the Senate of the United States has aroused intense condemnation by Zimbabwe and other African nations as well as international community.
The Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Bill, which is likely to be passed in its final stage by the U.S. House of Representatives, has been mired in controversy since it was first approved by U.S. senators in June last year who cited lawlessness and a haphazard land resettlement in Zimbabwe.
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) strongly slammed the bill, saying it was in violation of the principles of NAM and the United Nations Charter which commits member states to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of all states.
Leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) called on the U.S. to stop interfering in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe.
SADC heads of state meeting in Namibia condemned the U.S. at the height of debate on the bill and nominated South African President Thabo Mbeki and Malawi's President Bakili Muluzi to deliver a message to Britain to honor its obligations under the Lancaster House Agreement of 1979 to support Zimbabwe's land reforms.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe also criticized the bill in strong terms during commemorations of the Heroes Day here on August 11, saying the Americans were motivated by racism in passing such a bill.
He lashed out at some western governments for double standards and hypocritical preaching about democratic values aimed at preserving their control of Zimbabwe's important natural resources.
Mugabe said the superpowers, who were calling for the imposition of sanctions against Zimbabwe for its stance on land reforms, were the same people who turned a blind eye when black Zimbabweans were being brutalized and robbed of their land during the Rhodesian era.
"At no point did the American Senate think of supporting our struggle here by crafting a sanctions bill against the Rhodesians who had overthrown the supreme law of the land, the Constitution," said Mugabe.
"If anything," he said, "the same senators who today work with our own people in the opposition to craft the iniquitous so-called Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Bill, were part of the infamous international right-wing Friends of Rhodesia for Movement meant to defend overseas white interests," he said.
The bill seeks to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe with a population of 12.5 million, which has seen tough years characterized by shortages of fuel and foreign currency, rising inflation and high interest rates.
If signed by U.S. President George Bush into law, the bill will restrict President Mugabe and his immediate family from traveling to the U.S. This will also apply to his cabinet ministers and government officials.
The American government and other institutions with American links will be barred from dealing with the Zimbabwean government. Aid flows and bilateral trade worth millions of dollars will be barred from coming to Zimbabwe.
Some Americans called as lawless and haphazard Zimbabwe's land resettlement which is intended to give massive land from some of 4, 500 white commercial farmers back to thousands of marginalized blacks over-crowded on unproductive land in communal areas.
The land was seized by British settlers in the 1890s when they pushed the locals off the best land to the communal areas.
Since February 2000, thousands of veterans of Zimbabwe's liberation war have settled themselves on productive white commercial farms in an effort to reclaim the land, which has been cited by the U.S. and Britain as breakdown of the rule of law.
The veterans are accused by the two countries of violence on farms, which has resulted in some deaths.
In a clash between settlers and farmers last week, some 21 white farmers were arrested after a group totaling 60 ganged up to assault settlers with logs, sticks and batons.
The bill, Americans say, may only be repealed when the Zimbabwean government moves to stop lawlessness and carries out its resettlement program in a peace and order.
Zimbabweans, whose country is going through its worst economic crisis in 20 years, are bracing up for tougher times following the passing of the bill.
Political and economic analysts as well as regional leaders from southern Africa say the bill would worsen a lot of Zimbabweans, who are suffering under an unemployment rate of 60 percent, high inflation hovering around 70 percent, and interest rates of between 30 and 40 percent.
Political Science Lecturer of the University of Zimbabwe Alfred Nhema criticized the bill, saying it would have long term adverse effects on Zimbabweans.
Zimbabwe's Information Minister Jonathan Moyo pointed out that America is not the policeman of the world, and that the southern African country should be left to run its own affairs.
"American legislation is not international law. Under international law, America can only make American laws," Moyo stressed.
Local analysts said that it is certain that the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Bill may neither bring democracy to Zimbabwe, nor lead to its economic recover. On the contrary, it will be harmful to peace and stability in the country.
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