06 June 2008

International Community Monitoring Situation in Zimbabwe

Ambassador McGee cites stepped up violence and intimidation

U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, James McGee

By Merle D. Kellerhals Jr.
Staff Writer

Washington -- The runoff election between Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and opposition presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai should move forward to avoid giving the current regime a victory it does not deserve, says U.S. Ambassador James McGee.

"The Mugabe regime has entered into a campaign of violence and intimidation to ensure that people do not vote," McGee said June 6 during a video conference briefing from the embassy in Harare.

Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe in the March 29 national election, but did not win a clear majority of 50 percent plus one to avoid facing a runoff election, which is currently scheduled for June 27.  Mugabe has been president of Zimbabwe for 28 years.

"We need a strong, strong response, especially from regional organizations such as [the Southern African Development Community] and the African Union, to rapidly get election observers into Zimbabwe to do two things: number one, to protect the people, and number [two], to protect the vote of the people," McGee said.

Women of Zimbabwe demonstrate in Harare against human rights abuses and to urge compliance with elections laws.

Twice during the week [June 2-6] Tsvangirai has been detained by police while campaigning across the country.  And U.S. Embassy personnel and personnel from the British Embassy were detained June 5 approximately 40 kilometers outside Harare while attempting to determine conditions outside the capital.  One U.S. Embassy driver was beaten by a group supporting the Mugabe regime, McGee said.

"One of the things that we in the diplomatic community want to assure the entire world is that we're keeping a light on the activities of the government here in Zimbabwe, and hopefully, that will deter them from doing anything that might be detrimental to Mr. Tsvangirai," McGee said.

McGee said the diplomatic community must monitor the runoff election, and if it appears the election is stolen by the current president, then "we will take a look at what our response will be.  The United States government is not usually happy to do business with rogue regimes, and that's exactly what this would be."

Late June 6, the Zimbabwe government ordered all humanitarian aid groups to suspend operations nationwide.  The government already had barred CARE International, one of the world's largest aid groups, from providing humanitarian assistance in the country, accusing it of siding with the opposition.

McGee said reports have been coming into Harare that Zimbabweans who present a ZANU-PF membership card for Mugabe's political party receive food through the government.  If they present a membership card for Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change party, then they must hand over the card or their national identity card to receive government food.

"What that means is that the government will then hold on to these cards until the election is completed, and you will not be allowed to vote," McGee said.  "The only way you can access food is give up your right to vote.  It's a very well-orchestrated campaign."