22 November 2008
Statement by President Bush on Situation in Zimbabwe
Bush calls for end to Mugabe regime’s brutal repression of basic freedoms
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Lima, Peru)
November 22, 2008
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Nearly eight months have passed since the Zimbabwean people voted for a new president, yet they still are governed by an illegitimate regime that continues to suppress democratic voices and basic human rights. In addition to its disastrous economic policies which have forced half the population to rely on food assistance, the Mugabe regime is now assaulting doctors and nurses, denying citizens access to basic medical services, and stealing donor funds intended for HIV/AIDS patients.
In October alone, independent organizations documented some 1,300 incidents of politically-motivated violence and harassment by the regime. We call for an end to the Mugabe regime’s brutal repression of basic freedoms and for the formation of a legitimate government that represents the will of the people as expressed in the March 2008 elections.
In spite of the regime’s aggressive actions against its own people, the United States will continue to honor its commitment to provide emergency humanitarian assistance, already totaling $186 million in 2008, and stands ready to provide other forms of assistance pending the formation of a legitimate government that represents the will of the Zimbabwean people.
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