| Press Statement Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC January 11, 2002 U.S. Condemns Government Actions in ZimbabweThe United States condemns the intensifying government-directed intimidation and violence against opposition supporters, the media and civil society in Zimbabwe. At least five opposition supporters reportedly have been killed in the past two weeks. Judging from its past performance, there is little prospect that the government will investigate or prosecute these crimes. Yesterday, the parliament of Zimbabwe passed legislation that further restricts political freedom in Zimbabwe.
The Government of Zimbabwe announced this week that presidential elections would be held March 9-10. In a remarkable and deeply disturbing statement on January 9, the chief of Zimbabwe’s defense forces declared that Zimbabwe’s military and security services will withhold support from any elected President they deem unfit for office. The threats contained in this declaration appear to be directed at Zimbabwean voters generally. The United States strongly condemns this intrusion into the democratic process by Zimbabwean military officers.
The people of Zimbabwe are entitled to select their leaders through a free and fair electoral process. Zimbabwe’s military must respect and support the verdict of the electorate. Failure to do so would, under U.S. law, automatically trigger a range of sanctions, including economic sanctions, against Zimbabwe.
We call upon the government of Zimbabwe to disavow the statements made by the chief of the defense forces. We also call upon the government of Zimbabwe to cease its campaign of violence and repression and move immediately to create conditions for free and fair elections this March. Regrettably, due to the actions of the Zimbabwe government, such conditions do not exist in Zimbabwe today. |
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