During his recent trip to Africa, President Bush took the time to express his concerns regarding another upcoming African election. After the highly controversial and violent elections that were held in Kenya, this is not the time for another election to be placed under international Scrutiny. This time, the eyes of the world will be focusing on Zimbabwe whose Elections will take place on March 29.
What will make this electoral cycle different? After all, there have been serious doubts in the freedom of Elections in every cycle since 2000. The results have been the same, however: a violent campaign season that seems to grow worse every time the ruling ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front) wins the elections. And what happens to be the result? More abject poverty, violence against the independent media and civil society groups that dare to speak out against the violence and erosions of civil liberties.
Since 2002, relations between the United States and Zimbabwe have deteroriated drastically. The U.S. currently has a series of sanctions in place against Harare.
Primarily, these include no transfers of police or military equipment to Zimbabwe, senior members of the ruling party and some of their family members are prevented from entering the U.S. under any capacity and some of their financial assets in U.S. Banks are frozen. However, emergency shipments of food and medicines are allowed to go through.
The U.S. Embassy in Harare has issued a warning to American Citizens in Zimbabwe. There is a valid concern that violence may return again during the runup period of the elections.There have been several high profile incidents between U.S. Diplomats and Zimbabwe Security Forces that have raised concern. On more than one occasion, U.S. Diplomats who were out in the field observing elections and distribution of food aid have been accosted by the Zimbabwe National Police. Several times, U.S. Diplomats have been roughed up but nothing like what happened to former Ambassador Dell. Dell was almost shot by Zimbabwe Police while taking a nightly walk in a Harare park.
So what will the United States do now? President Bush has been very vocal in his criticism of the Mugabe Government and its record on Human Rights. And the U.S. Embassy in Harare has issued a warning to American Citizens in Zimbabwe. There is a valid concern that violence may return again during the runup period of the elections. So the Embassy has urged U.S. citizens not to travel outside of the major cities. After what occured in Kenya, this may be a prudent strategy.
In the eyes of many experts, Zimbabwe is a powderkeg just waiting to explode. After More than a Decade of five digit inflation, the population of Zimbabwe are tired. Any attempt at freedom of expression is answered by the authorities with force. Any large gatherings are subject to the approval of the police. The reaction of the people after a controversial election may not be pleasant to witness.
There are several questions that may be asked within the next month. First, will the United States be willing to do anything regarding Zimbabwe other than imposing more sanctions? Will the U.S. press neighboring states to take a more formidable stand over the next few weeks, not only to insure that a transparent elections occur, but if necessary, a peaceful transfer of power occurs. And last, will there be an ample chance for economic development if and when there is a change of power within Zimbabwe?
Let the madness begin in Zimbabwe. And watch the world be just as polarized at it has been during other African crises.
Scott Morgan publishes his content regularly at Confused Eagle online, found at morganrights.tripod.com
Comments
mugabe lover commented, on March 2, 2008 at 6:43 p.m.:
Mugabe is a hero to many people in Zimbabwe..he helped Zimbabweans escape from the racist smith government.they came and divided a lovely country moved blacks of there lands..killing many innocent women men and children. the people of Zimbabwe will never forget. the west promised to give back the land within 10 years from 1980...they said they will be land reform...over many years Mugabe has tried to resolve this peacefully. why was smith never charged for what he did to blacks. why didn't Europeans bring him to there courts..is it because black blood is worthless??? who has Mugabe killed who has he invaded.. an election is not fare until Mugabe loosing nonsense. 4500 farmers with 80% of land ridiculous..why does someone need all that land..and how did he or she get it..the blacks never sold it to him/her
Axis of Evil Observer commented, on March 3, 2008 at 3:50 a.m.:
‘Mugabe Lover’ affirms the often encountered anti-white racist claptrap and hallucinations that emanates from the many mentally challenged Zanu PF supporters that are desperately trying to undermine the proven values of the civilized world.
The facts are that about 100 years ago Rhodesia / Zimbabwe was a scarcely populated borderless barren wasteland that was still at a stone-age level of emergence.
Along came the “evil colonialists” who introduced many things such as the wheel and soap that the few locals still living in grass huts had never seen before.
One of the many things that the likes of Mugabe’s henchmen cannot deal with is the reality that sub-Saharan Africa has never created anything that has contributed to the betterment of mankind.
Mugabe’s greedy, vengeful and racist policies has reduced Zimbabwe to a wasteland again. Agriculture, services, the economy and infrastructures have been effectively destroyed him and his fellow self-serving corrupt buffoons. This country has already been reduced to a culture of crime, begging and dependency.
If it were not for misplaced western aid that feeds and props up this despotic regime, it would already have reverted to the stone-age again as a matter of natural gravitation.
The plug should be pulled on all western aid to Zimbabwe. Regrettably the west has yet to realize that aid “given” to the pariah regime in Harare largely ends up in off-shore bank accounts, and not where intended.
Just like the followers of Pol Pot who are now eventually facing genocide charges in the International Criminal Court, Zanu PF followers may be seriously wondering about the mode of their forthcoming and inevitable demise.