DOCSLIB.ORG

EXTENSIONS of REMARKS, Vol

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

November 22, 2011 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 157, Pt. 13 18165 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN CON- viding an enhanced market for our products Carson said in his testimony that the relation- GRESS AND THE AFRICAN DIP- and allowing African countries a larger tax ship worsened with the extra-legal seizures of LOMATIC CORPS base that will lessen the need for foreign aid. white-owned land in the 1990s. Mugabe and More robust African economies are beneficial his supporters blame America for not sup- HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH to the entire global economy. porting its liberation struggle, while the United OF NEW JERSEY We also have to work more effectively to States has criticized Mugabe’s government IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES help African nations produce more energy for consistently for human rights abuses, espe- themselves and developed world consumers cially against its political opponents. With U.S. Tuesday, November 22, 2011 such as the United States. As Ambassador Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray en- Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, last Mitifu pointed out in her opening statement, couraging U.S. businesses to invest in week, several Congressional colleagues and I current trends indicate that less than half of Zimbabwe last month, it would seem that U.S. convened the first House-Senate Conversation Africa’s population will have access to elec- policy is in the midst of a transformation. between Congress and the African Diplomatic tricity by 2050. She and her colleagues called Following independence from Great Britain Corps on African issues. This historic event on our government to support such projects as in 1980, Prime Minister Robert Mugabe’s pol- was opened by me, House Subcommittee on the Grand Inga Dam project in the Democratic icy of political reconciliation was generally suc- Africa, Global Health and Human Rights Rank- Republic of the Congo, which would contribute cessful during the next two years, as the ing Member DONALD PAYNE, Senate Africa 39,000 megawatts for a continent-wide elec- former political and military competitors within Subcommittee Chairman CHRISTOPHER COONS tricity grid. ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patri- and Senate Africa Subcommittee Ranking A major theme among the comments and otic Front and the rival Patriotic Front- Member JOHNNY ISAKSON. We were joined questions by the diplomats who participated in Zimbabwe African Peoples Union began to during the event by Representative KAREN this event was concern about security and a work together. Splits soon developed, how- BASS and Representative BOBBY RUSH. desire to partner with the United States in ever, and PF–ZAPU’s leader, Joshua Nkomo, Democratic Republic of the Congo Ambas- combating terrorism, trafficking in persons, the was removed from government. sador Faida Mitifu presented a comprehensive international drug trade, piracy and other When PF–ZAPU was accused of initiating a overview of the African diplomatic corps on criminal activity that affects the continent. rebellion due to the removal of Nkomo from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, As we all know, the United States faces a the cabinet, government military forces began AGOA, and trade, agriculture and food secu- reduced ability to fund programs at previous a pacification campaign primarily in his base in rity and energy and infrastructure. She also levels. Consequently, we are working to en- the Matabeleland area, which resulted in as joined us in presiding over this session. sure that the funds we do have are used as many as 20,000 civilian deaths. Too often, we in Congress have only brief efficiently and effectively as possible. In order In part through its control of the media, the encounters with the African diplomats in to maximize these goals, we must have a bet- huge parastatal sector of the economy and the Washington, and a fuller, ongoing interaction ter idea of the actual needs of African soci- security forces, the Mugabe government man- would be of help to both Members of Con- eties. In everything we do together, there must aged to keep organized political opposition to gress and diplomats in building U.S.-Africa re- be collaboration and the goal of mutual ben- a minimum through most of the 1990s. Begin- lations that are mutually beneficial. efit. A win-win situation is sustainable, but pro- ning in 1999, however, Zimbabwe experienced In our Subcommittee hearings, we conduct grams aimed at only one beneficiary are not. a period of considerable political and eco- oversight on issues of concern involving U.S. Deciding for Africans what their needs may nomic upheaval. Opposition to President policy—often regarding individual countries. be is not an appropriate strategy. We need Af- Mugabe and the ZANU–PF government had For troubled countries such as Sudan, Soma- rican governments to be stakeholders in what- grown, in part due to the worsening economic lia, Cote d’Ivoire and Zimbabwe, such U.S. ever programs we fund, and that will not be governance issues. At one point, one U.S. dol- policy oversight is critical. However, the issues likely if they are not consulted in advance. lar was worth more than 2.6 billion Zimbabwe we are covering today require interactions that Better program targeting requires partnership, dollars. Following the seizure of white-owned are more detailed and more sustained. Trade, and we hope this session is part of the cre- commercial farms beginning in the 1990s, agriculture and energy are important matters ation of an enhanced partnership between us. food output capacity fell 45 percent, manufac- that call for the kind of discussions that go be- f turing output dropped by 29 percent and un- yond an office visit or even today’s dialogue. employment rose to 80 percent. It is the hope of our members and the diplo- U.S. POLICY TOWARD ZIMBABWE The opposition was led by the Movement for matic corps that we can use this initial event Democratic Change (MDC), which was estab- as the beginning of ongoing discussions on HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH lished in September 1999. The MDC led the how to make AGOA more broadly beneficial OF NEW JERSEY campaign to handily defeat a referendum that for the nearly 6,400 covered items, for exam- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES would have permitted President Mugabe to ple. We need to better understand how to seek two additional terms in office. Parliamen- overcome the obstacles to successful U.S.-Af- Tuesday, November 22, 2011 tary elections held in June 2000 were marred rica agricultural trade. One comment was re- Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, on by localized violence and claims of electoral peated by several diplomats: further delay in November 2, our Subcommittee held a hear- irregularities and government intimidation of passing legislation to extend AGOA’s third- ing to examine the current U.S. government opposition supporters. Still, the MDC suc- party fabric provision will send damaging policy toward the Republic of Zimbabwe and ceeded in capturing 57 of 120 seats in the Na- mixed signals to investors. to consider how our policy toward this south- tional Assembly. Africa’s population of approximately 1 billion ern African nation may develop in the years The last four national elections—the presi- people has a growing consumer base that is ahead. Zimbabwe is considering a new con- dential election in 2002, parliamentary elec- capable of being a larger player in global stitution that will lead to the elections in 2012 tions in 2005, harmonized presidential and trade. One out of every three Africans is now that had been postponed from this year. parliamentary elections in March 2008, and considered to be in the middle class. This ris- There has been mutual hostility between the the presidential run-off in June 2008—were ing middle class will enable both economic United States government and the Zimbabwe judged to be not free and fair by observers. In and political development in Africa. For the government of Robert Mugabe since that the March 2008 elections, two factions of the United States and other developed nations, country became independent in 1980, al- opposition MDC, known as MDC–T to denote these developments benefit us as well by pro- though Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Morgan Tsvangirai’s faction and MDC–M for ● This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. VerDate Sep 11 2014 11:41 Dec 02, 2015 Jkt 099102 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR11\E22NO1.000 E22NO1 jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BOUND RECORD 18166 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 157, Pt. 13 November 22, 2011 the group led by Arthur Mutambara, gained a from the Civil Air Patrol risked their lives to ing and ranking of countries based on compli- combined parliamentary majority. Mugabe was safeguard our shores and deter the enemy’s ance with the establishment of common-sense declared the winner of the June 2008 run-off efforts. These ‘‘sub chasers’’ spotted 143 Ger- minimum standards—clearly articulated pre- election after opposing candidate Tsvangirai man submarines, attacking 57 and sinking 2. vention, protection, and prosecution bench- withdrew due to ZANU–PF-directed violence This volunteer force was so successful that marks—enforced by sanctions and penalties that made a free and fair election impossible. after the war President Harry Truman signed against egregious violators. Mark Schneider, Senior Vice President for the a law making the Civil Air Patrol a benevolent, Fortunately, reality won out over ignorance. International Crisis Group, told the Sub- non-profit organization.
Recommended publications
  • African Union Election Observation Mission Report: Zimbabwe 2013

    African Union Election Observation Mission Report: Zimbabwe 2013

    AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION REPORT OF AFRICAN UNION ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION TO THE 31 JULY 2013 HARMONISED ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE DISTRIBUTED BY VERITAS Veritas makes every effort to ensure the provision of reliable information, but cannot take legal responsibility for information supplied. African Union Election Observation Mission Report: Zimbabwe 2013 CONTENTS List of Abbreviations ........................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. I. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 3 II. OBJECTIVE AND METHODOLOGY OF THE MISSION ..................................................... 3 Objective ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Methodology .................................................................................................................................. 3 III. BACKGROUND TO THE 31 JULY 2013 ELECTIONS ...................................................... 5 IV. LEGAL CONTEXT ................................................................................................................ 9 The Constitution ............................................................................................................................. 9 The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act .................................................................................... 9 Political Parties
  • Dismantling the System of Mugabeism

    Dismantling the System of Mugabeism

    Dismantling The System Of Mugabeism All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. ISBN 978-3-00-059482-3 First Edition © 2018 1 Dismantling The System Of Mugabeism Dedication. To my fellow Zimbabweans, we defeated Mugabe the person but Mugabeism is still intact. We must dismantle this system and bring total democratization of our country Zimbabwe. My children Lilly, Tanaka and Nkosilathi,Jr you don’t deserve to grow up in such a collapsed country which is now a shadow of itself. This is the little contribution I can make towards challenging a regime which is putting your future at stake. ‘This is the history of a failure’ (Che Guevara, The African Dream) 2 Dismantling The System Of Mugabeism Foreword. I feel refreshed and motivated to write this book in this new-old political dispensation. New in the sense that, this is the first time ever since I was born to see this country having another President who is not Robert Gabriel Mugabe and old in the sense that those who are now in power are the same people who have been in charge of this country for the past four decades working alongside Mugabe. Yes Mugabe has gone but the system he created is still intact. Are the Mnangagwas of this world going to reform and become ambassadors of peace, tolerance, democracy and respect of the rule of law? Or they will simply pick up the sjamboks from where Mugabe left them and perpetuate his legacy of brutality? Is corruption going to end considering that a few former Ministers who were arrested by Mnangagwa’s administration were being used as scapegoats, most of the criminals and kleptocrats who committed serious crimes against humanity and corruption are still serving in the post-Mugabe ZANU PF government? The same old people who bled Zimbabwe dry serving in the kleptocratic regime of Robert Mugabe are the same people who are serving under Mnangagwa.
  • Africa Briefing, Nr. 38: Zimbabwe's Continuing Self-Destruction

    Africa Briefing, Nr. 38: Zimbabwe's Continuing Self-Destruction

    Update Briefing Africa Briefing N°38 Pretoria/Brussels, 6 June 2006 Zimbabwe’s Continuing Self-Destruction I. OVERVIEW increasingly close to martial law. It has banned rallies, marches and prayer meetings during the period surrounding the anniversary and put security forces With scheduled presidential elections less than eighteen on high alert. Growing numbers of students, religious months away, Zimbabwe faces the prospect of greater activists and members of other civil society groups have insecurity and violence. The economy’s free fall has been detained. deepened public anger, and the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party wants The rising influence of the military leadership in the to avoid a popular vote by using the legislature it controls succession struggle is troubling. Zimbabwe’s armed to establish a “transitional presidency” and appoint a forces have always been a pillar of the ruling party’s successor to Robert Mugabe, who has said he will retire. power but recent months have seen increasing military By engineering a transition, Mugabe also intends to secure involvement in the party machinery and policy formulation. a dignified personal exit that includes a retirement package The crumbling economy has meant a loss of government and security guarantees. However, such plans may come revenues, and the military rank and file are being paid less unglued due to wrangling within ZANU-PF. Through all and at irregular intervals, leading them into criminality, this the opposition Movement for Democratic Change allegedly including cross-border armed robbery. (MDC) has been weakened by a major leadership split. Government difficulties in paying the troops raise a question of whether the security forces can still be relied Low voter turnout in November 2005 deprived the newly on to put down protests.
  • Zimbabwe: the Transitional Government and Implications for US

    Zimbabwe: the Transitional Government and Implications for US

    Zimbabwe: The Transitional Government and Implications for U.S. Policy Lauren Ploch Analyst in African Affairs October 27, 2011 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL34509 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Zimbabwe: The Transitional Government and Implications for U.S. Policy Summary The U.S. government, which has expressed concerns regarding the rule of law in Zimbabwe for over a decade and which has long been critical of President Robert Mugabe, has been cautious in its engagement with the country’s three-year-old power-sharing government. That government, which includes members of the former opposition, has improved economic and humanitarian conditions during its ongoing transitional rule. However, significant concerns about the country’s political future remain. Zimbabwe’s March 2008 elections resulted in the party of long-serving President Mugabe losing its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai received more votes than Mugabe in the presidential race, but fell short of the needed margin for victory. Tsvangirai later withdrew his name from the ballot days before the required runoff, amid widespread political violence. Mugabe was thus declared the winner. In September 2008, after weeks of negotiations, Tsvangirai and Mugabe reached an agreement to form a unity government, with Mugabe remaining head of state. Tsvangirai became prime minister and cabinet and gubernatorial positions were divided among the parties. Disputes delayed implementation of the agreement until February 2009, when members of the opposition were sworn in alongside former rivals as ministers in a new government. The parties to the power-sharing agreement have faced significant challenges in working together to promote political reconciliation and in addressing serious economic and humanitarian needs.
  • ZIMBABWE COUNTRY of ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service

    ZIMBABWE COUNTRY of ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service

    ZIMBABWE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service 25 March 2011 ZIMBABWE 25 MARCH 2011 Contents Preface Latest News EVENTS IN ZIMBABWE FROM 22 FEBRUARY 2011 TO 24 MARCH 2011 Useful news sources for further information REPORTS ON ZIMBABWE PUBLISHED OR ACCESSED BETWEEN 22 FEBRUARY 2011 AND 24 MARCH 2011 Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 1.01 Public holidays ..................................................................................................... 1.06 Map ........................................................................................................................ 1.07 2. ECONOMY ................................................................................................................ 2.01 Remittances .......................................................................................................... 2.06 Sanctions .............................................................................................................. 2.08 3. HISTORY (19TH CENTURY TO 2008)............................................................................. 3.01 Matabeleland massacres 1983 - 87 ..................................................................... 3.03 Political events: late 1980s - 2007...................................................................... 3.06 Events in 2008 - 2010 ........................................................................................... 3.23
  • Zimbabwe After Mugabe Hearing Committee On

    Zimbabwe After Mugabe Hearing Committee On

    ZIMBABWE AFTER MUGABE HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA, GLOBAL HEALTH, GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS, AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION FEBRUARY 28, 2018 Serial No. 115–114 Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/ or http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/ U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 28–825PDF WASHINGTON : 2018 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Publishing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 11:35 Apr 02, 2018 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 Z:\WORK\_AGH\022818\28825 SHIRL COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS EDWARD R. ROYCE, California, Chairman CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida BRAD SHERMAN, California DANA ROHRABACHER, California GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York STEVE CHABOT, Ohio ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey JOE WILSON, South Carolina GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida TED POE, Texas KAREN BASS, California DARRELL E. ISSA, California WILLIAM R. KEATING, Massachusetts TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania DAVID N. CICILLINE, Rhode Island MO BROOKS, Alabama AMI BERA, California PAUL COOK, California LOIS FRANKEL, Florida SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania TULSI GABBARD, Hawaii RON DESANTIS, Florida JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina ROBIN L. KELLY, Illinois TED S. YOHO, Florida BRENDAN F. BOYLE, Pennsylvania ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois DINA TITUS, Nevada LEE M.
  • 'Inclusive Government' : Some Observations on Its First 100 Days

    'Inclusive Government' : Some Observations on Its First 100 Days

    Zimbabwe's 'Inclusive Government': Some Observations on its First 100 Days MARTIN WELZ University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany ABSTRACT Zimbabwe seemed to be in a political transition-but only on the surface. In actual fact, the new government established under the power-sharing agreement between President Mugabe and newly elected Prime Minister M organ Tsvangirai proved unsuccessful in its first 100 days owing to continued rivalry and a lack of commitment on behalf of Mugabe and his party. Mugabe managed to secure key positions in the new government for his cronies. They continued to control the relevant security organs as well as the Reserve Bank, which held a key position because its Governor guarded the budget available for the new ministers. Consequently, sabotage was an imminent threat for the new government. Mugabe benefited from the weakness of the opposition, which was split and had an indecisive and un charisma tic leader who failed to secure financial support from the West. To complicate the situation evenfurther there were more players involved in the political arena of Zimbabwe, including the two major farmers' groupings, an emerging third party under Simba M akoni, the trade unions and white businessmen. They all had their own agenda. Mugabe and his ruling clique relied on each other as they had both committed gross human rights violations over the last 25 years. They either fall together or their mutual dependency keeps them going. Change was unlikely to occur; even the new Movement for Democratic Change ministers were aware of this. KEY WORDS: Zimbabwe, Mugabe, Tsvangirai, Inclusive Government, ZANU-PF Introduction Zimbabwe's new government faced severe difficulties during its first 100 days in office.
  • Mugabe's Revenge

    Mugabe's Revenge

    www.enoughproject.org MUGABE’S REVENGE Halting the Violence in Zimbabwe By Jamal Jafari ENOUGH Strategy Paper 20 May 2008 imbabwe is facing a deepening political crisis, direction—the international community must also marked by state-sponsored violence against act to ensure that a legitimate, democratic govern- Zopposition party supporters. Following the ment is seated in Zimbabwe. U.S. diplomats should March 29 presidential and parliamentary elections, coordinate with African leaders to develop a plan in which the opposition won control of parliament of incentives pressuring Mugabe to leave, and an and won more votes in the presidential contest, the alternative plan should he defy the democratic will government unleashed a nationwide campaign of of Zimbabwe and remain in power. violence against opposition groups. At least 32 sup- porters of the Movement for Democratic Change, or MDC, have been killed, over 700 have sought medi- THE MARCH 2008 ELECTION: cal treatment, over 6700 have been displaced, and PLANS GONE AWRY over 1000 people have been arrested. All signs point to the situation worsening, with the government ZANU-PF’s losses in the March 29 elections were using violence and intimidation ahead of a runoff unexpected given that the ruling party’s history of presidential election announced by the government. vote-rigging made an opposition victory unlikely. In January of this year, Mugabe backed out of South Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has never African-mediated talks with the MDC and an- been so close to losing power, and appears willing nounced plans for a snap election just two months to use all means available to physically beat his away—indicating he was confident in the ruling opponents into submission.
  • Examining Zimbabwe's Protracted Social Conflict Through The

    Examining Zimbabwe's Protracted Social Conflict Through The

    Conflict in Perpetuity? Examining Zimbabwe’s protracted social conflict through the lens of land reform Bryan M. Sims Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Pierre du Toit March 2015 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za DECLARATION By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. 22 February 2015 Copyright © 2015 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved ! ii! Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za ABSTRACT This dissertation analyses the relationship between civil society and political leadership within the context of Zimbabwe’s protracted social conflict, particularly through the lens of land policy. Through the use of strategic informants, it yields important insights into the origins, form and impact of political leadership and civil society in a way that will expose the dynamics of elite and grassroots mobilisation and the political context in which land policy is either made or obstructed. Specifically, this dissertation examines two research questions. First, if political leadership is not representative of the citizenry, is land policy more likely to engender overt conflict? Second, if civil society has an autonomous role in the public sphere, is land policy more likely to benefit citizens? This dissertation also confronts an emerging empirical problem: the absence of descriptive data in regards to how civil society and political leadership have engaged in reforming land policy in Zimbabwe during the period of transition from 2008 to 2013.
  • Country Advice Zimbabwe Zimbabwe – ZWE37118 – Harare –

    Country Advice Zimbabwe Zimbabwe – ZWE37118 – Harare –

    Country Advice Zimbabwe Zimbabwe – ZWE37118 – Harare – Movement for Democratic Change – MDC supporters – National Youth Service – Internal relocation – Tribal groups 12 August 2010 1. Please provide information on the risk of harm to active pro-MDC supporters and activists in Zimbabwe. Please also comment on the situation for people who sympathise with or secretly support the MDC but do not openly express those views. Human Rights Watch and the US Department of State report that both perceived and known MDC members and supporters, as well as their families, continue to be harassed, arbitrarily arrested, assaulted, intimidated and killed. The perpetrators are primarily members and supporters of ZANU-PF, ZANU-PF affiliated youth militia, war veterans and, to a lesser extent, police officers and security forces. On a number of occasions, citizens have reported being “harassed or assaulted for listening to music or singing songs affiliated with the MDC-T”. ZANU-PF supporters and state security agents also reportedly “abducted and tortured dozens of opposition and civil society members, as well as student leaders, as part of an effort to intimidate MDC supporters and civil society members and leaders”. Such abductions were rarely investigated by the government. Furthermore, ZANU-PF government officials reportedly removed perceived MDC supporters from civil service positions and the military.1 Political violence against perceived ZANU-PF opponents, including citizens suspected of being sympathetic to the MDC, has continued despite the signing of a power-sharing agreement between ZANU-PF and the MDC in September 2008, and the formation of the unity government in February 2009. Throughout 2009, political violence targeting opposition MDC members and supporters resulted in at least three deaths, while at least 19 people died from injuries sustained during the 2008 election-related political violence.
  • Zimbabwe’S Eighth Minister of Finance

    Zimbabwe’S Eighth Minister of Finance

    3/3/15 Tendai Biti On a chilly Monday morning on February 16th, 2009, I walked into the New Government Complex in Harare’s Central Avenue. As I strode for the very first time down a poorly lit corridor, eyes strained and necks stretched behind wide open doors to catch a glimpse of the newcomer with a reputation for short temper. I was ushered into a comfortable office that was to become my home for the next four and a half years. I had just become Zimbabwe’s eighth Minister of Finance. In 2008, the country had held a general election. Our opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), had narrowly won control of the lower house of Parliament. The Presidential election, on the other hand, had to go to a second round, which turned into a violent and chaotic farce. This prompted our party to pull out of the runoff. Robert Mugabe, the 84-year-old president of Zimbabwe, was controversially re-elected amid bloodshed and intimidation. Faced with a Zimbabwe on the brink of a political and economic precipice that threatened to Video clip from “Roadblocks, Recovery, and Relapse,” Dec. 16, plunge the region into turmoil, regional leaders 2014. Scroll down for more. pushed for a political settlement. The country’s economic meltdown had already been weighing on its neighbors, and in March 2007, regional leaders had mandated South Africa to facilitate dialogue amongst Zimbabwe’s three main political parties. Following the controversial 2008 election, South Africa’s president, Thabo Mbeki, used that mandate to push for a settlement amongst the Zimbabwe National African Union-Patriotic Front, or ZANU (PF), led by Robert Mugabe, the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai and a smaller formation of the MDC led by Arthur Mutambara, a former student leader, Rhodes Scholar and Oxford-trained scientist.
  • Update Briefing Africa Briefing N°70 Harare/Pretoria/Nairobi/Brussels, 3 March 2010 Zimbabwe: Political and Security Challenges to the Transition

    Update Briefing Africa Briefing N°70 Harare/Pretoria/Nairobi/Brussels, 3 March 2010 Zimbabwe: Political and Security Challenges to the Transition

    Update Briefing Africa Briefing N°70 Harare/Pretoria/Nairobi/Brussels, 3 March 2010 Zimbabwe: Political and Security Challenges to the Transition I. OVERVIEW regular functioning of the National Security Council in place of the infamous Joint Operations Command, pub- As Zimbabwe enters its second year under a unity gov- lic consultations on a new constitution and preparation ernment, the challenges to democratic transformation for elections. have come into sharp focus. Despite reasonable progress in restoring political and social stability, ending wide- These delays reflect the two deeper challenges on which spread repression and stabilising the economy since Feb- this briefing concentrates. First, a mature political system ruary 2009, major threats could still derail the reform must develop, so that ZANU-PF and MDC engage as process. In particular, resistance of intransigent and still both competitors in the political arena and partners in powerful security sector leaders and fractious in-fighting the inclusive government. This will be difficult, espe- between and within the Zimbabwe African National Union cially under the divisive Mugabe, but other ZANU-PF (ZANU-PF) and the Movement for Democratic Change leaders, including the factions led by Vice President Joice (MDC) must be addressed now. South Africa and other Mujuru, and Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, countries in southern Africa – who monitor the accord know that their party has lost much popular support and that guides the transition – must press the parties, and needs a generational shift. For its part, the MDC must particularly President Robert Mugabe, to see the transi- keep faith and engaged with its broad following in the tion through to a successful conclusion.