Embassy of the United States

Zimbabwe

U.S. Government on Zimbabwe

Efforts to Pressure Zimbabwe Continue Under Obama
Zimbabwe’s longtime ruler, Robert Mugabe, is not getting a reprieve from President Obama, who is actively continuing U.S. efforts to convince the international community, and particularly Zimbabwe’s neighbors, that they must not stand by as the country’s people continue to suffer from humanitarian and economic catastrophe.
(America.gov, Jan 29, 2009)

No Call for Military Intervention in Zimbabwe says Ambassador Eric Bost 
"The December 23 editorial [The Star], “Threats won’t move Mugabe,” rightly calls for “African solutions"...  However, the editorial goes on to misrepresent the United States’ position on how to move this situation forward..."
(Ambassador Bost. Letter to the Editor of The Star.  Published Jan 6, 2009)  

United States Withdraws Support for Zimbabwe Power-Sharing Pact
The United States no longer supports the September 15 power-sharing agreement between Zimbabwe’s government, led by Robert Mugabe, and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, the State Department’s top envoy to Africa said, adding that Mugabe is incapable of sharing power.
(America.gov, Dec 22, 2008)

Press Roundtable with US Assistant Secretary of State for Afican Affairs Jendayi Frazer
"I was sent to the region by Secretary Rice to consult with SADC leaders about the political, economic and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.  We are witnessing a country in complete collapse, becoming a failed state."
(Transcript, US Embassy, Dec 21, 2008)

Statement by President Bush on Situation in Zimbabwe
"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"
(America.gov, Nov 22, 2008)

Update by Ambassador McGee on Political Situation in Zimbabwe
"I think what’s even more important today, though, is the humanitarian crisis that is following up from this political impasse. We’re seeing the humanitarian situation here in Zimbabwe really go down the tubes."
(America.gov, Nov 20, 2008)

Zimbabwe's Mugabe Stalling On Power-Sharing - US Ambassador
"We can expect continued absence of good will from President Mugabe and his allies as they attempt to cling to power and continue to enrich themselves"
(Interview with Ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee. VOA, Oct 16, 2008)

Zimbabwe’s Mugabe “Overstepped” in Claiming Key Ministries
In claiming the country’s most powerful government ministries, Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe “apparently overstepped” the power-sharing agreement brokered between his government and the political opposition, says a U.S. official, who urges that the original agreement be implemented. ..
(Article, America.gov, October 14, 2008)

US Stance On Zimbabwe Government To Be 'Performance-Based'- Ambassador
[An interview with U.S. Ambasssador to Zimbabwe, James McGee]
On Wednesday U.S. Ambassador James McGee articulated more specific criteria by which Washington will measure the success of the agreement, calling for a “ratcheting up” towards adherence to key principles including the restoration of the rule of law, respect for human rights, a crackdown on corruption, and the restoration of a market economy.
(By Blessing Zulu. Voice of America, 17 September, 2008)

United States Supports Zimbabwean Political Agreement
State Department says deal speaks to “political evolution” in the country
Washington — The Bush administration has not yet reviewed the 50- to 60-page political deal signed September 11 between Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, but a State Department spokesman expressed general support for the agreement and urged that it be “faithfully implemented.”
(Article, America.gov, September 16, 2008)

Zimbabweans have been told that a power-sharing deal has been struck between the government and its political opposition.
Washington — U.S. officials are withholding comment on a power-sharing deal between Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai pending their study of the agreement.
(Article, America.gov, September 12, 2008)

Zimbabwe Urged to Allow Aid Groups to Provide Assistance
"A humanitarian crisis looms, yet the government of Zimbabwe continues to suspend most nongovernmental organizations' access to vulnerable people in dire need of life-saving humanitarian assistance," the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said.
(Article. America.gov, Aug 1, 2008) 

U.S. Sanctions Tightened Against Zimbabwe Regime
Washington -- Citing continued politically motivated violence and the failure to lift a ban on humanitarian assistance, the Bush administration expanded its economic sanctions against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and other individuals and entities with close ties to his regime.
(Article, America.gov, July 25, 2008)

Statement by the President on Sanctions Against Illegitimate Government of Zimbabwe
"Today I have signed a new Executive Order that expands our sanctions against the illegitimate Government of Zimbabwe. The new Executive Order significantly enhances our ability to designate individuals in and entities connected to the Mugabe regime."
(White House News, July 25, 2008)

Executive Order: Blocking Property of Additional Persons Undermining Democratic Processes or Institutions in Zimbabwe
I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, find that the continued actions and policies of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe's democratic processes or institutions, manifested most recently in the fundamentally undemocratic election ...
(White House News, July 25, 2008)

Treasury Designates Zimbabwean Parastatals and Companies Supporting the Mugabe Regime
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated seventeen entities, including several Zimbabwean parastatals, and one individual whose support for Robert Mugabe's regime contributes to the undermining of democratic processes and institutions in Zimbabwe.
(Press Room, U.S. Treasury, July 25, 2008) 

United States Wants Zimbabwe Talks to Express Popular Will
Washington -- The Bush administration will be closely watching talks between Zimbabwe’s political factions in Harare, according to a State Department spokesman, who also voiced U.S. support for a negotiation process “that leads to a result that expresses the will of the Zimbabwean people.”
(Article, America.gov, July 21, 2008)

THE CRISIS IN ZIMBABWE AND PROSPECTS FOR RESOLUTION
HEARING before the COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS,UNITED STATES SENATE. Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Witnesses:   
The Honorable Jendayi Frazer, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, Department of State, Washington, DC
The Honorable Katherine J. Almquist, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington, DC
Mr. Tom Melia, Deputy Executive Director, Freedom House, Washington, DC 
Ms. Michelle Gavin, Adjunct Fellow for Africa, Council on Foreign Relations, New York, NY

U.N. Security Council Fails to Pressure Zimbabwe’s Government
Washington -- Expressing disappointment at the failure of the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution condemning and sanctioning Zimbabwe’s leaders, U.S. officials said they will continue to seek ways to pressure President Robert Mugabe’s government to end the violence against its political opposition and engage it in serious negotiations.
(Article, America.gov, July 14, 2008)

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador , Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, on Zimbabwe, at the Security Council stakeout
"we believe that if one is serious about the situation, given the record that we have had with Mr. Mugabe, we need to add pressure to incentivize him to cooperate. That’s why what we have proposed is very tailored, very focused sanctions, an arms embargo, and targeted sanctions on individuals in whose hand it is to allow a process to start that can produce results"
(USUN Press Release, July 8, 2008)

G8, African Leaders Discuss Zimbabwe
(Article, America.gov, July 7, 2008)

Zimbabweans Relying on Foreign Broadcasts for Political News
(Article, America.gov, July 1, 2008)

Statement by President Bush on Election in Zimbabwe
(Statement, America.gov, June 30, 2008)

Bush Calls for Additional Sanctions Against Zimbabwe’s Rulers
(Article, America.gov, June 30, 2008)

Crisis in Zimbabwe
(Press Statement by Tom Casey, Deputy Spokesman Dept of State, June 29, 2008)

Zimbabwe Election Will Not Be Considered Legitimate
(Article, America.gov, June 26, 2008)

Negotiated Settlement is Best Way Forward in Zimbabwe
(Article, America.gov, June 24)

Ambassador McGee Briefs on Recent Developments in Zimbabwe
(Transcript, America.gov, June 24)

Mugabe Regime Prepares to Force Vote in Sham Zimbabwe Election
(Article, America.gov, June 24)

Speech by U.S. Ambassador McGee on the Precipice in Zimbabwe
(Transcript, America.gov, June 23)

Statement by Secretary Rice on the Crisis in Zimbabwe
Transcript, America.gov, June 23)

Zimbabwe’s Government Illegitimate Without Free and Fair Vote
(Article, America.gov, June 23)

No Pretense Zimbabwe Vote Will Be Free and Fair, Rice Says
(America.gov, June 19)

Hope Fades for Free Election: A Fact Sheet
(America.gov, June 18)

Rice, Kenyan Prime Minister Odinga Remarks Before Their Meeting: Leaders discussed Kenya’s democracy, crisis in Zimbabwe
(Transcript, America.gov, June 18)

Time to send Mugabe a Loud Message
(Op-Ed by U.S. Ambassador Bost in 'The Times', June 14)

Zimbabwe Government’s Theft of Children’s Aid Is “Unconscionable”
(Article, America.gov, June 12)

Time for UN Security Council to take up Zimbabwe Issue
(Statement by the White House Press Secretary, June 12)

Transcript of Ambassador McGee Briefing on recent events in Zimbabwe
(America.gov, June 6)

International Community Monitoring Situation in Zimbabwe
(Article, America.gov, June 6)

Security Council to Discuss Detention of Diplomats in Zimbabwe
(Article, America.gov, June 5)

Nations with Influence on Zimbabwe Must Use Maximum Leverage
(Article, America.gov, June 4)

Zimbabwe Suspends CARE Operations, Leaving 110,000 Without Food
(Article, America.gov, June 3)

Statement by President Bush on the Violence in Zimbabwe
(Article, America.gov, June 2)

United States Will Continue to Speak Out for Freedom in Zimbabwe
(Article, America.gov, June 2)

Breaking the Silence on Political Violence in Zimbabwe
(Open letter by US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, America.gov, May 14)

Police Harass Diplomats; Conditions Do Not Exist for Free and Fair Runoff Vote
(Article, America.gov, May 13)

Campaign of Terror Unleashed in Zimbabwe
(Fact sheet, America.gov, May 7)

Final Vote Tally Has “Serious Credibility Problems”
(Article, America.gov, May 2)

Remarks by Ambassador Wolff on the Situation in Zimbabwe
(Media Briefing, U.N. Security Council, April 29)

Press Roundtable with Assistant Secretary Jendayi Frazer (pdf)
(Transcript released to media by U.S. Embassy, Pretoria, April 29)

Assistant Secretary Jendayi Frazer’s meeting with MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai
(Media Release, U.S. Embassy, Pretoria, April 25)

Regional Actors Must Get Involved; Election Results; Chinese Weapons; Abuse of Opposition Supporters  (Spokesman, Dept of State, April 22)

U.S. Supports African Stance Against Arms Shipments to Zimbabwe (Article, America.gov, April 22)

AU; SADC Need to Speak up (Secretary of State, April 17)

Independence Day Message(U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, April 17)

United States Extremely Concerned about the Situation (U.S. Permanent Representative to U.N., April 16)

Condemning the Use of Violence against Opposition (Spokesman, Dept of State, April 11)

Pre-Election Irregularities Endanger Zimbabwean Election (Spokesman, Department of State, March 25)