In two resolutions, the U.S. House of Representatives criticizes
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe for ongoing political violence.
VOA's Dan Robison has more in this report from Capitol Hill.
One
of the resolutions condemns post-election violence in Zimbabwe earlier
this year and calls for an immediate and peaceful resolution of the
current political crisis and an end to violence.
The other
commends dock workers and union members in South Africa and elsewhere
who moved to block an arms shipment that was destined for Zimbabwe.
New Jersey Democrat Donald Payne, who chairs the House Africa Subcommittee sponsores the first measure:
"While
many African countries move to embrace democracy and rule of law, the
dictatorship in Zimbabwe has taken the once-promising country to a
state of anarchy and haplessness," said Congressman Payne.
Payne's resolution urges a cessation of attacks on and abuse of
civilians, and condemns what it calls an orchestrated campaign of
violence, torture and harassment against the opposition by the ruling
party and supporters and sympathizers in Zimbabwe's police and military.
The measure
also encourages the government and opposition to begin a dialogue aimed
at establishing a government of national unity and eventual peaceful
transition of power through free and fair elections, along with
creation of a South Africa-style truth and reconciliation commission.
Republican Chris Smith:
"With
a runoff election scheduled for June 27th, we need to send a message, a
good strong bipartisan message, that we in the U.S. and the world
expect fair, peaceful, balloting," said Congressman Smith. "The will of
the people must be heard."
United Nations Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday expressed profound alarm over the situation in
Zimbabwe, ahead of the presidential election runoff vote.
Secretary
of State Condoleeza Rice urged the U.N. Security Council and African
leaders to put pressure on President Mugabe to ensure that voting is
free and fair. The Security Council has scheduled a formal meeting
next week on Zimbabwe.
In a separate resolution, House
lawmakers commend South Africa's Transport and Allied Workers Union and
its members for their refusal to unload a shipment of arms that arrived
on a Chinese vessel in the South African port of Durban this past March.
This
resolution states that the arms were likely to be used by the Mugabe
government against the political opposition and other civilians, and
praises the Congress of Southern African Trade Unions which joined a
call by the International Transport Federation for an international
boycott of the vessel.
California Republican Ed Royce says the
actions of dock workers and union leaders likely prevented a new
outbreak of bloodshed in Zimbabwe.
"The ship of shame, as South
Africans began to call it, as African civil society dubbed it, went on
to Mozambique where it was turned away, when on to other ports in other
countries where it was turned away, and it steamed back to China," said
Congressman Royce. "Africans stood up for other Africans, an inspiring
event indeed."
House lawmakers also urge U.S. support at the
United Nations for an international moratorium on all arms, weapons and
related shipments to Zimbabwe until the country's political crisis is
resolved and democracy, human rights and the rule of law are respected
by the Zimbabwe government.
In April, the U.S. Senate approved a
resolution containing a call for a peaceful resolution of Zimbabwe's
political crisis, and urging a United Nations arms embargo.
In two resolutions, the U.S. House of Representatives criticizes
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe for ongoing political violence.
VOA's Dan Robison has more in this report from Capitol Hill.
One
of the resolutions condemns post-election violence in Zimbabwe earlier
this year and calls for an immediate and peaceful resolution of the
current political crisis and an end to violence.
The other
commends dock workers and union members in South Africa and elsewhere
who moved to block an arms shipment that was destined for Zimbabwe.
Both measures were sponsored by New Jersey Democrat Donald Payne, who chairs the House Africa Subcommittee.
"While
many African countries move to embrace democracy and rule of law, the
dictatorship in Zimbabwe has taken the once-promising country to a
state of anarchy and haplessness," said Congressman Payne.
Payne's
resolution urges a cessation of attacks on and abuse of civilians, and
condemns what it calls an orchestrated campaign of violence, torture
and harassment against the opposition by the ruling party and
supporters and sympathizers in Zimbabwe's police.
The measure
also encourages the government and opposition to begin a dialogue aimed
at establishing a government of national unity and eventual peaceful
transition of power through free and fair elections, along with
creation of a South Africa-style truth and reconciliation commission.
Republican Chris Smith:
"With
a runoff election scheduled for June 27th, we need to send a message, a
good strong bipartisan message, that we in the U.S. and the world
expect fair, peaceful, balloting," said Congressman Smith. "The will of
the people must be heard."
United Nations Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday expressed profound alarm over the situation in
Zimbabwe, ahead of the presidential election runoff vote.
Secretary
of State Condoleeza Rice urged the U.N. Security Council and African
leaders to put pressure on President Mugabe to ensure that voting is
free and fair. The Security Council has scheduled a formal meeting
next week on Zimbabwe.
In a separate resolution, House
lawmakers commend South Africa's Transport and Allied Workers Union and
its members for their refusal to unload a shipment of arms that arrived
on a Chinese vessel in the South African port of Durban this past March.
This
resolution states that the arms were likely to be used by the Mugabe
government against the political opposition and other civilians, and
praises the Congress of Southern African Trade Unions which joined a
call by the International Transport Federation for an international
boycott of the vessel.
California Republican Ed Royce says the
actions of dock workers and union leaders likely prevented a new
outbreak of bloodshed in Zimbabwe.
"The ship of shame, as South Africans began to call it, as African
civil society dubbed it, went on to Mozambique where it was turned
away, when on to other ports in other countries where it was turned
away, and it steamed back to China," said Congressman Royce. Africans stood up for fellow
Africans, an inspiring event indeed."
House lawmakers also urge U.S. support at the
United Nations for an international moratorium on all arms, weapons and
related shipments to Zimbabwe until the country's political crisis is
resolved and democracy, human rights and the rule of law are respected
by the Zimbabwe government.
In April, the U.S. Senate approved a
resolution containing a call for a peaceful resolution of Zimbabwe's
political crisis, and urging a United Nations arms embargo.
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