1.This Act may be cited as
the Support for Democracy and Human
Rights in Zimbabwe Act of 2007
.
2.Congress makes the following
findings:
(1)When Zimbabwe
achieved independence in 1980, its economic and democratic prospects were
bright and President Robert Mugabe was hailed as a liberator. However, 27 years
later, the economy of Zimbabwe has collapsed as income per capita has fallen
below the 1953 level and President Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National
Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) government has increasingly and systematically
exercised repression of political opposition and engaged in violations of human
rights.
(2)The Department of
State’s 2006 Country Report on Human Rights Practices states that Zimbabwe’s
2002 presidential election and 2005 parliamentary elections were neither free
nor fair, and reports that President Mugabe’s government interfered with the
campaign activities of the opposition, intimidated voters, and distributed food
in a partisan manner.
(3)The Department of
State Report also finds that the Government of Zimbabwe continues to—
(A)restrict freedom
of assembly, movement, and association;
(B)forcibly evict
civilians from their land; and
(C)harass and abuse
members of the opposition, the media, the religious community, civil society,
and organized labor.
(4)According to the
Freedom House Freedom in the World 2007 report, In 2006, Zimbabwe
suffered from a further deterioration of political rights and civil liberties
amid a near-total collapse of the country’s economy.
.
(5)Zimbabwe is a
member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Southern African
Development Community, the African Development Bank, the International Monetary
Fund, and the World Trade Organization, and a party to the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,
and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
(6)Section 2 of the
Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 (Public Law 107–99; 22
U.S.C. 2151 note) states, It is the policy of the United States to
support the people of Zimbabwe in their struggle to effect peaceful, democratic
change, achieve broad-based and equitable economic growth, and restore the rule
of law.
.
(7)In 2002 and 2003,
the United States imposed financial and immigration sanctions targeted against
selected individuals, a ban on the transfer of defense items and services, and
a suspension of nonhumanitarian government-to-government assistance, although
the United States remains one of the leading providers of humanitarian
assistance to the people of Zimbabwe.
(8)The United
Nations, the European Union, the United States, human rights organizations, and
many others have condemned the security forces of Zimbabwe for the beating,
detention, and arrest of opposition and civil society members attending a
prayer meeting on March 11, 2007.
(9)In March 2007,
the heads of state of the Southern African Development Community announced that
the President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, will mediate between President
Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in advance of the 2008
presidential election, but failed to condemn the Government of Zimbabwe for its
human rights abuses and restriction of democratic space.
(10)On March 30,
2007, it was announced that the ZANU–PF central committee had chosen President
Mugabe as the party's candidate for the 2008 election and that the
parliamentary elections will also be held in 2008, instead of 2010.
(11)A Human Rights
Watch report released in May 2007 concluded, Arbitrary arrests,
detentions, and brutal beatings by police and security forces skyrocketed in
March and April, and continue unabated. . . . The Zimbabwean government is
violating the human rights of its citizens with impunity.
.
3.It is the policy of the
United States—
(1)to support the people of Zimbabwe in their
efforts to promote democracy and respect for human rights in Zimbabwe;
and
(2)to call on President Mugabe to immediately
restore democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe.
4.Sense of
Congress on the crisis in ZimbabweThe following is the sense of
Congress:
(1)The United States
welcomes and commends the announcement by the Southern African Development
Community that the President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, will lead
negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties in Zimbabwe to resolve
the political and humanitarian crisis in a way that reflects the will of the
people of Zimbabwe and respects international standards.
(2)The creation of a
level playing field for those who want to participate in the political process
in Zimbabwe and the encouragement of transparency in the political process
should be priority objectives in the negotiations.
(3)All preparations
should be made to hold free, fair, and peaceful elections in accordance with
international standards, such as the Southern African Development Community
Parliamentary Forum Election Norms and Guidelines.
(4)Cooperation
between the United States, regional players in Africa, and the wider
international community is an important component of a proactive strategy to
support democratic rule and respect for human rights in Zimbabwe.
(5)Normalized
relations with the Government of Zimbabwe are desirable, but until the
Government of Zimbabwe promotes democracy and the rule of law, the United
States will continue to isolate the Government of Zimbabwe and expand financial
and travel sanctions targeted against those responsible for repressing the
people of Zimbabwe.
(6)The United States
Permanent Representative to the United Nations should use the voice and vote of
the United States in the United Nations Security Council to emphasize the
threat to international peace and security posed by the Government of
Zimbabwe.
5.
(a)Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, and quarterly thereafter, the Secretary of State shall provide to
Congress a briefing on the strategy of the United States for engagement with
Zimbabwe.
(b)The
briefing required by subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1)The details of a
comprehensive policy of the United States to support the people of Zimbabwe in
their efforts to promote democratic rule and respect for human rights in
Zimbabwe, including support for free, fair and peaceful elections.
(2)An assessment of
the resources necessary to most effectively enable Zimbabwe to return
peacefully to a state of democratic governance, with respect for human rights
and the rule of law.
(3)A diplomatic
strategy for engaging and encouraging regional partners in Africa to help
facilitate the transition of Zimbabwe to democracy.
(4)A review of
policy options in the event of further deterioration of the situation in
Zimbabwe.
(5)A review of
policy options in the event of an improvement in the situation in
Zimbabwe.
(6)Indicators of
progress toward democracy and respect for human rights that would allow for the
removal of targeted bilateral sanctions on Zimbabwe and strengthened relations
with the Government of Zimbabwe.
(c)The
Secretary of State shall, to the extent possible, develop the strategy
described in subsection (a) in consultation with—
(1)the United
Nations;
(2)the African
Union;
(3)the Southern
African Development Community;
(4)other
multilateral organizations; and
(5)interested
States.
(d)The
requirements of this section shall cease to be effective after the date that is
3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
6.Authorization of
appropriations
(a)Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, there are authorized to be appropriated up to
$10,000,000 for the purpose described in subsection (b).
(b)The purpose described in this subsection is
to support democracy and governance activities in Zimbabwe consistent with the
provisions of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 (Public
Law 107–99; 22 U.S.C. 2151 note), including through—
(1)support for free,
fair, and peaceful national elections in accordance with international
standards;
(2)support for the
capacity of civil society to create nonviolent political space in Zimbabwe;
and
(3)support for
programs to defend and protect the human rights of the people of
Zimbabwe.
July 24, 2007
Reported without amendment