[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 86 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S6247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ELECTIONS IN ZIMBABWE

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I rise to congratulate the people of 
Zimbabwe on their participation in the historic elections that took 
place over the weekend. So often, events in Africa are only mentioned 
on this floor and in the press only in the event of crisis or tragedy. 
But only days ago, the people of Zimbabwe seized control of their 
collective destiny and gave the international community a reason to 
celebrate rather than lament conditions in Africa.
  For twenty years, politics in Zimbabwe had been dominated by one 
party and indeed one man. President Mugabe had the support of all but 
three members of the 150-seat Parliament. Changes to Zimbabwe's 
constitution, even when rejected by voters as they were in February, 
could still be passed through this compliant legislature, enabling the 
executive to continue to shore up power and ignore the growing chorus 
of protest from citizens disgusted by corruption and distressed by 
mismanagement. But this week, the tide turned in Zimbabwe. Without 
access to the state-run media and without significant financing, 
opposition candidates still managed to win fifty-eight parliamentary 
seats and end the ruling party's stranglehold on the state.
  Mr. President, the world's attention was focused on Zimbabwe over the 
weekend because of the disturbing events that led up to the balloting. 
Opposition candidates and supporters have been intimidated, beaten, and 
even, in more than 25 cases, killed. International assessment teams 
have indicated that given this violent preface, these elections were 
not free and fair.
  But as we acknowledge these flaws, even as we recognize the poisoned 
environment in which citizens of Zimbabwe were called upon to make 
their choice, we must also appreciate the courage of the voters and the 
historic changes they have brought to their country. Zimbabwe is still, 
without question, a country in crisis. But the people of Zimbabwe 
themselves have taken a decisive step toward resolving that crisis. In 
the face of violence and intimidation, a remarkable number of voters 
chose a peaceful and rule-governed expression of their will, and the 
power in their statement has fundamentally changed the nature of 
governance in Zimbabwe and silenced the pessimists who claimed that 
Zimbabwe was already hopeless and lost.
  In the wake of these elections, many challenges remain in Zimbabwe. 
The next round of presidential elections must be conducted in a free, 
fair, and democratic manner. Genuine, rule-governed land reform must 
move forward. The economy must be repaired, step by step. Zimbabwe, 
along with the other African states that have troops in the Democratic 
Republic of the Congo, must extricate itself from the costly conflict. 
And perhaps most importantly, government and civil society alike must 
address the devastating AIDS crisis head-on.
  International support and assistance will be critical to these 
efforts. The Zimbabwe Democracy Act, a bill introduced by Senator Frist 
and of which I was an original co-sponsor, recognizes both the obvious 
need for more progress toward democracy and the rule of law in 
Zimbabwe, and the need for international support. I hope that the 
conditions laid out in that bill for resumption of a complete program 
of bilateral assistance will be met expeditiously. And I am glad that, 
in the meantime, the bill ensures that U.S. assistance will continue to 
bolster democratic governance and the rule of law, humanitarian 
efforts, and land reform programs being conducted outside the auspices 
of the government of Zimbabwe. This bill has passed the Senate, and I 
hope that the House will pass it soon, as it contains particularly 
timely provisions which will assist individuals and institutions who 
accrue costs of penalties in the pursuit of elective office or 
democratic reforms.
  So again, I extend my congratulations to the people of Zimbabwe on 
their historic vote, and I urge my colleagues to take note of the 
potential for real change and real progress that exists within 
Zimbabwean society and indeed within many of the countries of Africa. 
Africa is not a hopeless continent. One cannot paint the entire region 
in the same depressing and fatalistic shades. And Mr. President, I 
intend to come to this floor to highlight the promise and the 
achievements of the diverse region in the remaining weeks of this 
session, in an effort to counter the lazy, misguided analysis that 
suggests we should wash our hands of engagement with this remarkable 
part of the world.

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