[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 101 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H5517-H5520]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1315
              CONDEMNING POSTELECTION VIOLENCE IN ZIMBABWE

  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1230) condemning postelection violence in 
Zimbabwe and calling for a peaceful resolution to the current political 
crisis, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1230

       Whereas the Zimbabwean African National Union-Patriotic 
     Front (ZANU-PF), led by President Robert Mugabe, has 
     controlled Zimbabwe's executive and legislative branches for 
     28 years;
       Whereas over the past 8 years, ZANU-PF has suppressed 
     political dissidents and won elections and referendums 
     through the use of vote rigging, localized violence, 
     harassment, and intimidation;
       Whereas the political and economic situation in Zimbabwe 
     has been worsening since 2000, culminating in the current 
     electoral crisis;
       Whereas Presidential and Parliamentary elections were held 
     in Zimbabwe on March 29, 2008;
       Whereas the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) released the 
     results for the 2008 presidential election 5 weeks after the 
     contest took place, announcing President Mugabe won 43.2 
     percent of the vote, while Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the 
     opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), won 
     47.8 percent of the vote;
       Whereas as the ZEC announced neither candidate won over 50 
     percent of the vote, the 2 candidates have to compete in a 
     runoff election;
       Whereas the long delay in announcing the presidential 
     election results undermined the credibility of the ZEC;
       Whereas the Zimbabwean people have indicated through the 
     ballot box that they want a change in leadership;
       Whereas in the wake of the elections, President Mugabe has 
     unleashed security forces and militia against opposition 
     supporters and members of civil society;
       Whereas over 2,900 people have been tortured and beaten, 
     and at least 36 have been confirmed dead as a result of an 
     ongoing campaign of state-sponsored political violence;
       Whereas government security forces raided the MDC party 
     headquarters, arresting 300 people, some of them children;
       Whereas government security forces have detained Morgan 
     Tsvangirai on multiple occasions as he has tried to campaign 
     for the June 27, 2008, runoff election, and have arrested MDC 
     Secretary General Tendai Biti;
       Whereas the offices of the Zimbabwe Election Support 
     Network have been raided and some of its employees detained;
       Whereas security forces have attacked humanitarian 
     organizations and civil society groups;
       Whereas the Government of Zimbabwe has suspended the 
     activities of humanitarian aid organizations in its country, 
     putting hundreds of thousands of children and other 
     vulnerable members of the population at risk of hunger and 
     malnutrition;
       Whereas diplomats, including the United States ambassador 
     to Zimbabwe, have been detained by government security forces 
     in direct contravention of the protections offered diplomats 
     in the Vienna Convention;
       Whereas South African President Thabo Mbeki has stated that 
     the political violence in Zimbabwe is a cause for ``serious 
     concern'';
       Whereas the African Union (AU) and Southern African 
     Development Community (SADC) have been continually engaged in 
     efforts to bring about an end to the political crisis in 
     Zimbabwe;
       Whereas the AU and SADC dispatched delegations to Harare, 
     but have not yet successfully compelled the Government of 
     Zimbabwe to restore the rule of law;
       Whereas Zimbabwe's gross domestic product declined about 43 
     percent between 2000 and 2007 and the unemployment rate is 80 
     percent;
       Whereas Zimbabwe's inflation rate, at almost 165,000 
     percent, is the highest in the world and has contributed 
     significantly to the country's economic collapse;
       Whereas worsening economic conditions and commodity 
     shortages have caused at least 3,000,000 people to flee the 
     country;
       Whereas after the March 29, 2008, elections the opposition 
     offered to enter into a dialogue to bring about an end to the 
     ensuing political crisis;
       Whereas all parties must engage constructively towards 
     peace and reconciliation for the sake of the Zimbabwean 
     people; and
       Whereas the people of Zimbabwe deserve the assistance of 
     the international community in the restoration of fundamental 
     human rights, democratic freedom, and the rule of law: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) calls on all security forces, informal militias, and 
     individuals to immediately cease attacks on and abuse of 
     civilians;
       (2) strongly condemns the orchestrated campaign of 
     violence, torture, and harassment conducted by the ruling 
     party and its supporters and sympathizers in the police and 
     military against members of the opposition, opposition 
     parties, and all other civilians;
       (3) calls on the Government of Zimbabwe to create an 
     environment conducive to a peaceful transition of power;
       (4) encourages the political parties to commit to forming a 
     government that reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people 
     and promotes national unity, the restoration of the

[[Page H5518]]

     rule of law, and genuine democratic governance;
       (5) advocates for a mechanism such as a truth and 
     reconciliation commission through which to ensure 
     accountability for all groups and individuals who are found 
     to have orchestrated or committed human rights violations in 
     the context of the elections;
       (6) urges the United Nations, with the cooperation and 
     support of the African Union (AU) and Southern African 
     Development Community (SADC) to dispatch a special envoy to 
     Zimbabwe without delay, with a mandate to monitor the runoff 
     elections and the human rights situation, and to support 
     efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the political 
     crisis;
       (7) urges the international community, under the leadership 
     of the United Nations, AU, SADC, and the SADC Parliamentary 
     Forum, to deploy teams of credible persons to serve as 
     monitors to ensure that the outcome of the presidential 
     runoff elections reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people;
       (8) commends the people of Zimbabwe for their continued 
     courage in the face of systematic persecution, intimidation, 
     and abuse, and commits to providing continued humanitarian 
     assistance until the economic crisis is resolved;
       (9) commends the actions being taken by activists, civil 
     society organizations, and churches in support of democracy 
     and respect for basic human rights and the rule of law in 
     Zimbabwe, and encourages these entities to maintain their 
     activities; and
       (10) stands in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Payne) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution 
and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, let me begin by expressing my appreciation to the 
unanimous support of the Congressional Black Caucus, all 21 other 
Members, who have joined as original cosponsors to this resolution 
condemning post-election violence in Zimbabwe and calling for a 
peaceful resolution to the current political crisis.
  Madam Speaker, assertive U.S. diplomatic engagement has contributed 
to conflict resolution in many African countries, especially over the 
past decade. Zimbabwe is one of the few exceptions, unfortunately. 
While many African countries moved to embrace democracy and rule of 
law, the dictatorship in Zimbabwe has taken the once promising country 
to a state of anarchy and haplessness.
  President Robert Mugabe has been in power in the country since it got 
its independence in 1980, along with Joshua Nkomo, one of the great 
freedom fighters. The two joined in building Zimbabwe in its early 
days. Great strides were made, especially in education, and Zimbabwe 
became a leader in that area throughout Africa.
  The country began to progress during those early days; however, when 
multiparty elections were introduced, the Mugabe regime began to lose 
its prominence. The Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, became an 
alternative to ZANU-PF.
  In reaction to the winds of democracy, the Mugabe regime cracked down 
on the opposition party and thwarted democracy. The people of Zimbabwe 
have suffered since that time under the brutal dictatorship of the 
Mugabe regime.
  The recent elections in Zimbabwe in March were a clear signal by the 
people of Zimbabwe that they wanted real change. Yet, Mr. Mugabe once 
again is in the process of crushing the democratic aspiration of the 
people of that country.
  Instead of stepping aside, his regime has been engaged in a brutal 
crackdown against opposition elements. Dozens of people have been 
killed, and leaders of the opposition have been imprisoned.
  The international community has done very little to help bring about 
change in Zimbabwe. We should not allow one dictator to ruin the way of 
life for millions of innocent civilians. Enough is enough.
  The 1990s saw the spread of democracy across the continent of Africa, 
once dominated by military dictators and authoritarian leaders. The 
ghastly civil wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia have finally come to an 
end. Cote d'Ivoire now is moving in the right direction.
  The DRC crisis, which erupted in 1998 and threatened to disintegrate 
the entire subcontinent, actually ended after a long and dedicated 
effort by African leaders that came up with a solution to that war of 
many countries in the DRC. In 2006, the Democratic Republic of Congo 
held its first democratic elections in years. Yet Zimbabwe still 
suffers from a brutal dictatorship.
  The African Union, despite limited resources and capacity to deploy 
peacekeepers to a number of countries, have done so in several 
instances without delay. The African Union deployed an African mission 
to Burundi back in May of 2003 after an agreement was signed in order 
to support a cease-fire accord and to ensure implementation of the 
agreement. Troops have been deployed to Sudan in the north-south 
dispute and even to the Darfur region. Actually, in Somalia, Ugandan 
peacekeepers are there under the auspices of the A.U., even though 
there is a controversial intrusion of Ethiopian troops. Yet the A.U. 
has not been as vocal as many believe it should have been in the 
support of the suffering people of Zimbabwe. African leaders must speak 
out.
  Prime Minister Odinga of Kenya, a long-time democracy advocate, said 
it right. He recently stated, ``It is sad that many African heads of 
state have remained quiet when disaster is looming in Zimbabwe.'' We 
must act now to end the suffering. We must do what we can to protect 
and support the people of Zimbabwe.
  My resolution, H. Res. 1230, calls for an immediate end to the 
violence, harassment and destruction that is ongoing in Zimbabwe at the 
expense of a once vibrant population.
  It calls on the government of Zimbabwe to create an environment 
conducive to a peaceful transition.
  It encourages the political parties to commit to forming a government 
that reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people and promotes national 
unity, the restoration of the rule of law, and genuine democracy.
  It advocates a mechanism such as a Truth and Reconciliation 
Commission through which to ensure accountability of all groups and 
individuals who are found to have orchestrated or committed a human 
rights violation in the context of the election.
  It urges the United Nations, A.U. and SADC to dispatch special envoys 
to Zimbabwe without delay, with a mandate to monitor the run-off 
elections and to come up with a peaceful resolution to the problem.
  It urges the international community, under the leadership of the 
U.N., A.U., SADC and the SADC Parliamentary Forum to deploy teams of 
credible persons to serve as monitors to ensure that the outcome of the 
presidential run-off elections reflects the will of the Zimbabwean 
people.
  We conclude by commending the people of Zimbabwe for their continued 
courage in the face of systematic prosecution and intimidation and 
abuse, and commit to providing continued humanitarian assistance until 
the economic crisis is resolved.
  It commends the actions being taken by activists, civil society, 
churches, people who are in support of human rights and the rule of law 
in Zimbabwe, and we stand in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe.
  I urge my colleagues to support the resolution and support this 
peaceful reconciliation, national healing, and let's restore democracy 
to Zimbabwe and lead this country back to the greatness that it once 
had.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1230, which 
conveys a very clear and unmistakable condemnation of the violence we 
have seen in Zimbabwe following the elections in that country. I 
strongly support the resolution's call for a peaceful solution to the 
grave crisis there today.
  If anyone had a doubt about the regime of Robert Mugabe before this

[[Page H5519]]

most recent wave of government-inspired violence, surely this thug has 
dispelled it now.
  Mugabe has clamped down on the press and has thwarted the assembly of 
the opposition, detaining his opposition figures on numerous occasions. 
We have heard gut-wrenching testimony and seen gruesome pictures of the 
intimidation, the violence and the torture of those who disagree with 
this dictator.
  And there are credible reports that some 36 people have been murdered 
by those loyal to Mugabe.
  The opposition candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, was courageous to return 
to his country, but we have all held our breath as Mugabe's forces have 
detained him several times.
  No one feels safe in Zimbabwe today, Madam Speaker. Even United 
States diplomats attempting to monitor the regime's abuses have been 
harassed, their access to public places restricted.
  Mugabe has even stooped to the pilfering of food aid and has halted 
international relief operations.
  With a run-off election scheduled for June 27, we need to send a 
message, a good, strong, bipartisan message, that we in the United 
States and the world expect fair, peaceful balloting. The will of the 
people must be heard.
  I ask the support of my colleagues for this resolution and pledge my 
support for the people of Zimbabwe in these very difficult times.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the distinguished ranking member from California.
  Mr. ROYCE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I'd also like to just take this opportunity to recognize Chairman 
Payne not just for this resolution but for all of his long years of 
work on engagement on the continent against human rights abuses, to end 
apartheid, to advance the cause of democracy, and I appreciate him 
introducing this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I would just like to also add my view that President 
Mugabe has destroyed the rule of law now in his country, in Zimbabwe, 
and 3 million people, as a result of the chaos, have fled. Life 
expectancy there is down to 34 years.
  A bread basket has been turned into a basket case where there's 
little access for food and certainly no food available for those who 
are in areas where they're trying to support the Movement for 
Democratic Change.
  It is becoming clear, I think, to many of us that President Mugabe 
will stop at nothing to prevent being voted out of office next week, 
and the run-off election comes after the March election in which the 
opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, bested Robert Mugabe in that 
election, but because of the government's brutal machinations fell 
short of the 50 percent.
  Since that time, what really concerns us as Members of the House is 
that Mugabe's agents, some of them trained by the North Koreans by the 
way, by North Korean troops, have been let loose in an effort to 
terrorize that country. There's an effort to force people to vote for 
President Mugabe, and we have read and seen the threats and the 
beatings, the abductions, the burnings of homes, the murders.
  Opposition reports indicate that of the opposition of Mugabe, 60 
members of the opposition have now been killed, including four who had 
their eyes and tongues cut out.
  Food is being used to reward supporters and obviously punish 
opponents, and Mugabe's campaign for reelection, frankly, more closely 
now resembles a war against his own country. You see the attacks there 
on the human rights groups, the churches, the unions, the rural 
communities that supported the opposition, and those have been targets 
for repeated beatings and attacks.
  Indeed, Mugabe has promised war, that's his word ``war,'' if his 
opponent triumphs in the election. So this is no environment right now 
for a fair and free election, but just as disturbing to me has been the 
reaction from the international community and the region.

                              {time}  1330

  The United Nations gave Robert Mugabe a stage to cynically mock his 
victims, participating in a food conference in Rome this month while at 
the same time he is withholding food at home. South African President 
Thabo Mbeki unfortunately has dedicated himself to shielding Mugabe 
from criticism. And shortly after the March election, Mbeki flew to 
Harare to meet with Robert Mugabe and declare ``there is no crisis.''
  I think the Washington Post got it right on their editorial page 
where they clarify Mbeki's role in the crisis very succinctly. And the 
Post said he shares ``the responsibility for the atrocities being 
committed in full view of the world because, like Mr. Mugabe, Mr. Mbeki 
deserves to be condemned and shunned by the democratic world.''
  This is the crisis that we face, the crisis in Zimbabwe, and it is a 
crisis largely of Mugabe's own making. So it is time to let the will of 
Zimbabweans be heard and end, frankly, what has become a reign of 
terror and of enormous human suffering. And again, I commend Chairman 
Payne for bringing this resolution forward.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I reserve my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I would like to again thank 
my good friend and colleague, Mr. Payne, for his sponsorship of this 
resolution. I think it sends a clear message to Zimbabwe and to Mugabe 
himself and to all of the enablers that have not done their fair part 
in trying to mitigate and hopefully end this crisis.
  And I want to thank Mr. Royce for his very eloquent statement made 
just a moment ago and for his leadership as well.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, let me express my appreciation to the 
ranking member of the Africa Subcommittee, Mr. Smith from New Jersey, 
for all the good work that he continues to do in the human rights area, 
and to the former Chair of the Africa subcommittee, Mr. Royce, who 
continues to maintain a very strong interest in the continent.
  We owe it to the people of Zimbabwe. The inflation rate is over 
165,000 percent, worst in the world, almost impossible to calculate. 
Several weeks ago, Mr. Mugabe expelled the remaining international 
humanitarian aid groups from his country, therefore making it even 
worse for his people. And so we must see a change.
  With that, Madam Speaker, I urge passage of H. Res. 1230 and urge my 
colleagues to support it.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H. Res. 1230, Condemning Postelection Violence in Zimbabwe 
and Calling for a Peaceful Resolution to the Current Political Crisis; 
introduced by my distinguished colleague from New Jersey, 
Representative Donald Payne, of which I am a proud cosponsor. This 
important legislation calls on all security forces, informal militias 
and individuals to immediately cease attacks on and abuse of civilians.
  The Zimbabwean African National Union-Patriotic Front, ZANU-PF, led 
by President Robert Mugabe, has controlled Zimbabwe's executive and 
legislative branches for 28 years; over the past 8 years, ZANU-PF has 
suppressed political dissidents and won elections and referendums 
through the use of vote rigging, localized violence, harassment, and 
intimidation. The political and economic situation in Zimbabwe has been 
worsening since 2000, culminating in the current electoral crisis.
  In the wake of the elections, President Mugabe has unleashed security 
forces and militia against opposition supporters and members of civil 
society. Over 900 people have been tortured and beaten, and 22 have 
been confirmed dead. The offices of the Zimbabwe Election Support 
Network have been raided and some of its employees detained. Security 
forces have attacked humanitarian organizations and civil society 
groups.
  Madam Speaker, such atrocities must come to an end. While the African 
Union, AU, and Southern African Development Community, SADC, have been 
continually engaged in efforts to bring about an end to the political 
crisis in Zimbabwe; unfortunately, after the AU and SADC dispatched 
delegations to Harare, they have not yet successfully compelled the 
Government of Zimbabwe to restore the rule of law.
  The people of Zimbabwe are in desperate need of our aid. A prime 
example of this is represented through Zimbabwe's gross domestic 
product which declined about 43 percent between 2000 and 2007, and the 
unemployment rate of 80 percent. Zimbabwe's inflation rate, at almost 
165,000 percent, is the

[[Page H5520]]

highest in the world and has contributed significantly to the country's 
economic collapse. Additionally, worsening economic conditions and 
commodity shortages have caused at least 3 million people to flee the 
country.
  I firmly believe that we must pass this legislation in order to 
demonstrate through our actions that the people of the United States, 
local, State, national organizations and governmental institutions 
support democracy and oppose tyranny.
  All parties must engage constructively towards peace and 
reconciliation for the sake of the Zimbabwean people. The people of 
Zimbabwe deserve the assistance of the international community in the 
restoration of fundamental human rights, democratic freedom, and the 
rule of law. That is why we must pass H. Res. 1230.
  I am proud to support this legislation and I strongly urge my 
colleagues to join me in so doing.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1230, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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