[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NEW CO-LEADERSHIP IN ZIMBABWE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 12, 2009

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a 
new leadership body in Zimbabwe, and reaffirm the need for a global 
commitment to supporting this country on its long road to recovery and 
stability.
  Yesterday, Zimbabwean President Joseph Mugabe swore in his longtime 
rival Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister. This political marriage was 
not made in heaven, but in the midst of social unrest, corruption, fuel 
shortages and unprecedented levels of unemployment, some see this union 
as a symbol of long-awaited change. Others however, fear that this co-
leadership is in name only, and that Mugabe's nearly three decades of 
oppressive rule have yet to come to an end.
  Under the Mugabe regime, voter bribery and intimidation, violence, 
press censorship and skyrocketing inflation have become all too 
familiar. Once hailed as the bread basket of Africa, Zimbabwe is now a 
nation of impoverished millionaires where 10 million dollars buys a 
loaf of bread if you are lucky, and where the vast majority are forced 
to make do with a few crumbs. Cholera, a disease that has not plagued 
the United States in nearly a century has spread to every area of 
Zimbabwe, and claimed thousands of lives because of contaminated food 
and water.
  The Shona tribe of Zimbabwe has a famous proverb: water that can be 
spoiled can also be purified. Madame Speaker, yesterday also marked the 
19th anniversary of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela's release after 27 years 
of unjust imprisonment. His freedom signified the beginning stages of 
the Apartheid era's demise, and Mandela would spearhead reconciliation 
and equality as the first fully democratically elected President of 
South Africa.
  Although Zimbabwe's fate under the new Administration is uncertain at 
best, the fact that Mugabe--a man who said that only God could remove 
him from office--swore in Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister should 
not go without notice. Whatever the future brings, two things are 
clear. Years of mismanagement under the Mugabe regime have spoiled 
Zimbabwe's economy, markets and the everyday livelihoods of its people. 
And, years of international cooperation will be needed to purge the 
corruption and violence from Zimbabwe's government, military and 
industries.
  Madam Speaker, Zimbabwe, other African countries and the rest of the 
world must work to create the incentives and frameworks that are needed 
to place and keep Zimbabwe on a path to peace, and sustainable 
development.

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