[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 10 (Monday, March 10, 2003)]
[Pages 306-307]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Congress Reporting on the National Emergency With Respect 
to Zimbabwe

March 6, 2003

To the Congress of the United States:

    Pursuant to section 204(b) of the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(b) and section 301 of the National 
Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1631, I hereby report that I have exercised 
my statutory authority to declare a national emergency with respect to 
the unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy interests of 
the United States posed by the actions and policies of certain 
individuals who have formulated, implemented, or supported policies that 
have undermined Zimbabwe's democratic institutions.
    Over the course of more than 2 years, the Government of Zimbabwe has 
systematically undermined that nation's democratic institutions, 
employing violence, intimidation, and repressive means including 
legislation to stifle opposition to its rule. This campaign to ensure 
the continued rule of Robert Mugabe and his associates was clearly 
revealed in the badly flawed presidential election held in March 2002. 
Subsequent to the election, the Mugabe government intensified its 
repression of opposition political parties and those voices in civil 
society and the independent press calling on the government to respect 
the nation's democratic values and the basic human rights of its 
citizens. To add to the desperation of the besieged Zimbabwean people, 
the current government has engaged in a violent assault on the rule of 
law that has thrown the economy into chaos, devastated the nation's 
agricultural economy, and triggered a potentially catastrophic food 
crisis.
    As a result of the unusual and extraordinary threat posed to the 
foreign policy of the United States by the deterioration of Zimbabwe's 
democracy and the resulting

[[Page 307]]

breakdown in the rule of law, politically motivated violence, and the 
political and economic instability in the southern African region, I 
have exercised my statutory authority and issued an Executive Order 
which, except to the extent provided for in regulations, orders, 
directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and 
notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit 
granted prior to the effective date:
<bullet>    blocks all property and interests in property of the 
            individuals listed in the Annex to the order;
<bullet>    prohibits any transaction or dealing by United States 
            persons or within the United States in property or interests 
            in property blocked pursuant to the order, including the 
            making or receiving of any contribution of funds, goods, or 
            services to or for the benefit of the persons designated 
            pursuant to the order.
    The Secretary of the Treasury is further authorized to designate any 
person determined, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to be 
owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act directly or 
indirectly for or on behalf of, any persons designated in or pursuant to 
the order. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized in the 
exercise of my authorities under the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act to implement these measures in consultation with the 
Secretary of State. All Federal agencies are directed to take actions 
within their authority to carry out the provisions of the Executive 
Order.
    This Executive Order further demonstrates the U.S. commitment to 
supporting Zimbabwe's democratic evolution, and strengthens our 
cooperation with the European Union in efforts to promote that 
evolution. The European Union has acted to freeze the assets of 79 
individuals responsible for the political, economic, and social 
deterioration of Zimbabwe. With the exception of two individuals no 
longer associated with the Government of Zimbabwe, this order 
encompasses all those identified by the European Union.
    I have enclosed a copy of the Executive Order I have issued.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 March 6, 2003.

Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
March 7.