US Statement on President Mkapa's mediation initiative

"The United States would welcome the purported "mediation" by former President Mkapa if it were focused on the real issues affecting Zimbabwe today:  the sustained assault by the Government and ruling party on freedom and democracy; the erosion of human rights; the growing absence of the rule of law; and, accelerating economic collapse caused by misguided policies and fueled by high-level corruption.

"The United States sees no evidence to sustain the argument that the real and growing problems Zimbabwe faces can be resolved on the basis of a bilateral dialogue between Harare and any other country or countries.  As a sovereign and independent nation, it is up to the government and people of Zimbabwe to recognize that the roots of the country's current crisis lie within Zimbabawe, and equally to assume their responsibility for devising viable solutions internally.

"The Mkapa mission would not -- and could not -- make a constructive contribution to the resolution of Zimbabwe's problems if it mistakenly focused on diversions created by the government solely to distract attention from its own responsibility for the massive crisis Zimbabwe faces today.  On the contrary, if such a "mediation" centered on the false assertion that Zimbabwe is simply the victim of forces beyond its control and has no responsibility for its own fate, it would only delay the time when Zimbabwe begins to recover from the disastrous policies of the past few years.  This would be a massive disservice to the suffering people of Zimbabwe and the United States would not be prepared to support any such initiative.

"On the other hand, if President Mkapa is able to convince the government of Zimbabwe to acknowledge its responsibility for the crisis and to embrace the need for reforms and a national dialogue focused on Zimbabwe's present and future rather than its past, this initiative could make a meaningful contribution..."

Issued: July 19th 2006 in response to questions from the Financial Gazette newspaper.