US Ambassador nominee lays out path for lifting sanctions on Zim

by Julian Pecquet

2012 July 18 09:18:27 | 1079 Views

The United States might consider lifting financial and travel sanctions on Zimbabwe if the South African nation makes political reforms and allows foreigners to monitor next year's presidential elections, President Obama's nominee to be ambassador to Harare told Congress.

Bruce Wharton's testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee late last week comes as international investors are eyeing the resource-rich country with new-found interest ahead of next year's elections. The United States and the European Union are both considering relaxing their sanctions regimes, imposed after President Robert Mugabe's crackdown on political opponents and the seizure of white-owned farms in the former British colony a decade ago.

"I believe though that we do need to make it clear that our policies are flexible, they are not static, and we should be able to adjust them in response to democratic progress, progress on the rule of law on the ground in Zimbabwe," Wharton said. "Some of the benchmarks that I think would be important ... [include] continued progress on the global political agreement, clear progress towards setting a roadmap on elections and ... an express commitment from the government of Zimbabwe to welcome international as well as national election monitoring groups. Those are some of the benchmarks that I think would be critical as we look to adjusting our own policy."

Wharton went on to question the ruling party's contention that the sanctions hurt ordinary people. He said the country has seen healthy growth over the past three years despite sanctions aimed at about 120 individuals and 70 entities.

"One of the problems with sanctions, which I'm sure you're aware of, is that they have turned into talking points for the ruling party in Zimbabwe," Wharton told the panel. "I don't think though that the evidence supports the thesis that American sanctions have hurt Zimbabwe's economy."

In his written testimony to Congress, Wharton said the United States isn't seeking to dislodge Mugabe, a strongman who has been in power since its independence 32 years ago, but wanted to ensure a fair election after allegations of violence after his opponent took the lead in the 2008 election.

"U.S. policy in Zimbabwe is not about regime change," Wharton said. "Only the people of Zimbabwe have the right to change their government. Our policies support principles, not parties or people.

"However, when the right to self-determination is denied, as it has been in Zimbabwe through restrictions on citizen rights, through political violence, and fraudulent and mismanaged elections, the United States cannot stand idly by. We have taken principled steps to demonstrate our concern about the actions of those responsible for, and those who profit from, miscarriages of the promise Zimbabwe offered at independence. We will always stand up for the rights of Zimbabweans to speak, write, read, meet, organize, and fully participate in their nationâ€™s political processes."

Sanctions

Source: thehill.com