America.gov (Washington, DC)
Stephen Kaufman
14 October 2008
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said October 14 that there is now "a real bump in the road in terms of the implementation" of the September 15 agreement between Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
Under the deal, mediated by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, the opposition would control 16 Cabinet seats and Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party would have 15.
Mugabe's government published a list October 11 showing how it intends to divide the ministries. It awarded itself key portfolios such as defense, home and foreign affairs, justice, mining and land, and assigned the opposition relatively minor ministries such as constitutional affairs and water management. Tsvangirai has threatened to break off talks on forming a coalition government.
McCormack said Mugabe "apparently overstepped the bounds" of the September 15 deal "in claiming several ministries that were not part of the power-sharing agreement."
He said trust in Zimbabwe's long-term ruler has "always been the open question" when it came to the power-sharing deal. After it was announced, "we welcomed the agreement but we also held out final judgment until it was actually implemented."
"The devil is in the details of the implementation," McCormack said, and the United States will wait to see how the current impasse is resolved.
"Of course, any implementation solution has to be one that is acceptable to the MDC and Mr. Tsvangirai," he said.
According to the World Food Programme, more than 5 million people -- nearly half of Zimbabwe's population -- are facing starvation while talks to form the government continue.
In an October 9 worldwide appeal for assistance, the U.N. agency said $140 million was needed to provide enough rations for its food stocks, which are set to run out in January 2009.
Millions of Zimbabweans have already run out of food or are surviving on one meal a day, the agency said.
The United States continues to be the largest donor to the World Food Programme and has also been a leading provider of humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe. Between 2002 and 2007, the United States gave about $400 million in humanitarian assistance, most of which was food aid.
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Rafil !! I think being myopic has a remedy. You seem to have been blinded by the news you read from the government run Herald newspaper. Are you in anyway disputing the fact that Zimbabwe is in crisis and badly needs the help of the rich countries? You even go ahead to lash out insults on other forum participants. HOW MUCH OF BASIC EDUCATION HAVE YOU? IT'S QUITE A PITY THAT INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR CONSTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS HERE, YOU SPEND YOUR PRECIOUS TIME IN SUPPORTING EVIL AND INSULTING OTHERS. Now, do you mean to tell us… [Read Full Text]
I think MAC PAUL should tell all that to the people who,ve continuoeosly been behind us and mostly can,t be trusted given the past and what it entailed.Practice what you preach preacherman.
Rafil, although I agree that American should keep its nose in its own business more than it does, I think you over estimate the effect Britain and the US have had on Zimbabwe. The state of Zimbabwe can be blamed purely on one man, and that is Robert Mugabe. The country is corrupt (14th most in the world) and that is not the result of any external factors. American has had no intention to destroy Zimbabwe as you say, only to ensure human rights and democracy are maintained. Would you buy your neighbours fruit if you knew he was… [Read Full Text]
Zimbabwe is not such a big news item on USA main media. Most of the stories about Zimbabwe comes from the British papers (BBC, reuters) which are then pasted in American media. The truth of the matter is third world countries are not big news item in the states.
This was true during Rwanda genocide (unfortunately)for the USA. Despite repeated references to the USA in Zimbabwe media (Herald), the facts show that Zimbabwe is not a major item.
Now, UK has made Zimbabwe it's main African focus and at times above DRC (5 million killed in DRC) or the Sudan… [Read Full Text]
Phiri, I agree with you that Zimbabwe is not a major item on the USA media but Zimbabwe is big news in the corridors of the State Dept and the CIA. The basturds are having sleepless nights trying to find ways of dislodge the democratically elected government of Zimbabwe. They have tried everything from propaganda to open hostility and now open sanctions. They have paid voters to vote for their stooge and lately, a US army general has been running around like a headless chicken, all over SADC, looking for a base to establish AFRICOM, all in an attempt to… [Read Full Text]
AWT Independent has been underestimating the effect the Us and Britain has been having on Zimbabwe,it,s a big lie, the state of Zimbabwe can,t be blamed solely on Robert Mugabe.For your information, when a country is corrupt and prone to looting, where does most of the looted funds end up? I guess you know the answer.It,s either you,re related to some former settlers or you planned to be one, pity, the game is up.
The answer is that the funds of a corrupt country end up in the back pocket of those in power. IE Mugabe and his cronies. You didnt really give a compelling argument there did you. Better luck next time!
Takunya, I'm afraid you appear to be mistaken. GMO (genetically modified) food is not detrimental to humans or animals. GM maize and soya is planted worldwide and has a clean bill of health from the world's leading health and agricultural experts.
That the Americans will always pocknose in the affairs of independent and sovereign countries is not a new thing,the worrying part is how confident they feel openly canvassing for people who,ll readily do their bidding and support such a fellow.The Americans and Britain and their european partners came together with the sole aim of destroying an independent country whose leader refused to do their bidding.Africa has to protect it,s own even at great cost because we,ve always been victimised,brutallised,stolen from and the worrying part is that it seems like there is no end in sight, or we do all… [Read Full Text]