Bush Imposes Zimbabwe Travel Limits

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) on Friday imposed limited travel sanctions on Zimbabwe, citing a "continued failure" by President Robert Mugabe to maintain democratic rule in the African country.

Bush signed a proclamation that suspends U.S. entry privileges for Mugabe, his family or senior members of Mugabe's government. He also denied entry to those who received "significant financial benefit" from dealings with Zimbabwean officials who carried out Mugabe's policies.

The suspension is effective immediately, Bush said, and would be terminated at the discretion of Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Bush said he took the action "in light of the political and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe, and the continued failure of President Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwean government officials and others to support the rule of law."

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Bush acted mainly because Mugabe expelled European Union election observer Pierre Schori of Sweden earlier this week, and banned foreign journalists from covering presidential elections, scheduled for March 9-10.

Just before imposing the media ban, Mugabe decried independent media as "liars, downright liars" who are overly critical of his government. "They fabricate news, exaggerate news, they manufacture news," Mugabe said. "Why don't we arrest them?"

Fleischer said Mugabe could undo the travel suspensions if he allows the elections to proceed legitimately.

"Conditions for a transparent election process in Zimbabwe have eroded," Fleischer said. "There is still time for the Zimbabwe government to reverse this process. ... President Bush hopes that soon the people of Zimbabwe again will enjoy political and economic freedoms."

Mugabe, fighting to hang onto power after 22 years in office, has clamped down on the opposition ahead of elections. Human rights groups and opposition leaders have said restrictive new laws and a months-long campaign of violence and intimidation have made it nearly impossible to hold a free, fair election.

Friday, police in Harare fired shots and tear gas at opposition officials, including presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, considered the strongest challenger to Mugabe.

Bush signed a law in December that called for targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe, including travel bans, if political violence and intimidation go unchecked. The law would offer an economic recovery package if fair elections are held.

(February 22, 2002) - Zimbabwe Opposition, Observers Attacked--- Zimbabwe police shot at the convoy of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Friday and two South African election observers were wounded in a separate attack by pro-government militants, the opposition party said. The incidents came as southern African observers warned that a wave of political violence threatened chances for a free and fair election on March 9-10.

Bush signed a proclamation that suspends U.S. entry privileges for Mugabe, his family or senior members of Mugabe's government. . .
Oh, yes, I can just see Mr. Mugabe now seeing the error in his ways. Tomorrow we will read that Mr. Mugabe is now calling for "open elections", "restoring all lands to their rightful owners", and disarming the "war veterans". < /sarcasm>

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