------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the March 20, 2003 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
BUSH ATTACKS ZIMBABWE WITH SANCTIONS By Monica Moorehead The Bush administration has issued an executive order imposing economic sanctions upon President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and 76 officials representing his government. The sanctions, which began on March 7, prohibit any U.S. corporations from making business deals with Zimbabwe and also freeze any assets these Zimbabwean officials may have in U.S. banking institutions. The U.S. action follows a similar edict carried out by the European Union last year. In a statement justifying the sanctions, President George W. Bush remarked, "Over the course of more than two 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." Like so many of Bush's utterances, this turns reality upside down. The Bush administration is doing everything in its power to undermine and destabilize Zimbabwe because Mugabe has taken a strong stance against U.S. and British imperialist designs on that country and region. The U.S. and British governments are working overtime attempting to replace Mugabe with a regime that will be more loyal to the aims and objectives of imperialism. The imperialists are filling the coffers of Zimbabwean oppositionist forces in hopes they can carry out a successful coup. Why do these imperialists hate Mugabe so much now? After all, they accepted him for many years. But for the past couple of years, Mugabe has supported the mass seizures of white-owned farms in Zimbabwe and their transfer to landless Black veterans of the national liberation war. These farms, established on the most arable lands, were first confiscated from the African people in the 19th century by British colonialists, led by Cecil Rhodes, who violently conquered what came to be known as Rhodesia. The Zimbabwean African Patriotic Union (ZAPU) and the Zimbabwean African National Union (ZANU), both mass anti-colonial movements, created a united front whose heroic resistance eventually forced the British settler government to the negotiating table. Mugabe is a former leader of ZANU. This resulted in the signing of the 1979 Lancaster agreement, which was to secure the return of these lands over a period of time to their rightful owners--the former guerrillas who wanted nothing more than to work the lands that once belonged to their ancestors. This agreement, however, never came to fruition. In fact, 96 percent of the Zimbabwean economy is still controlled not by African people but by foreign-owned corporations, largely British, including agribusinesses and banks that finance the white farmers. Therefore, these war veterans took matters into their own hands by organizing to physically remove the white farmers, with the support of the Mugabe government. As a result, both Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have demonized Mugabe in the most racist, arrogant manner that only imperialists can do. They even accused Mugabe of creating a devastating food shortage for almost 6 million Zimbabweans. This accusation is beyond being ludicrous. The food shortage is not human made but is rooted in a terrible drought that is creating mass famine and starvation throughout southern Africa. The U.S. and Britain have used this tragic famine as an excuse to argue that the white farmers should stay on their lands, portraying them as true "saviors" of the Zimbabwean people. These large landowners have modern, efficient farms, but they mainly grow tobacco and other cash crops for the world capitalist market. Mugabe spoke recently at a meeting of the so-called non-aligned countries in Malaysia, most of which are developing, oppressed countries that are subjected day in and day out to imperialist plunder, interference and bribery of officials. Mugabe made a strong statement asking that the U.S. take the first step in getting rid of its weapons of mass destruction, not Iraq. As much as the imperialists are trying to isolate Mugabe with their accusations and sanctions, a number of African leaders, including those in South Africa, have come to his defense. A fierce competition has erupted between U.S., British and French imperialism over the re-colonizing of Africa in the post-Soviet era. This helps explain why Mugabe was recently invited to participate in a meeting of French-speaking African countries despite pressure to exclude him exerted by the U.S. and Britain. He also spoke at a World Conference on Hunger in Rome last year sponsored by the United Nations. The whole world is aware that a tactical difference exists over the war crisis with Iraq between the U.S. and Britain on one side and France and Germany on the other. As the Bush administration prepares to launch another genocidal war against Iraq, the anti-war movement must not forget that not far beyond on imperialism's radar screen, along with North Korea and Iran, is Zimbabwe--a country whose only "crime" is to defend its sovereignty. To quote Mugabe, Zimbabwe is taking back the land for the people to "right an historical wrong." - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe wwnews- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. 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