08/09/2002

EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-10056

ZIMBABWE MUST REVERSE COURSE

For over two years, Zimbabwe has been wracked by political and economic chaos. President Robert Mugabe's increasingly authoritarian government has cracked down on his opponents, on the press and on the judiciary.

Now, President Mugabe's chief political opponent is facing charges of treason. Morgan Tsvangirai (CHAHN-gih-RYE) will stand trial in November on charges he plotted to assassinate Mr. Mugabe. If convicted, Mr. Tsvangirai could receive the death penalty.

The criminal charge was filed after the release of secretly recorded videotape of an October meeting of opposition leaders. Zimbabwe's government said the tape shows Mr. Tsvangirai organizing a plot against the president, but the tape was reportedly heavily edited and rearranged to incriminate him.

There is no convincing evidence for the trumped-up charges that have been lodged against Mr. Tsvangirai. But what is well documented in Zimbabwe is the fact that a campaign of violence and intimidation has been waged against the people by the government and the ruling Zanu-PF party. This campaign was highlighted by violent land seizures, an assault on the independent media, and contempt for the rule of law and the human rights of the Zimbabwean people.

Zimbabwe has driven its farm economy into chaos. A disastrous hunger crisis threatens nearly half the country's twelve and a half million people. This has taken a toll on the entire region, discouraged investment and trade, and created the potential for a refugee crisis.

Zimbabwe's government must reverse course. As U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has said, "[President Mugabe's government's] policies and actions have been marked by a blatant disregard for the rule of law." As a result, the U.S. and the European Union have imposed travel restrictions on a number of senior Zimbabwe officials and others. The European Union has also acted to freeze the assets that those officials hold in EU countries. The United States is considering similar measures.

President Mugabe must act now to end violence and intimidation and restore the rule of law in Zimbabwe. It is up to President Mugabe to respect the rights of the press, opposition political parties, and the judiciary.