Press Releases

Zimbabwe Crisis

The United States Ambassador to Lesotho, Mrs. June Carter Perry expressed the deep concern of the U.S. about the prevailing situation in Zimbabwe.  “Events in Zimbabwe over the past several weeks make clear that the Mugabe regime is determined to preserve its power, regardless of the cost of its brutal tactics to the nation and people of Zimbabwe.  The regime is attempting to blame the violence on the opposition itself. The international community rejects this patently false effort to blame the victims.  Robert Mugabe must stop brutalizing his people, and must allow Zimbabweans free exercise of their democratic rights.” 

The U.S. spokesman in Washington, D.C. also indicated that the United States is also deeply concerned about the detention of Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Zimbabwe opposition Movement for Democratic Change, and other opposition officials on March 28 at the MDC’s headquarters in Harare.  Tsvangirai, who was subsequently released, was planning to hold a press conference drawing attention to a series of abductions of MDC officials by what are believed to be government agents.  A number of these individuals are still missing, others have been found badly beaten.  Ambassador Perry stated that “We hold President Mugabe responsible for the safety of these Zimbabwean citizens and we call on Zimbabwean authorities to investigate these attacks and punish those responsible.” 

The Heads of State of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are meeting this week in the Tanzanian capital of Dar es Salaam to discuss the Zimbabwean crisis.  “We welcome and encourage this opportunity for African leaders to publicly call Mugabe to account for his misrule,” said Ambassador Perry. 

For further information, please contact the Public Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy at 22-312-666.