Maravi

Hillary commends Zim inclusive govt

Hillary commends Zim inclusive govt
Written by George Chellah
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 3:03:27 AM

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has commended the efforts of Zimbabwe's transitional government. Clinton made the remarks in her message to the Zimbabwean people to mark the country's 29th independence anniversary, which fell last Saturday.

"I congratulate the people of Zimbabwe on the twenty-ninth anniversary of their country's independence on April 18. The United States has long stood with the people of Zimbabwe in their times of need and will continue to do so," Clinton said.

"We commend the efforts the transitional government has undertaken and the progress it has achieved towards reforms that will benefit the Zimbabwean people. The United States encourages the government to continue those important steps as it works for a more promising future for Zimbabwe."

And in his independence message during the celebrations in Harare, President Robert Mugabe called for national unity.

"I call on all Zimbabweans to dedicate themselves on this sacred day to national unity and reconciliation," President Mugabe said. "As Zimbabweans, we need to create an environment of tolerance, and treat one another with dignity and decency, irrespective of age, gender, race, ethnicity, tribe, political or religious affiliation.

"This also means an end to those instances of violence that needlessly caused untold harm to several members of our society."

Earlier, in his traditional interview with the state broadcaster, President Mugabe urged the nation to be patient with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on the campaign for the removal of sanctions.

He said the MDC needed encouragement to fully tackle the West over the illegal economic embargo.

President Mugabe said everyone wanted the illegal embargo to be lifted.

"You have got to understand that yesterday the opposition thought sanctions would be a good weapon against the ruling party that would yield them a favourable position in the political system. So for them, after calling for the imposition of sanctions yesterday to go back to those same people and say remove the sanctions is difficult," President Mugabe said.

"Although I know that they want them to go quickly, it is not easy. Prime Minister Tsvangirai preferred to call them restrictive measures when saying they should be lifted. That is the best they can do. They will have psychological difficulties and we should help them get over it."

He said the sanctions were unwarranted and it was important that Zimbabweans sing the same song.

"With time they will have summoned the courage to go to the same people and say we don't need them anymore," President Mugabe said.

President Mugabe told the nation to cherish its sovereignty and build a foundation for future generations.

On the inclusive government, President Mugabe said the creation of the inclusive government was out of respect for the different political opinions obtaining in the country.

"What is inclusivity? Inclusivity is a process of unifying people, unifying yourselves through inclusivity. The word really is a misnomer because it connotes or denotes taking elements which are extraneous and adding them to the fundamental core," President Mugabe said.

"But in our sense, which is a partnership between three parties, parties of our own people. We have recognised that these other parties have the support, substantial support, of our people. They have been supported throughout the elections we have held and mainly the March elections of last year.

"Because of that supporter yield we could not ignore the fact that the people support MDC-Tsvangirai and MDC-Mutambara. Reality must dawn on you that the people of Zimbabwe are divided between your party and others. Instead of quarrelling and unleashing violence on each other, isn't it better that you get together and start a chapter of working together?"

President Mugabe said the recent approach was consistent with ZANU-PF's policies since independence.

"If we could do it with Smith's men, why can't we do it with men from Tsvangirai's and Mutambara's parties?" President Mugabe asked. "There is no element of undermining Pan-Africanist principles here. If anything this is an enhancement of the Pan-African revolution. If you can work things out together, isn't it better than quarrelling and unleashing violence?"

President Mugabe said after last year's elections, the best way forward for Zimbabwe was a government of national unity.

Labels: HILLARY CLINTON, SANCTIONS

posted by MrK @ 2:04 AM