U.S. Ambassador Slams Zimbabwe's Ruler

Diplomat Tells CBS News Robert Mugabe's Regime Is Illegitimate And Guilty Of Massive Bloodshed

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com's Tucker Reals in London and CBS News producer Sarah Carter in Johannesburg.

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The U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe has told CBS News that President Robert Mugabe is essentially governing illegally, and that the Zimbabwean leader is telling a "lie" when he says his government is not behind the bloodshed in his country.

Ambassador James McGee, who has held his position in Harare for nine months, said that, even after witnessing atrocities in Vietnam and a coup in the Ivory Coast, he's never seen anything like this.

"I have witnessed with my own eyes the victims of violence, and any attempt by the government to claim that it's the result of opposition activity is simply a lie," McGee told CBS News on Thursday during a visit to neighboring South Africa.

Mugabe has called for a presidential runoff against opponent Morgan Tsvangirai, whose Movement for Democratic Change party claims he won a March 29 election against the long-time ruler. Many aid agencies agree. Others suggested the result was too close to call.

There were wide-spread allegations of vote-rigging and intimidation before the original vote, and ever since Mugabe's insistence on a runoff, scheduled for June 27, violence has spiraled out of control.

McGee said he could "personally confirm" that more than 70 people had been killed, 3,000 hospitalized, and at least 30,000 chased from their homes and villages.

As one of the few Western diplomats who has dared, or been permitted, to venture outside of his nation's secure compound in Harare, he's witnessed the intimidation with his own eyes.

Driving around the outskirts of the capital city the night before coming to give a speech in Johannesburg, McGee saw "houses burnt to the ground."

He described seeing a crowd of 500-600 Zimbabweans come running "out of nowhere," chased by at least 100 members of what he said were one of the many Mugabe youth militias - wearing the colors and symbols of the ruling Zanu-PF party.

McGee told CBS that the youths were waving clubs, sticks and tire irons, and they corralled the larger group into attendance at a rally for Mugabe.

Four young men, supporters of the opposition party, were killed in a firebombing attack outside Harare Wednesday night. McGee said he knew one of the youth's fathers and would be meeting with him soon.

The diplomat said he's received reports of an elementary school principal being dragged out of his office in broad daylight, never to be seen again. His crime, according to McGee, was working at a polling station during the March 29 election where the official results showed Tsvangirai, seen at left, as the winner.

Echoing sentiments from other international diplomats in recent days, McGee said, "the current climate, as it is now, makes free and fair elections impossible." He added that Tsvangirai - who's been jailed four times since his recent return from South Africa - is "hounded at every turn."

There have been numerous reports that Tsvangirai may withdraw from the June 27 runoff, protesting it as a farce, but according to the AFP news agency the MDC insisted Friday that it would stand in the election.

Campaign vehicles belonging to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have been confiscated. The national public broadcaster has officially stopped airing MDC political ads (few were shown before the policy decree), and Tendai Biti, the party's No. 2 official is facing charges of treason.

Police also accuse Biti of publishing false statements, insulting the president and charges related to interference with the nation's security forces. McGee tells CBS News his only "crime" was announcing the March 29 results, based on official tallies from polling stations.

A high-level Zimbabwean court ruled against Biti's appeal of the charges Friday. He could face execution if convicted.

McGee said Thursday that, "at a basic level, there is no government of Zimbabwe." The ambassador told CBS News that, according to national law, the parliament was dissolved just prior to the March leadership election. It was never reinstated. Thus the Mugabe and his ministers, "have never been appointed by any parliament," McGee explained.

Despite his consternation at the situation in Zimbabwe, and his severe doubts that next Friday's vote can be considered legitimate, McGee said the U.S. would do everything to get as many international observers in as possible. He said that was the only hope for a fair election.

He added that the U.S. has been active in helping to feed a nation whose economy has been crippled by corruption and Mugabe's land reforms. McGee said inflation in Zimbabwe is currently at a staggering 200 percent, according to "reliable private estimates."

The diplomat recounted the story of some workers who paid the 600 million Zimbabwean dollar fare to get the bus into Harare this week, only to find themselves stranded there later in the day. During the workday inflation had risen, and the bus fare was up to 800 million dollars. They couldn't afford the ride home.

He said he hears daily stories of businesses shutting down. The government, according to McGee, is "printing money 24 hours a day."

The nation which was once, not too many years ago, considered an example of success in modern Africa, has been brought to its knees by the man who's led it for 28 years. Now the country, and the world, seem unable to do anything but wait and watch what happens next Friday.

What is clear from Mugabe's recent actions, if the accounts by Ambassador McGee and many others are painting an accurate picture, is that next week will not likely lead to a smooth transition of power.

[terrorislami]

MUSLIMS SLAUGHTERING NON-MUSLIMS,,, TYPICAL,,,

Mugabe%u2019s Muslim Thugs Raid Christian Offices

Well, let%u2019s see; Zimbabwe%u2019s Muslim President, Robert Mugabe, has %u201Ccured AIDS,%u201D expelled ALL gayys, and now is cracking down on Christians%u2026 I smell genocide in the air%u2026

Zimbabwe Police Raid Christian Offices
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Police raided Zimbabwe Christian Alliance offices on Monday and arrested five staff members for interrogation, the group reported.
Faced with the very real prospect of losing power, the 84-year-old Mugabe and his party the Zanu-PF party has resorted to violence, including an alleged plan to assassinate Tsvangirai and other key leaders of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change Party.
Under Mugabe, Zimbabwe which was once dubbed the breadbasket of southern Africa, has spiraled into an economic meltdown that includes an unemployment rate of about 80 percent and inflation at more than 100,000 percent.
http://doctorbulldog.wordpress.com/2008/06/11/mugabes-muslim-thugs-raid-christian-offices/

[Latrocinor]

If South Africa wanted this to end they could stop propping up Mugabe.

Posted by downsteamjim
.. .. ..

South Africa is one of his critics.

[Latrocinor]

The truth hurts, right brown-noser?

Posted by haoli25
.. .. ..

You wouldn''t know the truth is it was a pie in your face. LOL!

[haoli25]

To earth56


The truth hurts, right brown-noser?

[bluestardad]

THE WEST IS THE ONE WHO PUT THIS DICTATER IN POWER!

TRYING TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT WITH THE BLACK THING!

NOW THOUSANDS OF WHITE FARMERS ARE DEAD

THOUSANDS OF BLACKS ARE DEAD AND THE COUNTRY IS IN RUIN!

GOOD JOB AMERICA BRITIAN AND FRANCE!

YOU DESERVE WHAT YOU GET!

[downsteamjim]

To Iowegian: The Geneva Convention applied to soldiers in uniform. I am sure you have read it.

[downsteamjim]

If South Africa wanted this to end they could stop propping up Mugabe.

[haoli25]

It''s Africa....who really cares what they do to each other? If they only had some economic value. Right, Dubya?

[terrorislami]

HUSSEIN IS SOFT ON FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAMIST JIHADISTS,,,

HELL HIS KENYAN FAMILY AND TRIBE ARE FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAMIST JIHADISTS,,,

will hussein stop his radical muslim luo tribe relatives from slaughtering non-muslims???

apparently not,,,

U.S. Troops to African "hotspot"?

Obama Jr. Says ''Not Yet''

http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan08/obama_lou%20tribe.htm

Just one day before the Jan. 3, 2008 Iowa caucus, Sen. Barack Hussein Obama Jr. (D-Ill.), who is aiming to be America''s first African-American president, found himself taping a message from Iowa to Kenya for broadcast on the Voice of America.

Kenya, the homeland Obama Jr''s family''s Luo tribe, burst into post-election violence after Raila Odinga, a fiery Luo tribe opposition leader and Kenya presidential candidate, alleged the Dec. 27 voting that re-elected President Mwai Kibaki of the Kikuyu tribe was rigged

More than 360 people were killed and over 250,000 displaced provoking a humanitarian crisis in a country previously considered a stable pillar in east Africa.

[ioweign]

This situation with Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is a classic example of where the U.S. gets itself in hot water! The U.S. does not want to be the Worlds Policeman, don''''t want the World dialing 911 to place distress calls to the U.S., yet the U.S. is always sticking its nose in other nations business! If the U.S. is prepared to play World Police and go into Zimbabwe and do something about it then fine, but we all know the U.S. is not going into Zimbabwe! This matter should be handled by the U.N. and if the U.S. has issues and complaints about the situation in Zimbabwe they should be addressed to the U.N., not to Zimbabwe directly. This is an international matter and what the U.N. was created for, use it!

Posted by tbweb at 08:59 AM : Jun 20, 2008

Well stated..

[terrorislami]

MUSLIMS SLAUGHTERING NON-MUSLIMS,,, TYPICAL,,,

Mugabe%u2019s Muslim Thugs Raid Christian Offices

Well, let%u2019s see; Zimbabwe%u2019s Muslim President, Robert Mugabe, has %u201Ccured AIDS,%u201D expelled ALL GAYYSS, and now is cracking down on Christians%u2026 I smell genocide in the air%u2026

Zimbabwe Police Raid Christian Offices
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Police raided Zimbabwe Christian Alliance offices on Monday and arrested five staff members for interrogation, the group reported.

Faced with the very real prospect of losing power, the 84-year-old Mugabe and his party the Zanu-PF party has resorted to violence, including an alleged plan to assassinate Tsvangirai and other key leaders of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change Party.

Under Mugabe, Zimbabwe which was once dubbed the breadbasket of southern Africa, has spiraled into an economic meltdown that includes an unemployment rate of about 80 percent and inflation at more than 100,000 percent.
http://doctorbulldog.wordpress.com/2008/06/11/mugabes-muslim-thugs-raid-christian-offices/

[lochlan-2009]

"Diplomat Tells CBS News Robert Mugabe''s Regime Is Illegitimate And Guilty Of Massive Bloodshed"

While completely true, I don''t think our current administration has the right to be saying anything, after the lies and bloodshed they spread throughout the mideast, and this will just be an opportunity for the Mugabe Regime to throw it back in the Bush Regimes face.

[coco0331]

Bush wants to kill some people, he might consider starting here. Or doesn''t this concern Israel and the military industrial complex?

[realpatriot1]

We shouldn''t become involved in a military fashion in Zimbabwe but we *** sure are doing the right thing by speaking the truth and speaking it loudly!

The entire international community should speak out. This isn''t strictly an internal matter because international laws are being violated.

Even if words can''t change the reality on the ground we owe it to Mugabe''s victims to speak on their behalf. When the U''S. speaks everyone hears.

[faith_in_w]

zoe2006, anti immigrant I see.

[splish3]

Perpetuating inefficiency and tyranny is unfortunately a byproduct of the western world''s generosity to many African nations. The locals do not clamor for change as long as their bellies are full, considering that many give the corrupt local government official credit for handouts, rather than demanding their ouster.

[afmca]

Well duh ... Mugabe is just another criminal in a long list of criminals that have ruled African countries. This man should be taken out for the good of humanity. If justice was swifter I would indict him and bring him to the Hague for criminal prosecution so others like him would get the message, but that process is so long it scares nobody.

[faith_in_w]

tbweb, the UN was declared unneeded by the Limbaugh Listeners Club in 2002.

[tbweb]

This situation with Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is a classic example of where the U.S. gets itself in hot water! The U.S. does not want to be the Worlds Policeman, don''t want the World dialing 911 to place distress calls to the U.S., yet the U.S. is always sticking its nose in other nations business! If the U.S. is prepared to play World Police and go into Zimbabwe and do something about it then fine, but we all know the U.S. is not going into Zimbabwe! This matter should be handled by the U.N. and if the U.S. has issues and complaints about the situation in Zimbabwe they should be addressed to the U.N., not to Zimbabwe directly. This is an international matter and what the U.N. was created for, use it!

Here we go again messing in another country problems. It''s not like they are going to kill a future Einstein. Let them work it out, it''s not like they are sitting on oil reserve or have nuclear weapons.