U.S.: Mugabe Tightens Grip On Zimbabwe

Opposition Leader Seeks Humanitarian Aid; Says Country Faces "Catastrophic Situation," May Collapse

(CBS/AP)  The U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe said Thursday that international pressure has failed to weaken Zimbabwe strongman Robert Mugabe.

Western and African countries have been trying to persuade Mugabe with sanctions and isolation to follow through on a Sept. 15 power sharing agreement with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

But U.S. Ambassador James McGee said Mugabe shows no sign of following through on the agreement or buckling under pressure. "I think his grip on power may actually be stronger than it was this time last year," McGee told reporters by videoconference from Harare.

Tsvangirai won presidential elections in March but withdrew from a runoff after violence against his supporters - blamed on police, soldiers and Mugabe party militants. Mugabe went ahead with the runoff, which was denounced as a sham by observers at home and abroad.

Tsvangirai insisted that under the power-sharing deal, his party should be given ministries related to security, such as police, in any unity government. So far, only the finance ministry has been offered to the opposition.

McGee said that Mugabe has bolstered his power through a political patronage system that he has maintained despite dire financial and health conditions.

"He does have the absolute authority of the heads of the security forces," McGee said. Nevertheless, he said, change will have to come from political pressure within Zimbabwe.

While the political crisis continues, health conditions in the country have rapidly worsened, said McGee. He said the United States was working with aid groups to end rampant cholera outbreaks and malnutrition in the country.

Opposition Leader: Nation On Verge of Collapse

Meanwhile, in an interview with AP Television in Berlin on Thursday, Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe is facing "a catastrophic situation" in terms of food.

"We believe that by January we need to feed over five-and-a-half-million people and that is almost three-quarters of the adult population," he said.

(Left: A young boy waits for customers while selling wild fruits by the roadside in Murehwa, November, 12, 2008. The U.N. estimates more than 5 million people - about half of Zimbabwe's population - will need food aid by the begining of next year.)

As Tsvangirai visited Berlin, the German Foreign Ministry promised humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe.

Deputy Foreign Minister Reinhard Silberberg met with the Zimbabwean opposition leader and pledged €500,000 euro ($625,000) to the southern African country.

The ministry says the money will help alleviate a looming humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.

Food is increasingly scarce there and the government has been paralyzed as Tsvangirai and Mugabe wrangle over a power sharing agreement.

"I think if this agreement is not put in place for the next one-and-a-half months, two months, I think we will see the opportunity for that missed," said Tsvangirai.

He warned the whole country could collapse.

"A collapse scenario is very dangerous for the country, because we are not able to deal with the basic issues of the people, and the possibility of chaos and spontaneous reaction - because people have nothing - is (getting) very, very high every day that passes, without this agreement being implemented, and that is my fear," he said.

[gramto8]

Zimbabwe actually looks a lot like the USA would eventually start looking if Bush and his ilk remained in office. Anyone who has to work for a living is suffering and barely able to afford to feed their family, and the rich are getting richer and more powerful all the time.

[downsteamjim]

Zimbabwe is a good example of share the wealth. It has gone from Africa''s food basket to basket case through the use of liberal ideas such as punish those who produce and reward those who do not.