U.S. Ambassador Slams Zimbabwe's Ruler
This story was written by CBSNews.com's Tucker Reals in London and CBS News producer Sarah Carter in Johannesburg.
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.
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.