Rice: Mugabe exit 'well past time'
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said today that it was “well past time” for Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe to leave office.
Ms Rice said that the cholera epidemic affecting the southern African state showed it was time for the international community to “push Mr Mugabe out” after what she said was a “sham election” and a sham sharing of power.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the first round of Zimbabwe’s presidential election in March, but pulled out of the second round in June because of violence against his supporters, leaving the way clear for Mr Mugabe to claim victory.
Mr Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change had earlier won a majority in Zimbabwe’s House of Assembly in parliamentary elections in March.
Amid international pressure, power-sharing talks began in July and a deal was signed in September for Mugabe to remain president while Tsvangirai would become Prime Minister.
However, the parties are still locked in dispute over changes to the constitution and the composition of a new Cabinet.
The paralysis of the government is believed to have contributed to the health care crisis which yesterday led to Harare declaring a national emergency.
Cholera, blamed on lack of water treatment and broken sewage pipes, has killed more than 500 people since August. Zimbabwe’s economic crisis has left many unable to access clean water and a population already weakened by hunger and poverty has been particularly vulnerable to cholera.
Speaking during a visit to Denmark today, Dr Rice said: “It’s well past time for Robert Mugabe to leave, that’s now obvious. There has been a sham election, there was a sham power-sharing. We are now seeing the humanitarian toll.
“We are seeing not only the political and economic toll that is being taken on the people of Zimbabwe but the toll in the humanitarian dimension as the cholera epidemic has broken out. It is time for the international nations to push Mr Mugabe out.”
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday said:" For once we agree with the government of Zimbabwe – this is a national emergency.
“Mugabe’s failed state is no longer willing or capable of protecting its people. Thousands are stricken with cholera and must be helped urgently.
“The international community’s differences with Mugabe will not prevent us doing so – we are increasing our development aid and calling on others to follow suit.”
