US Senate passes democracy bill

The ICG report was released the day after the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 which proposes far-reaching sanctions against Zimbabwe. The bill, which was first introduced into the Senate last year, went through two readings in the Senate before being referred to the foreign relations committee. The committee’s approval paves the way for the proposed law to sail unopposed through the House of Representatives, Zimbabwe’s ‘Standard’ newspaper reported.

The bill halts the US government and all institutions with American links from dealing with the Zimbabwean government. It also proposes a freeze on aid and bilateral trade worth millions of US dollars. The bill targets Mugabe, his immediate family, his cabinet ministers, government and ZANU-PF officials from travelling to the United States.

According to the ‘Standard’, quoting the bill, pre-requisites for restoring normal relations include: “The restoration of the rule of law, respect for ownership and title to property, freedom of speech and association, an end to lawlessness, violence, and intimidation which is sponsored, condoned, or tolerated by the government of Zimbabwe, the ruling party and their supporters or entities.”