In an interview with The Zimbabwean Ray said he had raised the issue of violence and intimidation when he met Moyo last week. Ray's position contradicts
the Zanu (PF)-controlled state media’s claims that the meeting was held because the US was desperate to mend relations with President Robert Mugabe's party.
"We have regularly released statements, reports and on-the-record interviews clearly outlining our concern and outrage over the ongoing political violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe. One of my primary goals in all meetings I have with officials across the political spectrum is to bring attention to this horrible pattern and seek solutions to stop it," Ray said.
Following Ray's meeting with Moyo, Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba stated that the USA, as well as several other Western countries had privately been infuriated by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's decision to join hands with Mugabe in the Inclusive Government, and the meetings were a first step in an ongoing process to isolate the MDC-T.
Ray said: "From the very beginning, the United States has strongly supported the GPA, the inclusive government and SADC's mediation efforts as means to building a stable environment in which safe, free and verifiable elections can be held. We are on record consistently stating this position and it is wrong to claim otherwise."
Writing under a pseudonym in a weekly column in the Herald, Charamba predicted the fall of the MDC. He claimed that the US government and other Western countries had lost confidence in the ability of Tsvangirai to deliver democracy to Zimbabwe, hence the attempts to 'normalize' relations with Zanu (PF). Charamba further claimed that Mugabe had duped Tsvangirai into joining the inclusive government, whose firm agenda Zanu (PF) had already set. This, he said was Mugabe's strategy to ensure that the MDC's image was irrevocably soiled in the eyes of countries once sympathetic to it.
The US Ambassador rejected this.
"As I said in my recent speeches on the topic of US-Zimbabwe relations, the U.S. does not favour one party over another. Our greatest focus and concern is over the country's ability to hold free, fair and verifiable elections, as well as building strong, independent government institutions. US history has shown us that having a diversity of positions and ideas best ensures that the will of the broader public is addressed. As such, we hope and expect that a variety of political parties – including Zanu (PF) and the MDCs – will contribute sincerely and constructively to Zimbabwe’s future," Ray said.
He added that "political mudslinging between parties is part of any political system. It is not the place of the US Embassy to engage in it or to comment on it".
The Ambassador said he could not promise that restrictive measures would now be lifted as has been reported.
"It is not in my power to lift the restrictive measures; however, I did explain the steps that need to be taken in Zimbabwe to eliminate political violence and promote human rights after which the United States will review the measures and begin to lift them," he said.
Last week Moyo held another high-profile meeting with the new USAID director in Zimbabwe, Melissa Williams, leading to speculation that the US was planning to give financial aid to Zanu (PF). Ray disputed this.
"We do not and will not support Zanu (PF) as a party," he said.
He said instead that the United States "is committed to building a better relationship with Zimbabwe through continuing our support for humanitarian assistance, democratic institutions and a growing economy.”
Post published in: News