Zimbabwe on richardknight.com

The election in March 2002 in Zimbabwe, which featured intimidation and numerous irregularities and structural impediments, was painful to watch. Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and has party ZANU-PF has been blamed for the majority of the violence and all the other problems. The American Committee on Africa was deeply involved in the long struggle for freedom, impendence and majority rule in what was then called Rhodesia. And the 1980 Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF faced the same kind of intimidation. The items may be useful. Some are not available on-line at this time but would still be useful for researchers.

Election March 2002

A Dream Betrayed by Janice McLaughlin, March 17, 2002

Sister Janice McLaughlin lives in Zimbabwe and offers her reflections on the March 2002 elections. She is leadership development coordinator at Silveira House, a Jesuit training center. In 1977 she served as press secretary for the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Rhodesia, and compiled reports about the atrocities committed by the Smith regime.

Election March 1980

In March 1980 elections were held in what was then Rhodesia. The elections were part of the Lancaster House Agreement that led to an independent Zimbabwe. Despite intimidation of voters by whites and “auxiliaries” who supported Bishop Abel Muzorewa’s UANC, the majority of the people voted for ZANU(PF).

The Zimbabwe Miracle – An Observer’s report on the Rhodesia Elections February 27-29, 1980 by George M. Houser, American Committee on Africa, March 19, 1980.

Letter from George M. Houser, Executive Director, American Committee on Africa, March 4, 1980.

American Observers Report Intimidation in Rhodesian Elections, press release, American Committee on Africa, February 20, 1980

American Observers Arrested in Rhodesia, press release, American Committee on Africa, February 19, 1980

Other

Statement by the American Committee on Africa on Sending Observers to Monitor Rhodesian Elections by George M. Houser, Executive Director for the Subcommittee on African Affairs of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, March 5, 1979. Ian Smith and Bishop Abel Muzorewa signed an “internal settlement” which excluded the main liberation organizations (ZANU and ZAPU) and did not lead to true majority rule. ZANU and ZAPU rejected the internal settlement. Under the “internal settlement” there were elections held in April 1979.

Links

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