via US official speaks on Mugabe exclusion – The Standard January 26, 2014 by Patrice Makova
US President Barack Obama did not invite President Robert Mugabe for a landmark United States-Africa summit in August because the Zimbabwean leader is currently a “Specially Designated National” (SDN), a US official has explained.
Acting United States embassy in Zimbabwe spokesperson, Jillian Bonnardeaux said apart from being on the SDN list, Mugabe was subject to US sanctions for “undermining democratic processes and institutions in Zimbabwe”.
A Specially Designated Nationals List is a publication of Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac) which lists individuals and organisations with whom US citizens and permanent residents are prohibited from doing business.
But despite Obama’s snub on Mugabe, Bonnardeaux said the US was prepared to constantly revisit its bilateral relationship with Zimbabwe.
“The US policy is not static and continually evolves,” she said.
Bonnardeaux said the US valued and was committed to its long-term relationship with the people of Zimbabwe.
She said the US continued to support Zimbabwe through its assistance in health, economic growth and other key areas.
“The US and Zimbabwe share goals of a strong, prosperous, healthy, and democratic Zimbabwe able to meet its people’s needs,” she said.
Bonnardeaux said Obama looked forward to welcoming leaders from across the African continent to Washington on August 5 and 6 to further strengthen ties with one of the world’s most “dynamic” and fastest-growing regions.
“The summit will build on the progress made since the President’s trip to Africa last summer, advance the administration’s focus on trade and investment in Africa, and highlight America’s commitment to Africa’s security, its democratic development, and its people,” she said.
The White House last Tuesday announced Obama would invite 47 leaders to the landmark US-Africa summit, seeking to widen US trade, development and security ties with the continent.
Notable inclusion on the invitation list is Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, who is facing a trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity in connection to violence in his country after the 2007 polls, which left over 100 people dead.
But Sudan, whose president Omar al-Bashir, has been indicted by the ICC, was left out.
Apart from Zimbabwe and Sudan, Obama has also snubbed leaders from Egypt, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau — countries which Washington has concerns over the subversion of democracy.
But Mugabe’s spokesperson, George Charamba last week said Zimbabwe was not bothered by Obama’s snub.
“The world is larger than America,” he told our sister publication, NewsDay.
“In any case, it would have been very cynical for an American president presiding over runners of sanctions against Zimbabwe to invite its president for dinner.”
The US has maintained sanctions against the government and top officials close to Mugabe, accusing them of gross human rights abuses.
COMMENTS
Why cant the Americans tell the truth. There are no beds in the conference centre.
Eat that one you crooked joey bimha. Look to Angola equatorial guinea dictators for putting out their shoulders for you to cry baby onto. Munyaradzi kaseke told an informant that mugabe wears adult pampers. It’s not a laughing matter. The master terrorist criminal is very seriously ailing. Something is afoot and it doesn’t bode well
Avenger. At last I like something you have written. The image of our beloved president in pampers.
Perhaps they should have invited him… and assigned someone to make him stay awake during the meetings!
Its an illegitimate government period!
But they are working with the people of Zimbabwe in matters such as ….developing economic growth and exactly how does one do this while rejecting the leadership of that country? As an ordinary of Zimbabwe this is confusing. Its building and destroying by the same hand, using the same bricks. What is it really. If the regime is illegitimate why not treat it as it is? I believe this is just hypocrisy to force Zanupf to make some concessions like what Dos Santos of Angola has done. It has nothing to do with my freedom, democracy and economic growth. And this is why the Zanupf youth booed and disrupted a meeting attended by a US Embassy official. They know its hypocrisy. This is not to say that I support them nor do I support Zanupf and the dictatorial regime that is daily bringing misery to the majority of Zimbabweans. I hate American hypocrisy.
You can quite easily work with the people and not with the illegitimate regime. Though ZANU have tried to make this more difficult by attacking NGO’s around the country.
Bazur, what should the Americans do then, how much suffering do you want us to put up with before these adult pampers are no longer needed? Look at the budget, $200 million on pampers orders and virtually nothing for health for the people….Thank goodness someone cares…
Bazur Wa, are you a complete fool? The American government is saying that Mugarbage is not legitimate but the people of Zimbabwe are. And that they will help the people first before talking to a failed statesman.
The real reason that he has not been invited is that America is dead scared of another Milton Obote/Idi Amin style coup taking place while he is abroad, and America being accused of conspiracy with the coup plotters.
<only fools you are indeed very foolish yourself. How will they support those people practically? I believe that you cant say " the father is useless but I will deal with the children" You should just practically help the children instead of rejecting their father and giving him justification to repress more and more the children. And Munzwa the Americans and the the international community at large has a duty to practically assist the people of Zimbabwe. We need some practical measures to end the looting of the resources by Mugabe's loyalists. "Boycotts" and "some engagements" are not helping. The children of the Zanupf looters visit the USA to do business. Some even live there! Yes they have a duty to do more than just barring entrance for a few individuals while out of the picture its business as usual. This is my argument and that is why I believe that at this stage it is not genuine.
Owwww ! You cannot hit me on the nose. Blood everywhere, says Mugabe !
Really, it is about time you were whacked on the nose as you
are worse than a reckless bully, in fact you are responsible for such atrocities and manipulating of power that I’m going to give
you another one !
One occasion you will not get up !
Does Mugabe want to go to America?He must keep his Zimbabwe and LEAVE Obama alone.
There is no need to explain anything. Mugabe is prohibited from setting foot on American soil because he is a Shona Gukurahundi, PERIOD!!!
Gukurahundi should not mean Shona. Why should millions of Shonas be insulted for something they know nothing about? I am Shona, and my mother is from Kezi, not far from Dr Nkomo’s home. Actually Dr Nkomo taught my mother at primary school and I developed love and respect for him from a very young age (from stories I was told by my mum about him and his liberation inclination). The army during the operation in Matabeleland was mainly Shona, but with Ndebeles and Kalangas and Tongas too. The helicopter pilots were white. My son born in 1984 also loves Kezi and its people, and there is no reason why he should endure the insulting implication that Shona means Gukurahundi.
@machakachaka
Nobody said Gukurahundi means or refers to a Shona. Mugabe is a Shona gukurahundi, thats a fact; just as Enos Nkala was a Mthwakazi gukurahundi.
Both these two gukurahundis were the prime drivers of gukurahundism in Mthwakazi in the 1980s. Unfortunately, it just happens that by virtue of numbers, Shona gukurahundis outnumber Mthwakazi gukurahundis!!
Bazur do you think I care about your last comment? Mugarbage is NOT invited that’s all I care about. They know talking to that imbecile Mugarbage is futile anyway. But you knew that. Mugarbage hates Obama so why should he care about going. Its because he wasn’t invited that’s tearing him up inside.
let them invite him ,,,by august in all honesty guys do you think he will go ,,never
In the end, we might ask ourselves why so many African leaders decided to attend the summit. Most of them will not achieve anything more than just grinning before cameras and that will be the end of it.
The Us is indeed aware of the ills in this continent, some of which are perpetrated by the very leaders who will attend.
We want Mugabe out of state house. Then we map the way forward…without Mugabe.