The Government of Zimbabwe categorically dismisses the  caricature of Zimbabwe painted by the then US National Security Adviser and Secretary of State-Designate, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, when she described Zimbabwe, among five other countries, as an “outpost of tyranny” during her appointment confirmation hearing before the US Foreign Relations Committee [as reported in the Daily Mirror publication of 20 January 2005.] 

While we recognize that the statement was made during the usual US Senate confirmation rituals, there was no need for Dr. Rice to pander to the nauseating, nonsensical whims of the largely racist anti-Zimbabwe clique in the US Senate.

 Dr. Rice should have seized that opportunity to update the US Senate’s anti-Zimbabwe lobbyists on the recent political developments taking place in Zimbabwe, which include the exciting democratic elections being conducted by both the ruling party,  the Zimbabwe African National Union, Patriotic Front and the opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change throughout the country;  the bipartisan approach demonstrated in the Parliament of Zimbabwe lately, especially during the adoption of the SADC Principles and Guidelines for Democratic Elections;  and the statement made on 12 January 2005 by Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition MDC Party, in which he conceded that the Government of Zimbabwe was “sending out a positive signal to the people,” and acknowledged what he described as “a change of rhythm within the police force, especially the force’s public stance towards direct, physical violence,” a “decrease in cases of open violence against political opponents,” and a general opening up of Zimbabwe’s political space.   

Dr. Rice had a golden opportunity to convey the above reality and not to regurgitate the usual hackneyed fantasy on Zimbabwe she painted on her Senate hearing. 

 Zimbabwe is the second longest multi-party democratic state in Africa, for which we are proud of.  Secretary of State-Designate Condoleezza Rice is free to visit Zimbabwe to acquaint herself with the positive political and economic dynamics obtaining on the ground in Zimbabwe today.

Dr. I.S.G. Mudenge

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS : 22 January 2005