US critical of political moves in Zim

WASHINGTON – The United States strongly criticised Zimbabwe’s ruling party on Wednesday for dramatic changes it pushed through this week on the southern African country’s constitution.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party used its two-thirds parliamentary majority to change the constitution to allow the government to nationalise white-owned farms, impose travel bans on “traitors” and reintroduce a second legislative chamber that critics said would be packed with Mugabe’s allies. US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the process used to implement the changes was deeply troubling.”It’s a sad step backwards for personal freedom as well as the rule of law,” he said.The United States has been increasingly critical of Zimbabwe’s human rights record and political process, calling last April’s election “seriously tainted.”While critical of human rights issues, the United States has continued to send food aid to the poor southern African country.This month the United States sent 73 500 tons of food aid to southern Africa with much of that expected to go to Zimbabwe, where about half of the rural population is estimated to need emergency help.- Nampa-ReutersUS State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the process used to implement the changes was deeply troubling.”It’s a sad step backwards for personal freedom as well as the rule of law,” he said.The United States has been increasingly critical of Zimbabwe’s human rights record and political process, calling last April’s election “seriously tainted.”While critical of human rights issues, the United States has continued to send food aid to the poor southern African country.This month the United States sent 73 500 tons of food aid to southern Africa with much of that expected to go to Zimbabwe, where about half of the rural population is estimated to need emergency help.- Nampa-Reuters