Washington, DC — "We are not recognizing the outcome of the election because we think it's flawed," President George W. Bush said in response to a question about Zimbabwe during a late afternoon press conference Wednesday.
"Numerous, profound irregularities" may have resulted in an election win for Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, "but not democratic legitimacy," said U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in a terse statement read by department spokesman Richard Boucher earlier in the day.
In his statement, Secretary Powell raised the possibility of additional U.S. pressure: "Among the responses we are considering is a possible broadening of sanctions."
Most immediately, Washington is expected to respond by freezing any assets in the United States held by Mugabe and his associates. Although the Treasury Department is not expected to initiate action, Congress is moving quickly to develop legislation ordering the freeze, and has asked the Congressional Research Service to research the possible shape of the order. This differing approach does not reflect disagreement between the legislative and executive branches of government, according to a Congressional aide. "Treasury just doesn't like freezing assets, but the White House and the Congress are on the same page."
Powell also said that "the United States will consult closely with other governments to develop appropriate responses..." Sources say central to this discussion is the upcoming June G8 meeting in Canada, where African nations will seek support for the continent's New Partnership for African Development (Nepad) plans.
The administration is disappointed with what appears to be general acceptance by African governments - especially the strategically important South African administration - of the Zimbabwe election results. A U.S. government source involved with African issues says the Americans are "probably inclined to say, if you want Nepad, you need to do something about Zimbabwe."
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The split between African governments and Western governments over the freeness and fairness of Zimbabwe's election complicates what most observers and analysts agreed were already going to be difficult negotiations in a strategy of what one Capitol Hill aide characterized as "a kind of drip, drip, drip slow pressure," on governments that have backed the legitimacy of the Mugabe government.
As some congressional aides see it, part of a package designed to entice African countries to be more critical of the Zimbabwe election process could be increased support for non-governmental and civil society groups in those countries.
