Zimbabwe Lashes Out On Human Rights Accusations

By John CassimHARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) - Zimbabwe's foreign minister on Thursday lashed out at the West for leveling allegations of human rights violations against his country. Addressing international and regional diplomats, Maj. Gen. Sibusiso Moyo, a key figure during the military intervention a few weeks ago, urged developed countries to stop acting "holier than thou"."We should be cognizant that there are neither angels nor devil in this endeavor."As we all fall short in one way or the other, but what matters is that we are determined, principled and spirited to deal with those issues, up to their finality," Moyo said. Moyo appeared to be indirectly responding to utterances by MDC Alliance members early this week, when they gave testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health policy in Washington.MDC Alliance is an election Alliance of several opposition parties, which came together ahead of elections in order to field a joint presidential candidate against the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).The opposition team called on the U.S. to maintain the status quo intact between them and Zimbabwe, a move that was taken by many as a direct call for stiffer sanctions against the ruling party. "I have already begun serious and focused dialogue with key constituent countries, especially those who are friends and those of the West amongst them, even our erstwhile colonizers, Britain, the U.S., Germany, France and Sweden."The objective is to redouble are relations, if those relationships were not perfect," Moyo said.Meanwhile, Moyo paid tribute to all-weather allies such as China, Russia, India and Brazil who stood by the economically troubled Southern African nation over the past decade."Beyond Africa we strongly value the strong bonds of friendship and the political and economic support we have received from our dependable allies, who have stood resolutely with us during our times of need," Major General Moyo said.Moyo like President Emerson Mnangagwa pledged to hold free, fair and credible elections next year and promised to invite the international community to observe elections.Mugabe's successor made the pledge during his inaugural address of the ZANU-PF Central Committee meeting ahead of the Extra Ordinary Congress in the capital.Western countries imposed targeted sanctions in 2003, against the then President Mugabe and his cronies within ZANU-PF over poor human rights emanating from the land redistribution and disputed elections. -