2000
[DOCID: f:s494es.txt]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 494
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To provide for a transition to democracy and to promote economic
recovery in Zimbabwe.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic
Recovery Act of 2001''.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to support the people of
Zimbabwe in their struggle to effect peaceful, democratic change,
achieve broad-based and equitable economic growth, and restore the rule
of law.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) International financial institutions.--The term
``international financial institutions'' means the multilateral
development banks and the International Monetary Fund.
(2) Multilateral development banks.--The term
``multilateral development banks'' means the International Bank
for Reconstruction and Development, the International
Development Association, the International Finance Corporation,
the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development
Bank, the Inter-American Investment Corporation, the African
Development Bank, the African Development Fund, the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Multilateral
Investment Guaranty Agency.
SEC. 4. SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Through economic mismanagement, undemocratic practices,
and the costly deployment of troops to the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, the Government of Zimbabwe has rendered itself
ineligible to participate in International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development and International Monetary Fund
programs, which would otherwise be providing substantial
resources to assist in the recovery and modernization of
Zimbabwe's economy. The people of Zimbabwe have thus been
denied the economic and democratic benefits envisioned by the
donors to such programs, including the United States.
(2) In September 1999 the IMF suspended its support under a
``Stand By Arrangement'', approved the previous month, for
economic adjustment and reform in Zimbabwe.
(3) In October 1999, the International Development
Association (in this section referred to as the ``IDA'')
suspended all structural adjustment loans, credits, and
guarantees to the Government of Zimbabwe.
(4) In May 2000, the IDA suspended all other new lending to
the Government of Zimbabwe.
(5) In September 2000, the IDA suspended disbursement of
funds for ongoing projects under previously-approved loans,
credits, and guarantees to the Government of Zimbabwe.
(b) Support for Democratic Transition and Economic Recovery.--Upon
receipt by the appropriate congressional committees of a certification
described in subsection (d), the following shall apply:
(1) Debt relief and other financial assistance.--The
Secretary of the Treasury shall--
(A) undertake a review of the feasibility of
restructuring, rescheduling, or eliminating the
sovereign debt of Zimbabwe held by any agency of the
United States Government;
(B) direct the United States executive director of
each multilateral development bank to propose that the
bank should undertake a review of the feasibility of
restructuring, rescheduling, or eliminating the
sovereign debt of Zimbabwe held by that bank; and
(C) direct the United States executive director of
each international financial institution to which the
United States is a member to propose to undertake
financial and technical support for Zimbabwe,
especially support that is intended to promote
Zimbabwe's economic recovery and development, the
stabilization of the Zimbabwean dollar, and the
viability of Zimbabwe's democratic institutions.
(2) Establishment of a southern africa finance center.--The
President should direct the establishment of a Southern Africa
Finance Center located in Zimbabwe that will include regional
offices of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the
Export-Import Bank of the United States, and the Trade and
Development Agency for the purpose of facilitating the
development of commercial projects in Zimbabwe and the southern
Africa region.
(c) Multilateral Financing Restriction.--Until the President makes
the certification described in subsection (d), and except as may be
required to meet basic human needs or for good governance, the
Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive
director to each international financial institution to oppose and vote
against--
(1) any extension by the respective institution of any
loan, credit, or guarantee to the Government of Zimbabwe; or
(2) any cancellation or reduction of indebtedness owed by
the Government of Zimbabwe to the United States or any
international financial institution.
(d) Presidential Certification That Certain Conditions Are
Satisfied.--A certification under this subsection is a certification
transmitted to the appropriate congressional committees of a
determination made by the President that the following conditions are
satisfied:
(1) Restoration of the rule of law.--The rule of law has
been restored in Zimbabwe, including respect for ownership and
title to property, freedom of speech and association, and an
end to the lawlessness, violence, and intimidation sponsored,
condoned, or tolerated by the Government of Zimbabwe, the
ruling party, and their supporters or entities.
(2) Election or pre-election conditions.--Either of the
following two conditions is satisfied:
(A) Presidential election.--Zimbabwe has held a
presidential election that is widely accepted as free
and fair by independent international monitors, and the
president-elect is free to assume the duties of the
office.
(B) Pre-election conditions.--In the event the
certification is made before the presidential election
takes place, the Government of Zimbabwe has
sufficiently improved the pre-election environment to a
degree consistent with accepted international standards
for security and freedom of movement and association.
(3) Commitment to equitable, legal, and transparent land
reform.--The Government of Zimbabwe has demonstrated a
commitment to an equitable, legal, and transparent land reform
program consistent with agreements reached at the International
Donors' Conference on Land Reform and Resettlement in Zimbabwe
held in Harare, Zimbabwe, in September 1998.
(4) Fulfillment of agreement ending war in democratic
republic of congo.--The Government of Zimbabwe is making a good
faith effort to fulfill the terms of the Lusaka, Zambia,
agreement on ending the war in the Democratic Republic of
Congo.
(5) Military and national police subordinate to civilian
government.--The Z
c31
imbabwean Armed Forces, the National Police
of Zimbabwe, and other state security forces are responsible to
and serve the elected civilian government.
(e) Waiver.--The President may waive the provisions of subsection
(b) or subsection (c), if the President determines that it is in the
national interest of the United States to do so.
SEC. 5. SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, THE FREE PRESS AND
INDEPENDENT MEDIA, AND THE RULE OF LAW.
(a) In General.--The President is authorized to provide assistance
under part I and chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 to--
(1) support an independent and free press and electronic
media in Zimbabwe;
(2) support equitable, legal, and transparent mechanisms of
land reform in Zimbabwe, including the payment of costs related
to the acquisition of land and the resettlement of individuals,
consistent with the International Donors' Conference on Land
Reform and Resettlement in Zimbabwe held in Harare, Zimbabwe,
in September 1998, or any subsequent agreement relating
thereto; and
(3) for democracy and governance programs in Zimbabwe.
(b) Funding.--Of the funds authorized to be appropriated to carry
out part I and chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 for fiscal year 2002--
(1) $20,000,000 is authorized to be available to provide
the assistance described in subsection (a)(2); and
(2) $6,000,000 is authorized to be available to provide the
assistance described in subsection (a)(3).
(c) Supersedes Other Laws.--The authority in this section
supersedes any other provision of law.
SEC. 6. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN AGAINST
INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR VIOLENCE AND THE BREAKDOWN OF
THE RULE OF LAW IN ZIMBABWE.
It is the sense of Congress that the President should begin
immediate consultation with the governments of European Union member
states, Canada, and other appropriate foreign countries on ways in
which to--
(1) identify and share information regarding individuals
responsible for the deliberate breakdown of the rule of law,
politically motivated violence, and intimidation in Zimbabwe;
(2) identify assets of those individuals held outside
Zimbabwe;
(3) implement travel and economic sanctions against those
individuals and their associates and families; and
(4) provide for the eventual removal or amendment of those
sanctions.
Passed the Senate August 1, 2001.
Attest:
Secretary.
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 494
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To provide for a transition to democracy and to promote economic
recovery in Zimbabwe.
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