H. Res. 1230 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
June 19, 2008. 
Whereas the Zimbabwean African National Union-Patriotic 
Front (ZANU–PF), led by President Robert Mugabe, has 
controlled Zimbabwe’s executive and legislative branches 
for 28 years; 
Whereas over the past 8 years, ZANU–PF has suppressed 
political dissidents and won elections and referendums 
through the use of vote rigging, localized violence, harass-
ment, and intimidation; 
Whereas the political and economic situation in Zimbabwe 
has been worsening since 2000, culminating in the cur-
rent electoral crisis; 
Whereas Presidential and Parliamentary elections were held 
in Zimbabwe on March 29, 2008; 
Whereas the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) released 
the results for the 2008 presidential election 5 weeks 
after the contest took place, announcing President 
Mugabe won 43.2 percent of the vote, while Morgan 
Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition party Movement for 
Democratic Change (MDC), won 47.8 percent of the 
vote;
•HRES 1230 EH 
Whereas as the ZEC announced neither candidate won over 
50 percent of the vote, the 2 candidates have to compete 
in a runoff election; 
Whereas the long delay in announcing the presidential elec-
tion results undermined the credibility of the ZEC; 
Whereas the Zimbabwean people have indicated through the 
ballot box that they want a change in leadership; 
Whereas in the wake of the elections, President Mugabe has 
unleashed security forces and militia against opposition 
supporters and members of civil society; 
Whereas over 2,900 people have been tortured and beaten, 
and at least 36 have been confirmed dead as a result of 
an ongoing campaign of state-sponsored political violence; 
Whereas government security forces raided the MDC party 
headquarters, arresting 300 people, some of them chil-
dren; 
Whereas government security forces have detained Morgan 
Tsvangirai on multiple occasions as he has tried to cam-
paign for the June 27, 2008, runoff election, and have 
arrested MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti; 
Whereas the offices of the Zimbabwe Election Support Net-
work have been raided and some of its employees de-
tained; 
Whereas security forces have attacked humanitarian organi-
zations and civil society groups; 
Whereas the Government of Zimbabwe has suspended the ac-
tivities of humanitarian aid organizations in its country, 
putting hundreds of thousands of children and other vul-
nerable members of the population at risk of hunger and 
malnutrition;
•HRES 1230 EH 
Whereas diplomats, including the United States ambassador 
to Zimbabwe, have been detained by government security 
forces in direct contravention of the protections offered 
diplomats in the Vienna Convention; 
Whereas South African President Thabo Mbeki has stated 
that the political violence in Zimbabwe is a cause for ‘‘se-
rious concern’’; 
Whereas the African Union (AU) and Southern African De-
velopment Community (SADC) have been continually en-
gaged in efforts to bring about an end to the political cri-
sis in Zimbabwe; 
Whereas the AU and SADC dispatched delegations to 
Harare, but have not yet successfully compelled the Gov-
ernment of Zimbabwe to restore the rule of law; 
Whereas Zimbabwe’s gross domestic product declined about 
43 percent between 2000 and 2007 and the unemploy-
ment rate is 80 percent; 
Whereas Zimbabwe’s inflation rate, at almost 165,000 per-
cent, is the highest in the world and has contributed sig-
nificantly to the country’s economic collapse; 
Whereas worsening economic conditions and commodity 
shortages have caused at least 3,000,000 people to flee 
the country; 
Whereas after the March 29, 2008, elections the opposition 
offered to enter into a dialogue to bring about an end to 
the ensuing political crisis; 
Whereas all parties must engage constructively towards peace 
and reconciliation for the sake of the Zimbabwean people; 
and
•HRES 1230 EH 
Whereas the people of Zimbabwe deserve the assistance of 
the international community in the restoration of funda-
mental human rights, democratic freedom, and the rule 
of law: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) calls on all security forces, informal militias, 
and individuals to immediately cease attacks on and 
abuse of civilians; 
(2) strongly condemns the orchestrated campaign of 
violence, torture, and harassment conducted by the rul-
ing party and its supporters and sympathizers in the po-
lice and military against members of the opposition, op-
position parties, and all other civilians; 
(3) calls on the Government of Zimbabwe to create 
an environment conducive to a peaceful transition of 
power; 
(4) encourages the political parties to commit to 
forming a government that reflects the will of the 
Zimbabwean people and promotes national unity, the 
restoration of the rule of law, and genuine democratic 
governance; 
(5) advocates for a mechanism such as a truth and 
reconciliation commission through which to ensure ac-
countability for all groups and individuals who are found 
to have orchestrated or committed human rights viola-
tions in the context of the elections;
•HRES 1230 EH 
(10) stands in solidarity with the people of 
Zimbabwe. 
Attest: 
Clerk.