115th CONGRESS 2d Session |
To amend the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001.
April 26, 2018
Mr. Flake (for himself and Mr. Coons) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
To amend the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act of 2018”.
SEC. 2. Reconstruction and rebuilding of Zimbabwe.
Section 2 of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 (Public Law 107–99; 22 U.S.C. 2151 note) is amended by striking “and restore the rule of law” and inserting “restore the rule of law, reconstruct and rebuild Zimbabwe, and come to terms with the past through a process of genuine reconciliation in which past human rights abuses are acknowledged and inquiries into the disappearance of prominent human rights activists, including Patrick Nabanyama, Itai Dzamara, and Paul Chizuze, are ordered”.
Section 4(a) of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 is amended—
(A) by striking “the costly deployment of troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo” and inserting “private appropriation of public assets”; and
(B) by striking “Development and” and inserting “Development, International Development Association, and, until recently,”; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(6) In October 2016, the Government of Zimbabwe cleared its longstanding arrears with the IMF.”.
SEC. 4. Removal of provisions related to multilateral debt relief and other financial assistance.
Section 4(b) of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 is amended—
(1) by striking “recovery.—” and all that follows through “Upon receipt” and inserting “recovery.—Upon receipt”; and
(2) by striking paragraph (2).
SEC. 5. Additional certification requirements for assistance.
Section 4(d) of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 is amended—
(1) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
“(2) PRE- AND POST-ELECTION CONDITIONS.—The following pre- and post-election conditions are met:
“(A) Establishment and public release, without cost, in digital format, of a provisional and final biometric voter registration roll that is endorsed by all political parties represented in the parliament of Zimbabwe and those parties contesting the elections.
“(B) The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is permitted to entirely carry out the functions assigned to it in section 239 of Zimbabwe’s 2013 constitution in an entirely independent manner, and the chairperson continues to meet with and consults regularly with representatives of political parties represented in the parliament of Zimbabwe and those parties contesting the elections.
“(C) Consistent with Zimbabwe’s constitution, the Defense Forces of Zimbabwe are neither permitted to actively participate in campaigning for any candidate nor to intimidate voters, and must verifiably and credibly uphold their constitutionally mandated duty to respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all persons and be non-partisan in character, and are not permitted to print, transfer, or control ballots or transmit the results of elections.
“(D) International observers, including from the United States, the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the European Union, and others who apply are permitted to observe the entire electoral process prior to, on, and following voting day, including by monitoring polling stations and tabulation centers and are able to independently operate in a manner enabling them to access and analyze vote tallying tabulation and the transmission and content of voting results.
“(E) Candidates are allowed free and full access to state media during the election period as defined in Zimbabwe’s Electoral Act, and must afford time and coverage to all parties contesting the elections in an impartial manner, and candidates are able to campaign in an environment that is free from intimidation and violence.
“(F) Civil society organizations are able to freely and independently carry out voter and civic education, and to monitor the entire electoral process, including by observing, recording, and transmitting public-posted or announced voting results, including at the ward, constituency, and all higher levels of the vote tallying process, including through the conduct of one or more sample based observation exercises.”;
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (5) as paragraphs (8) and (9), respectively;
(3) by striking paragraph (4);
(4) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraphs:
“(3) PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.—Zimbabwe has held an election that is widely accepted as free, fair, and credible by independent international and domestic civil society monitors, and the president-elect is free to assume the duties of the office.
“(4) UPDATING STATUTES.—Laws enacted prior to passage of Zimbabwe’s new constitution in March 2013 that are inconsistent with the new constitution are amended or repealed so that they are consistent with the constitution, especially through the Electoral Amendments Bill and the repeal of the Public Order and Security Act, and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
“(5) UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION.—All elements of the constitution are being implemented.
“(6) ECONOMIC REFORMS.—The Government of Zimbabwe has demonstrated a sustained commitment to reforming Zimbabwe’s economy in ways that will promote economic growth, address unemployment and underdevelopment, and restore livelihoods.
“(7) ROLE OF TRADITIONAL LEADERS.—Traditional leaders of Zimbabwe observe section 281 of the Constitution and are not using humanitarian assistance provided by outside donor organizations or countries in a politicized manner to intimidate or pressure voters during the campaign period.”; and
(5) in paragraph (8), as redesignated by paragraph (2) of this subsection, by striking “consistent with” and all that follows through “September 1998”.
SEC. 6. Removal of authority to pay land acquisition costs.
Section 5(a)(2) of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 is amended by striking “, including the payment of costs” and all that follows through “thereto”.
SEC. 7. Inclusion of Australia and the United Kingdom in consultations about Zimbabwe.
Section 6 of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 is amended by inserting “Australia, and the United Kingdom” after “Canada,”.
SEC. 8. Sense of Congress on enforcement of SADC tribunal rulings.
It is the sense of Congress that the Government of Zimbabwe and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) should enforce the SADC tribunal rulings from 2007 to 2010, including 18 disputes involving employment, commercial, and human rights cases surrounding dispossessed Zimbabwean commercial farmers and agricultural companies.
SEC. 9. Sense of Congress on the United States-Zimbabwe bilateral relationship.
It is the sense of Congress that the United States Government is optimistic about the possibility for a stronger bilateral relationship with Zimbabwe, including in the areas of trade and investment, if—
(1) the Government of Zimbabwe takes concrete, tangible steps outlined in paragraphs (2) through (6) of section 4(d) of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001, as added by section 5 of this Act; and
(2) takes concrete, tangible steps towards—
(A) good governance, including respect for opposition, rule of law, and human rights; and
(B) economic reforms such as respect for contracts and private property rights.