US was already talking about day after Mugabe 10 years ago

The United States embassy in Harare was already talking about the day after Mugabe 10 years ago after the opposition Movement for Democratic Change organised a week-long stay-away which it dubbed the Final Push.

This was despite the fact that the embassy had described the event as a failure as it had failed to get people to march on the streets of Harare.

It had been a huge success in getting people to stay at home but one United States-funded civil organisation said people had stayed away more to save money for transport to go to work and back and to heed the MDC call.

The embassy said if Mugabe went and was replaced by a reformist government, the United States would have to fund democracy programmes through institutions like The Voice of America which was already broadcasting to Zimbabwe through Studio 7; the State University of New York which was training Zimbabwe’s Members of Parliament; the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute which were working with several non-governmental organisations.

The embassy even saw business opportunities for some US companies.

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the Export-Import (Exim) Bank could consider loan guarantees for projects that promoted US exports.

General Electric could rejuvenate locomotives for the National Railways of Zimbabwe.

Caterpillar could provide machines at coal-miner Wankie.

Boeing could provide jets to Air Zimbabwe. And Zimbabwe would be admitted to the African Growth and Opportunity Act sessions.

Mugabe is still in office and could outlast current United States President who goes to the polls in November.

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