The departure of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe “would be in the best interests of everyone,” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in an interview released by the State Department on Wednesday. In an interview with South African state television, Clinton recognized Mugabe's “historic contribution” to Zimbabwe but suggested the country would be better off if he left office and spoke of a future country without Mugabe. “No one questions his early commitment to freedom and to an end of colonialism and oppression,” Clinton said. “But for whatever reason, the last years of his rule have hurt so many of his people.”' “It is not for us to make that determination, but we hope that the government, whoever is running it, will be devoted to reconstructing that country with its extraordinary potential and taking its rightful place as a developing country that holds such promise,” Clinton said. The top U.S. diplomat called on South Africa to apply more pressure on the Zimbabwean government. “I think it's up to the people and the government, and frankly, the neighbors. South Africa has a big role to play in this,” she said. Clinton also said the United States would not resume economic aid to the Zimbabwean government until it could be sure it would reach the designated people. “We're encouraged by the new unity government that has been created. We are not yet ready to change our policy, but it is under review,” Clinton responded when asked whether the United States would support the new government financially. “It's important to us that any aid from any source get to the people of Zimbabwe.”
