"Trade and private investment have to go hand in hand with openness within a country," Powell said May 25 to an audience of 1,500 students at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Clarifying what he meant by "openness," he added, "Money loves security and stability."

Big-business media commentators noted that the administration sought to play on the fact that General Powell is the first U.S. secretary of state who is Black to gain credibility for the U.S. government’s policies in Africa. Washington is seeking to consolidate its dominance in Africa and edge out its imperialist rivals, primarily London and Paris, which have long dominated the continent.

During his visit Powell praised several pro-U.S. regimes, while attacking other governments whose policies do not meet with Washington’s approval. At the University of Witwatersrand, Powell condemned President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, accusing him of using "totalitarian" methods to remain in power. He demanded that Mugabe "submit to the law and the will of the people" in a "fair and free" presidential election next year.

Powell charged that the Mugabe government was promoting a "campaign of terror" by supporters of his ruling African National Union-Patriotic Front against opposition politicians, wealthy white farmers, and businesses. He was referring to the occupation of hundreds of farms owned by capitalist farmers, and to threats to businesses and organizations accused of supporting the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Ownership of the land remains a central question in Zimbabwe, a country with more than 6 million peasants and a tiny white minority controlling 80 percent of the arable land. Although the campaign of "land seizures" organized by the Mugabe regime, benefiting government officials and supporters of the ruling party, is not a radical land reform advancing the interests of working people, it has brought the displeasure of Washington and other imperialist powers, which are concerned about social instability that might jeopardize their profit drive.

In mid-May the Canadian government suspended aid and cut off export financing to Zimbabwe. The governments of Britain and Germany have also threatened sanctions against the Mugabe regime.

"The Americans must not try to impose leaders on us," replied Didymus Mutasa, foreign affairs secretary of the ruling party in Zimbabwe. "The issue of who leads Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans alone."

The U.S. government has sought to enlist South Africa in its campaign against the Mugabe regime, but during Powell’s visit South African leaders remained muted in their remarks about Zimbabwe.

While in Kenya meeting with President Daniel arap Moi, the U.S. secretary of state also called on Moi to step aside and let a new president be elected next year. He demanded that the Kenyan government pass a U.S.-backed "anticorruption" law as a condition for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to restore financial ties with Kenya, which they cut off four years ago.  
 
Washington eyes Sudan’s oil
One of Washington’s targets in its foreign policy has been the government of Sudan, which U.S. officials have labeled a "rogue state," meaning the government there is not sufficiently submissive to the U.S. rulers. The Clinton administration maintained an aggressive policy toward the Sudanese government, calling it a "sponsor of terrorism," and bombing the capital, Khartoum, with cruise missiles in 1998. Washington has sought to undercut the regime by providing military aid to opposition forces in southern Sudan that are engaged in an 18-year-long war that has already claimed 2 million lives.

While pressing the Sudanese regime to end the conflict with the rebel forces in the south, Powell posed as an evenhanded peacemaker. He announced a shipment of 40,000 tons of food to both warring sides as a "gesture" and said he would choose a special envoy to help in ending the conflict. At the same time he justified $3 million in equipment and training to rebel groups and opposition parties in southern Sudan, arguing this would improve their ability to participate in the "peace process."

Washington’s newly found concern about the conflict in Sudan, and its latest moves toward the regime were explained in a March 16 editorial in the Washington Post.

"The reason for urgency is oil," the Post editors candidly stated. The editorial warns the U.S. government of the need to halt or slow the agreements made by the Sudanese government with European and Asian companies to exploit the recently discovered oil deposits in southern Sudan. Canada, Malaysia, China, Sweden, and Austria are among the countries investing in the Sudanese oil industry.

At various points during his visit Powell faced sharp questioning about Washington’s commitment to the fight against the AIDS epidemic in Africa. At the meeting with students at the University of Witwatersrand Powell was also condemned for the U.S. assault on Iraq during the 1990-91 Gulf War--during which he was chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff--and for its military support to the Israeli regime. A demonstration of several dozen students shouting "Powell, go home!" and "Free Palestine!" blocked his motorcade for half an hour at the university.  
 
 
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