Washington, DC - Acting Secretary of State John J. Sullivan: "On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I offer congratulations to the people of Zimbabwe on your country’s 38 years of independence.

"As national elections approach, Zimbabwe has an opportunity to set itself on a new path of political and economic reforms for a promising future. The United States joins the Zimbabwean people in the hope for achieving a more open society, a stable democracy, and a strong economy. We look forward to continuing to develop our friendship with the people of Zimbabwe in the years to come."