Departing U.S. Envoy to Zimbabwe: 'Keep the Faith'

Vocal Critic of Mugabe Says Change Is Imminent

HARARE, Zimbabwe, July 15 -- Outgoing U.S. Ambassador Christopher W. Dell ended his three-year term in Zimbabwe with a message for the citizens of the troubled southern African country: "Keep the faith. Things will change soon."

Dell, an outspoken critic of President Robert Mugabe's record on human rights and democracy, left Saturday for his next post as ambassador to Afghanistan.

Dell has predicted total economic collapse in Zimbabwe by the end of the year and said in a farewell interview with an independent newspaper last month that the government was "doing regime change to itself" through economic mismanagement and a crackdown on prices.

As he walked through Harare's international airport Saturday, Dell told a reporter for the country's only broadcaster that Zimbabweans should keep the faith. "Things will change soon," he said.

The government has accused Western countries of backing a political and economic campaign to oust Mugabe, 83, who has ruled the country since 1980. State television said that Dell's mission to bring down Mugabe was left unfulfilled and that Dell had left the country a humiliated man.

Zimbabweans are bracing for another week of economic strife. Price cuts of at least 50 percent -- ordered by the government June 26 in an attempt to curb rampant inflation -- have led to acute food shortages and near-riots as cheaper goods go on sale.

Nearly 2,000 business executives, managers, traders and bus operators have been arrested and fined for defying the edict on prices.

In an advisory released Thursday, the State Department urged Americans in Zimbabwe to minimize travel and, where practical, to avoid public places and gatherings.

"In light of the current circumstances, U.S. citizens are advised to consider the risks before traveling to Zimbabwe at this time," it added.

An Australian government advisory issued Wednesday said rapidly worsening economic conditions could lead to civil unrest "at any time," affecting visitors to the famed northwestern Victoria Falls resort and nature preserves.

In Harare, the capital, churchgoers lined up for hours at bus stops Sunday before many scrambled aboard open trucks and into private cars offering rides. Bus operators said subsidized gas offered by the government either ran out or caused chaotic jams of minibus taxis at gas stations.

Shelves in stores remained bare of cornmeal, bread, meat and other staples. Shoppers packed a suburban supermarket after word spread by cellphone of the delivery of a few dozen loaves of bread Sunday. Another supermarket filled empty shelves with bundles of firewood normally sold by street vendors during daily power outages.

Shoppers have stampeded clothing and shoe stores, as well. One Harare electronics store was overwhelmed Thursday by people buying appliances for a third of the listed price.

The Sunday Mail newspaper, a government mouthpiece, described the shopping spree for cheaper goods as "Christmas in July" for impoverished victims of overcharging and profiteering by businesses. But it acknowledged that many people were panic-buying.