2007年VOA标准英语-Report: Regional Solution Only Way Out of Zimba

By Tendai Maphosa
London
18 September 2007

As Zimbabwe draws closer to complete collapse¹ under the weight of a deepening economic crisis, the International Crisis Group says a regional initiative for a negotiated political solution offers the only realistic escape from a situation that threatens to destabilize southern Africa.

The International Crisis Group report paints a grim picture of Zimbabwe, inflation between 7,000 and 13,000 percent.  Four out of five of the country's 12 million people living below the poverty line, and an estimated 3 million Zimbabweans have fled.  A military-led campaign to slash² prices has produced acute food and fuel shortages, and conducting business is becoming almost impossible.
 
Crisis Group spokesperson Andebrhan Giorgis says the Southern African Development Community and mediation³ by South Africa President Thabo Mbeki can help bring about a negotiated solution to the country's woes⁴.

"The situation is very difficult and it is compounded by the prevailing⁵ political stalemate," he said.  "That is why we see a window of opportunity in the SADC initiative and the of mediation of President Mbeki first to engage political dialogue between ZANU-PF and the MDC, and hopefully there will be a negotiated agreement on a package of economic, political, and constitutional and security reforms that will pave the way for the holding of free and fair elections."

The report calls for the international community to support Mr. Mbeki's mediation between Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and his main opposition⁶ the Movement for Democratic Change. 
 
The report also recommends reforms, including the repeal⁷ of repressive laws that have made opposition political activity impossible and severely⁸ restricted the independent media.

The International Crisis Group hopes a guarantee that Mr. Mugabe will not be brought to trial for his alleged⁹ misdeeds will provide an incentive¹⁰ for him to accept the reforms and to retire in 2008.
 
"In the event that President Mugabe retires, then we are also recommending immunity¹¹ from prosecution¹², any kind of prosecution, domestic or international as well as security for his family, for his financial assets, etc," added Giorgis. "So I think these are also powerful incentives¹³ that would maybe persuade him to reconsider."

Giorgis says the recommended changes are not about regime change, but more about fueling an economic turnaround and an opportunity for the people of Zimbabwe to freely elect a government of their choice.

1 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

2 slash   

vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩

参考例句：

• The shop plans to slash fur prices after Spring Festival.该店计划在春节之后把皮货降价。
• Don't slash your horse in that cruel way.不要那样残忍地鞭打你的马。

3 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

4 woes   

困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉

参考例句：

• Thanks for listening to my woes. 谢谢您听我诉说不幸的遭遇。
• She has cried the blues about its financial woes. 对于经济的困难她叫苦不迭。

5 prevailing   

adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的

参考例句：

• She wears a fashionable hair style prevailing in the city.她的发型是这个城市流行的款式。
• This reflects attitudes and values prevailing in society.这反映了社会上盛行的态度和价值观。

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

8 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

9 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

10 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

11 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

12 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

13 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法