Cablegate: Media Report Zdera; Harare

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

110700Z Dec 01

UNCLASSIFIED PTO0086

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ACTION INR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 A-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00
DS-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 LAB-01 VCE-00
NSAE-00 TEST-00 USIE-00 IIP-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00
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FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0493
INFO NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY GABORONE
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
AMEMBASSY LONDON

UNCLAS HARARE 003666

SIPDIS

AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT, AF/RA FOR
SWANN, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT ZDERA; HARARE

1. THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY "CHRONICLE"
DEDICATED ITS DECEMBER 8 EDITORIAL TO CONDEMN THE
ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT (ZDERA) OF
2001. UNDER HEADLINE "DEMOCRACY BILL, A BULLYING
TACTIC," THE PAPER COMMENTS:

2. ". . .IT IS STRANGE THAT THERE SHOULD BE
ZIMBABWEANS CELEBRATING AMERICA'S PASSING OF A SO-
CALLED DEMOCRACY BILL THAT IN FACT SEEKS TO CURTAIL
DEMOCRACY. IT IS AN OPEN SECRET THAT THE WORLD'S
FORMER COLONIAL POWERS ALREADY HAVE A CANDIDATE IN MIND
AND THEY ARE ONLY WAITING FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF
RESULTS AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PLEBISCITE. WE ARE TOLD
THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE SO-CALLED ZDERA IS TO PRESSURE
PRESIDENT MUGABE INTO HOLDING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS
AND ESTABLISH LAND OWNERSHIP PROTECTION. THERE IS AN
INSINUATION HERE THAT IT IS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION THAT
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WILL NOT BE FREE AND FAIR.
WE SYMPATHIZE WITH THE IGNORANCE AND NAIVETY (SIC) OF
THE AMERICANS. IF THEY EVER BOTHERED TO READ
ZIMBABWE'S HISTORY, THEY WOULD KNOW THAT THIS COUNTRY
HAS HELD SEVERAL ELECTIONS THAT WERE FREE AND FAIR.
ANYWAY, WHO ARE THE AMERICANS TO TEACH US ABOUT
CONDUCTING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS WHEN THEY THEMSELVES
FAILED DISMALLY TO CONDUCT PROPER PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS EARLY THIS YEAR. FOR ALL WE KNOW THE
INCUMBENT PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH IS IN POWER
FOLLOWING THE INTERVENTION OF THE COURTS IN THAT
COUNTRY. IS THIS WHAT YOU CALL DEMOCRACY? FAILURES
LIKE THE AMERICANS DO NOT QUALIFY TO LECTURE ZIMBABWE
ON DEMOCRACY. . . THE AMERICAN EVIL BILL IS AN ATTEMPT
TO RUN ZIMBABWE BY REMOTE CONTROL, AND WE SAY NO TO
THIS. WE ARE A SOVEREIGN STATE WHICH DOES NOT NEED
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 HARARE 03666 110756Z
'FOSTER PARENTS' TO TELL US WHAT TO DO AT EVERY TURN. .
. ."

SULLIVAN

UNCLASSIFIED

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