Cablegate: Zimbabwe-Us Relations Take a Beating In

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

121302Z Dec 01

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ7140

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ACTION INR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DS-00
EUR-00 E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 LAB-01 VCE-00
NSAE-00 TEST-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00
SAS-00 /003W
------------------4A69F5 121358Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0511
INFO NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY GABORONE
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
AMEMBASSY LONDON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 003687

SIPDIS

AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, SCHLACHTER, AF/S FOR KRAFT,
AF/P, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE-US RELATIONS TAKE A BEATING IN
GOVERNMENT MEDIA

1. PERHAPS A BIT SLOW OUT OF THE GATE, GOVERNMENT OF
ZIMBABWE MEDIA AND INFORMATION RESOURCES ARE NOW FULLY
ENGAGED IN CRITICISM OF THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY AND
ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT. SOME OF THAT CRITICISM IS BASED
ON DELIBERATE DISTORTION OF THE BILL. GOVERNMENT-OWNED
ELECTRONIC MEDIA HAVE ALSO MANIPULATED REPORTING ON THE
VISIT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY KANSTEINER IN ORDER TO
PORTRAY THE BILL AND THE U.S. AS BULLYING ZIMBABWE. TO
ITS CREDIT, HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT-OWNED DAILY "THE
HERALD" DID PUBLISH THE ENTIRE BILL AND ACCOMPANYING
HIRC REPORT.

2. AMONG THE MEANS USED BY GOVERNMENT-OWNED MEDIA TO
DISTORT ZDERA ARE:

- CONSISTENTLY CALLING IT THE "ZIMBABWE SANCTIONS
BILL" RATHER THAN BY ITS CORRECT NAME.
- COMPLETE LACK OF COVERAGE OF THE INCENTIVES ZDERA
OFFERS.
- AD HOMINEM ATTACKS AGAINST THE BILL'S SPONSORS.
- CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BILL AS "RACIST"
LEGISLATION, FAILING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CRITICAL ROLE
THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS PLAYED IN ITS PASSAGE.
- DELIBERATE MANIPULATION OF STATEMENTS BY ASSISTANT
SECRETARY KANSTEINER TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE
UNITED STATES DEMANDED THAT THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY
FORUM OBSERVE ZIMBABWE'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
- CITING CAPTIVE AND UNNAMED SOURCES FOR STATEMENTS
THAT ZDERA WILL "STARVE" OR "STRANGLE" THE PEOPLE OF
ZIMBABWE.
- HIGHLIGHTING AND REPEATING COMMENTS BY MEMBERS OF
THE SADC MINISTERIAL TEAM CURRENTLY IN HARARE THAT SADC
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 HARARE 03687 01 OF 02 121358Z
OPPOSES SANCTIONS.
- UNCONFIRMED AND ALMOST CERTAINLY EXAGGERATED
REPORTS OF ANTI-ZDERA DEMONSTRATIONS BY CITIZENS IN
PROVINCIAL TOWNS.

3. IN ADDITION TO THE SORT OF "NEWS REPORTING"
OUTLINED ABOVE, GOVERNMENT-OWNED PRINT MEDIA ARE ALSO
INDULGING THEIR POLITICAL BOSSES WITH LENGTHY OPINION
PIECES DENOUNCING ZDERA AND THE U.S. WE OFFER A FEW
HIGHLIGHTS.

4. FROM THE DECEMBER 12 EDITION OF "THE HERALD,"
UNDER THE TITLE "ANTI-ZIM BILL DRACONIAN -- PRESIDENT'S
NATIONALIST AGENDA A THREAT TO U.S. INFLUENCE":

". . .AFTER READING THE ZDERA SEVERAL TIMES, I HAVE
COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE REAL OBJECTIVES OF
THE BILL ARE REVEALED NOT BY ITS STATED INTENTIONS
BUT BY ITS CONTRADICTIONS. IN ITS OPENING
PARAGRAPH, THE BILL SAYS ITS INTENTIONS ARE 'TO
PROVIDE FOR A TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY AND TO
PROMOTE ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN ZIMBABWE.' REALLY!
ARE WE NOW TO BELIEVE THAT AFTER HOLDING REGULAR
ELECTIONS IN THE YEARS 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995,
1996, AND 2000, ZIMBABWE HAS SOMEHOW STOPPED BEING
A DEMOCRACY? AND IF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT IS
KEEN TO PROMOTE THE 'TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY,' WHY
HAS IT NOT DRAFTED AN APPROPRIATE BILL FOR SOMALIA,
THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND THE SUDAN.?
IT IS A MEASURE OF THE ARROGANCE OF THE PEOPLE THAT
CRAFTED THIS BILL THAT THEY THINK ZIMBABWE'S
UNCLASSIFIED

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SOVEREIGNTY CAN BE BOUGHT FOR A PALTRY US$26
MILLION! .PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH WAS ULTIMATELY
ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE U.S., NOT BY THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, BUT BY ONE VOTE, WHEN THE SUPREME COURT
VOTED BY 5 TO 4 IN FAVOR OF PREVENTING A RECOUNT OF
THE VOTES IN FLORIDA THAT MIGHT HAVE RETURNED AL
GORE AS THE PRESIDENT. THE AMERICANS MUST BE
REMINDED THAT THEIR PATRONIZING AND PATERNALIST
ATTITUDE TOWARDS ZIMBABWE IS SLOWLY ERODING THEIR
INFLUENCE IN THIS COUNTRY. THEY MUST BE REMINDED
THAT IN 25 YEARS TIME, 40 PERCENT OF AMERICA'S
POPULATION WILL BE COMPOSED OF PEOPLE WITH A BLACK
OR BROWN SKIN."

5. FROM THE DECEMBER 9 EDITION OF THE "THE SUNDAY
NEWS," UNDER THE TITLE "ANOTHER STAGE OF RACIST
OPPRESSION":
".THE ZDERA PASSED BY THE U.S. CONGRESS. . .IS A
MANIFESTLY RACIST PIECE OF LEGISLATION. A COUNTRY,
WHICH NEVER MISSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE WORLD
THAT IT IS A BASTION OF DEMOCRACY IS NOW GANGING UP

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ7142

PAGE 01 HARARE 03687 02 OF 02 121358Z
ACTION INR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 USNW-00
DODE-00 DS-00 EUR-00 E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00
LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 TEST-00 USIE-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02
NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W
------------------4A6A00 121359Z /38
P 121302Z DEC 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0512
INFO NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY GABORONE
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
AMEMBASSY LONDON

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 003687

SIPDIS

AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, SCHLACHTER, AF/S FOR KRAFT,
AF/P, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE-US RELATIONS TAKE A BEATING IN
GOVERNMENT MEDIA

WITH ANGLO-SAXON BULLIES TO SCARE ZIMBABWE INTO
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 HARARE 03687 02 OF 02 121358Z
REVERSING ITS LAND REFORM PROGRAM. .PRIME MINISTER
TONY BLAIR AND PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH ARE ANGRY WITH
THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE FOR THREATENING THEIR
ECONOMIC INTERESTS BY EXPROPRIATING LAND STOLEN FROM
OUR ANCESTORS BY BRITISH SETTLER COLONIALISTS.
AMERICA'S RACIST RAGE, AS EPITOMIZED BY THE ACT, SEEKS
TO BRING BACK BRITISH COLONIAL OPPRESSION, EXPLOITATION
AND UNDEMOCRATIC RULE. THE PASSING OF THE LEGISLATION
IS TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH NEXT YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS. CLEARLY THE WEST HAS A SINISTER POLITICAL
AGENDA. THE U.S. AND BRITAIN WANT TO INSTALL A PUPPET
REGIME IN THIS COUNTRY TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE PLUNDER
OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. . . THEY ARE NOW RE-
COLONIZING AFRICA UNDER THE GUISE OF PROMOTING LIBERAL
DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW. . ."

6. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT MORE OF THIS SORT OF
REPORTING AND COMMENTARY LIES AHEAD. WE EXPECT, FOR
EXAMPLE, THAT ZDERA WILL BE THE FOCUS OF CONSIDERABLE
ATTENTION AND CRITICISM AT THE ZANU-PF NATIONAL
CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 13-15 IN VICTORIA
FALLS.

7. THROUGH PRESS CONFERENCES, INTERVIEWS,
DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION AND STEADY CONTACT WORK
WITH EDITORS AND REPORTERS, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE HAVE ACCESS
TO ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT U.S. POLICY. OUR
UNWILLINGNESS TO LIE AND OUR LACK OF ACCESS TO THE
ELECTRONIC MEDIA IN ZIMBABWE JUST MAKE THE CHALLENGE OF
GETTING OUT OUR STORY ALL THAT MUCH MORE INTERESTING.
UNCLASSIFIED

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SULLIVAN

UNCLASSIFIED

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