Cablegate: Media Report Zim Presidential Poll; Harare

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

301307Z Jan 02

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ2470

PAGE 01 HARARE 00274 301319Z
ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 A-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00
DS-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01
VCE-00 NSAE-00 TEST-00 USIE-00 IIP-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02
NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W
------------------5F6533 301319Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0836
INFO NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY GABORONE
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
AMEMBASSY LONDON

UNCLAS HARARE 000274

SIPDIS

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

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

1. UNDER HEADLINE "EARLY ARRIVAL OF OBSERVERS COULD END
LOSS OF MORE LIVES," THE INDEPENDENT DAILY "THE DAILY NEWS"
DEDICATED ITS JANUARY 28 EDITORIAL TO CALL ON THE
GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS TO COME INTO
THE COUNTRY AT LEAST A MONTH BEFORE THE MARCH 9 AND 10
PRESIDENTIAL POLL. EXCERPTS FOLLOW:

2. THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECLARED ITSELF AGAINST VIOLENCE
AND
COMMITTED ITSELF TO ALLOWING INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS
DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. HOWEVER, IF IT IS
SINCERE, IT SHOULD INVITE THESE OBSERVERS AT LEAST A
MONTH BEFORE THE 9 AND 10 MARCH VOTING DAYS FOR THEM TO
MAKE AN INFORMED OPINION OF THE POLL AND TO UNDERSTAND
THE CONTEXT IN WHICH IT WILL BE TAKING PLACE. AN EARLY
ARRIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS WILL EITHER SEE A
SUDDEN DE-ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE, LARGELY BY THE RULING
PARTY SUPPORTERS AND MILITIAS, OR IF THIS DOES NOT
HAPPEN, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL THEN HAVE A
BALANCED APPRECIATION OF WHAT WILL HAVE DETERMINED THE
OUTCOME OF THE VOTE. . .IF THE GOVERNMENT IS GENUINELY
COMMITTED TO ALLOWING INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS, AND IF
IT IS NOT BEHIND THE CURRENT WAVE OF VIOLENCE, THEN IT
SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEMS IN INVITING THEM TO COME INTO
THE COUNTRY MUCH EARLIER SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT IS REALLY
HAPPENING. AND IF IT IS ASSURED OF WINNING, THE MORE
REASON IT SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT ITS VICTORY NOT
BEING TAINTED BY CHARGES OF INTIMIDATION, VIOLENCE AND
FRAUD. . .IT IS ALSO IMPERATIVE THAT THE OBSERVERS DO
NOT FLY OUT OF THE COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY THE RESULTS OF
THE ELECTION ARE ANNOUNCED. PAST EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN
THE INTENSITY OF VIOLENCE THAT FOLLOWS AN ELECTION
RESULT. INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVERS SHOULD BE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 HARARE 00274 301319Z
HERE AT LEAST FOR TWO MONTHS - ONE MONTH BEFORE, AND
ANOTHER AFTER THE RESULTS. THIS IS CRITICAL BECAUSE IT
WILL SAVE THE LOSS OF MORE LIVES."

SULLIVAN

UNCLASSIFIED

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