Cablegate: Media Report Paper Condemns Media Bill; Harare

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

311315Z Jan 02

UNCLASSIFIED PTO7905

PAGE 01 HARARE 00286 311905Z
ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00
SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DRL-02 G-00
SAS-00 /005W
------------------603680 311905Z /03
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0846
INFO NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY GABORONE
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
AMEMBASSY LONDON

UNCLAS HARARE 000286

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: MEDIA REPORT PAPER CONDEMNS MEDIA BILL; HARARE

1. UNDER HEADLINE "THE BILL THAT THREATENS ACCESS TO
DEMOCRACY" THE INDEPENDENT DAILY "THE DAILY NEWS" DEDICATED
ITS JANUARY 29 EDITORIAL TO CONDEMNING THE CONTROVERSIAL
ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY BILL AS A
THREAT TO DEMOCRACY. EXCERPTS FOLLOW:

2. "FEW BILLS HAVE CAUSED AS MUCH POLARIZATION IN ZANU PF
AS THE CONTROVERSIAL, STALINIST AND MISNAMED ACCESS TO
INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY BILL. THE TITLE
OF THE BILL OUGHT TO HAVE EMPHASIZED ITS PRIMARY
OBJECTIVE - TO SILENCE THE INDEPENDENT OR PRIVATELY-
OWNED MEDIA. . .WHEN PARLIAMENT RESUMES ITS DEBATE OF
THE BILL, IT MUST BE THE HOPE OF ALL FREEDOM-LOVING AND
FREE-THINKING PEOPLE THAT IT WILL EITHER BE THROWN OUT
OR WATERED DOWN TO CONFORM WITH THE HOPES OF AN
ELECTORATE KEEN TO ACHIEVE REAL POLITICAL PLURALISM.
IN A REAL DEMOCRACY, NO LAW CIRCUMSCRIBING THE FREEDOM
OF THE PRESS CAN BE SEEN AS A DESIRABLE COMPONENT OF
THE OPENING-UP OF THE HORIZONS OF FREEDOM FOR THE
PEOPLE. . . ."

SULLIVAN

UNCLASSIFIED

>

© Scoop Media