Cablegate: Media Reaction Mugabe Wins Poll; Harare

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

141226Z Mar 02

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ3131

PAGE 01 HARARE 00676 141236Z
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
SAS-00 /003W
------------------747719 141236Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1213
INFO NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY GABORONE
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
AMEMBASSY LONDON

UNCLAS HARARE 000676

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION MUGABE WINS POLL; HARARE

1. UNDER HEADLINE "THE TRAGIC REALITY OF A MUGABE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 HARARE 00676 141236Z
ELECTION VICTORY," THE INDEPENDENT DAILY "THE DAILY
NEWS" DEDICATED ITS MARCH 14 EDITORIAL TO PAYING
TRIBUTE TO THE MANY ZIMBABWEAN VOTERS WHO COURAGEOUSLY
VOTED FOR CHANGE, UNDER HOSTILE CONDITIONS, DURING THE
WEEKEND PRESIDENTIAL POLL. EXCERPTS:

2. "AS HE RIDES OFF INTO THE SUNSET, THE WINNER OF
THE
MOST CONTROVERSIAL ELECTION IN ZIMBABWE'S HISTORY,
PRESIDENT MUGABE, MUST WONDER WHAT HIS VICTORY WILL
DO TO THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE OF HIS BELEAGUERED
COUNTRY. . . THE WEST, ACCUSED BY MUGABE OF
CAMPAIGNING FOR HIS OUSTER FROM POWER, WILL NOT
TOUCH ZIMBABWE WITH A BARGE POLE, NOT AFTER AN
ELECTION SO RIDDLED WITH VIOLENCE AND CHICANERY
ONLY COUNTRIES WITH HIDDEN AGENDAS WILL ENDORSE IT
AS FREE AND FAIR. . . IN FACT, THERE WERE SO MANY
IMPEDIMENTS PLACED IN THE PATH OF THE OPPOSITION IT
IS A TRIBUTE TO THEIR COURAGE, PATRIOTISM AND
DEDICATION THAT THEY GAVE ZANU PF SUCH A SCARE.
MORGAN TSVANGIRAI AND HIS TEAM DID NOT FOR ONE
MOMENT FALTER IN THEIR CHALLENGE TO THE POLITICAL
BEHEMOTH THAT IS ZANU PF. THE PEOPLE WHO FAILED
THEM MAY LIVE TO REGRET THEIR PREFERENCE FOR A
PARTY OF VIOLENCE AND LIES."

SULLIVAN

UNCLASSIFIED

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