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.

150925Z Mar 02

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6410

PAGE 01 HARARE 00689 01 OF 02 150936Z
ACTION INR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 A-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00
USNW-00 DODE-00 DS-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00
IO-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 TEST-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00
IIP-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W
------------------7518A1 150936Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1226
INFO NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY GABORONE
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
AMEMBASSY LONDON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000689

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. EDITORIALS IN THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED AND THE
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PAGE 02 HARARE 00689 01 OF 02 150936Z
PRIVATE NEWSPAPERS REMAIN SHARPLY DIVIDED ABOUT
PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE'S VICTORY IN THE JUST-ENDED
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN ZIMBABWE. WHILE THE
INDEPENDENT PRESS CHARACTERIZES MUGABE'S VICTORY AS
"STOLEN," THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED MEDIA TRUMPETS
HIS WIN AS "A TRIUMPH FOR DEMOCRACY." EDITORIAL
EXCERPTS FOLLOW:

2. UNDER HEADLINE "ELECTION RESULT FLIES IN THE FACE
OF CIVILIZATION," THE INDEPENDENT DAILY "THE DAILY
NEWS" (03/15) COMMENTS:

"PRESIDENT MUGABE HAS MANAGED TO ACHIEVE WHAT TO
EVERYBODY LOOKED AN IMPOSSIBILITY: HANGING ON TO
POWER WHEN ALL INDICATIONS WERE THAT NEARLY
EVERYONE, INCLUDING MANY OF THOSE IN THE INNER
CIRCLE OF HIS PARTY, WANTED HIM TO GO. IT WAS AN
UNSPOKEN NATIONAL CONSENSUS THAT THE MAN HAD BECOME
AN UNSUSTAINABLE LIABILITY TO THE COUNTRY AND
SHOULD HAVE NO FURTHER BUSINESS RUNNING THE AFFAIRS
OF STATE. IT IS. . .A VERY SAD COMMENTARY ON A MAN
WHO ROSE TO POLITICAL PROMINENCE ON THE BASIS OF
HIS UNCOMPROMISING ADVOCACY FOR UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE
TO BE SEEN TO HAVE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO DENY
HIS FELLOW CITIZENS THAT VERY RIGHT AS THE ONLY WAY
OF ENSURING HE HANGS ON TO POWER AGAINST THE WILL
OF HIS COMPATRIOTS. . . THIS ELECTION IS LIKELY TO
GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS PROBABLY THE MOST FRAUDULENT
POLL IN THE 21ST CENTURY."

3. "UNDER HEADLINE "OVER 1,2 M ZIMBABWEANS REFUSE TO
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PAGE 03 HARARE 00689 01 OF 02 150936Z
BE COERCED," THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY "ZIMBABWE
INDEPENDENT" (03/15) COMMENTS:

"'YOU WON THE ELECTION, BUT I WON THE COUNT,'
FORMER NICARAGUAN DICTATOR ANASTASIO SOMOZA IS
REPORTED AS HAVING ONCE BOASTED. THAT WOULD BE AN
APT VIEW OF PRESIDENT MUGABE'S TRANSPARENTLY STOLEN
'VICTORY' IN LAST WEEKEND'S PRESIDENTIAL POLL. . .
MEANWHILE, 1,2 MILLION ZIMBABWEANS HAVE DECLARED
THEY WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED OR COERCED AND THAT
THEY WON'T ACCEPT MUGABE'S VIOLENT LAND SEIZURES.
WE SALUTE THOSE BRAVE PEOPLE."

4. UNDER HEADLINE "A TRIUMPH FOR DEMOCRACY," THE
GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY "THE HERALD" (03/15)
COMMENTS:
AS EXPECTED ZANU PF CANDIDATE ROBERT MUGABE ROMPED
HOME TO VICTORY WITH A MASSIVE VOTE. THAT THE ZANU
PF CANDIDATE WON THE PRESIDENCY AND THAT THE
SITUATION IS CALM, IS SOMETHING WHICH IS NOT GOING
DOWN WELL IN CERTAIN QUARTERS OF THE WESTERN WORLD.
ZIMBABWE IS SUPPOSED TO BE EXPERIENCING A BLOODBATH
THIS VERY HOUR BECAUSE THE VOTE WAS 'STOLEN' FROM
THE MDC. THE VOTE IS VIEWED AS A 'FRAUD.' THE MDC
SHOULD HAVE WON, COME WHAT MAY!
. . .WE HAVE SAID IN THE PAST THAT THIS WAS THE
TIME FOR AFRICA TO MAKE A FINAL STAND ON ITS
POLITICAL PROCESSES. AFRICANS MUST OBSERVE AND
PASS JUDGEMENT ON THEIR OWN ELECTIONS AND NOT
ANYONE ELSE FROM OUTSIDE THE CONTINENT. . . LET US
SHOW THE WORLD THAT WE CAN MANAGE OUR OWN AFFAIRS."
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PAGE 04 HARARE 00689 01 OF 02 150936Z

5. UNDER HEADLINE "ZIMBABWEANS SHAME DETRACTORS,"
THE
BULAWAYO-BASED GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY
"CHRONICLE" (03/15) COMMENTS:

"WE ARE HUMBLED BY THE MATURITY OF ZIMBABWEANS WHO
HAVE SHAMED DETRACTORS SUCH AS THE BRITISH AND
AUSTRALIANS WHO WERE PREACHING HATE-MONGERING IN
ORDER TO INCITE GENOCIDE. ZIMBABWEANS, IN THEIR
WISDOM, HAVE SHOWN THE WORLD THAT THEY NEED NOT
SHED BLOOD IN ORDER TO MAKE A POLITICAL STATEMENT.
IF THERE IS GENOCIDE, THE PEOPLE WHO WILL DIE ARE
ZIMBABWEANS AND NOT AUSTRALIANS OR BRITONS. WE
URGE THE LOSING CANDIDATES IN THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION TO ACCEPT THAT PRESIDENT MUGABE IS THE
PEOPLE'S CHOICE. . . COUNTRIES THAT WANTED TO RE-
COLONIZE ZIMBABWE THROUGH THE BACK DOOR HAVE BEEN
SHAMED AND WE SHOULD NOT PLAY INTO THEIR HANDS BY
ENGAGING IN UNNECESSARY SQUABBLES. NOW IS THE TIME
TO PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND MAP THE WAY FORWARD

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PAGE 01 HARARE 00689 02 OF 02 150936Z
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
------------------7518A3 150936Z /38
P 150925Z MAR 02
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1227
INFO NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY GABORONE
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
AMEMBASSY LONDON

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 000689

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

AS WE SEEK TO REVIVE THE AILING ECONOMY."
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PAGE 02 HARARE 00689 02 OF 02 150936Z

SULLIVAN

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