Cablegate: Media Reaction Zim After Presidential Poll;

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

210906Z Mar 02

UNCLASSIFIED PTO6933

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FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1284
INFO NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
AMEMBASSY GABORONE
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
AMEMBASSY LONDON

UNCLAS HARARE 000735

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 ZIM AFTER PRESIDENTIAL POLL;
HARARE

1. EDITORIALS IN THE MARCH 21 EDITIONS OF THE
INDEPENDENT DAILY "THE DAILY NEWS" AND THE INDEPENDENT
WEEKLY "THE FINANCIAL GAZETTE" CALL ON PRESIDENT
ROBERT MUGABE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THAT LED TO
ZIMBABWE'S SUSPENSION FROM THE COMMONWEALTH.
EXCERPTS:

2. "LIFE CANNOT GO ON AS BEFORE WHEN YOU CHEAT," THE
"DAILY NEWS" (03/21) COMMENTS:

"(SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT) EMMERSON MNANGAGWA'S
REACTION TO ZIMBABWE'S SUSPENSION FROM THE
COMMONWEALTH IS LOADED WITH THE FALSE BRAVADO WITH
WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAS REACTED TO CENSURE AND
CONDEMNATION FOR ITS ACTIONS OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS. ON THE SURFACE, IT SMACKS OF DEFIANCE AND
ARROGANCE, BUT IT IS REALLY A CRY OF PAIN AND
REJECTION. . . WHAT MNAGNGAGWA AND HIS COLLEAGUES
OUGHT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT ZIMBABWE HAS BEEN
SUSPENDED BECAUSE ZANU PF CHEATED IN THE RECENT
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. . . IN A SMALL WAY, THE
COMMONWEALTH DECISION TO SUSPENDED ZIMBABWE MUST
SERVE TO REMIND MUGABE THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD
IS WATCHING HIS EVERY MOVE AND WILL POUNCE ON HIM
IF HE CONTINUES TO STRAY FROM THE STRAIGHT AND
NARROW PATH OF GOOD GOVERNANCE.

". . .WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO RESTORE THE DIGNITY
OF THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD
IS FOR MUGABE. . .TO END THE VIOLENCE AGAINST HIS
OWN PEOPLE, TO PUT THE WAR VETERANS IN THEIR PLACE
UNCLASSIFIED

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ONCE AND FOR ALL, TO ABANDON THE TRAINING OF
MISGUIDED, JOBLESS YOUTHS INTO PARTY MEDIA, NOT AS
ENEMIES OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY, BUT AS PATRIOTS AS
ANXIOUS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR COUNTRY AS HE
AND ZANU PF OUGHT TO BE. LIFE MAY GO ON AFTER
EXPULSION FROM THE COMMONWEALTH, BUT ZIMBABWE
WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME."

3. "MUGABE'S OPTIONS," THE "FINANCIAL GAZETTE"
(03/21) COMMENTS:

"EVEN BEFORE HE TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE TO START A
NEW SIX-YEAR TERM, PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE LAST
WEEK SIGNALED THE DIRECTION OF HIS GOVERNMENT BY
IMMEDIATELY SIGNING INTO LAW THE CONTROVERSIAL
ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY
BILL. THE NEW LAW. . .BULLDOZED THROUGH
PARLIAMENT JUST BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION,
NOT ONLY STIFLES PRESS FREEDOM IN ZIMBABWE BUT
THREATENS TO SHUT DOWN THE COUNTRY'S ENTIRE
INDEPENDENT NEWS MEDIA. . . HOW CAN THE
PRESIDENT RECONCILE THE FACT THAT ON ONE HAND HE
WANTS COOPERATION FROM THE OPPOSITION WHILE ON THE
OTHER HE LAUNCHES A CRACKDOWN ON ITS MEMBERS?
INDEED, HOW CAN A CONCILIATORY PRESIDENT WHO IS
DETERMINED TO HEAL THE NATION'S BLOODLETTING AND
PALPABLE PAIN OF THOSE WHO REGARD HIS ELECTION AS
STOLEN GO AHEAD WITH A BILL WHICH DEPRIVES THE
NATION OF INFORMATION THAT IS SO VITAL TO DECISION-
MAKING?. . ."

UNCLASSIFIED

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