Cablegate: Former Iv Grantee Becomes Publisher

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

UNCLAS HARARE 001079

SIPDIS

ECA/PE/V/G/A FOR BARBARA REED
INFO AF/PD FOR COX AND ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT AND
SCHLACHTER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: FORMER IV GRANTEE BECOMES PUBLISHER

1. IV alumnus Mark Chavhunduka (Multi-regional
project on print journalism, May 1992) has, at 36,
become Zimbabwe's youngest publisher.

2. Chavhunduka, who until this month was editor of
the independent weekly "The Standard," has assumed
control of Thompson Publications. Thompson publishes
several magazines, including the country's largest
circulating monthly magazine "Parade."

3. Chavhunduka's control of Thompson will strengthen
the private media in Zimbabwe. His commitment to
freedom of the media is well known. In spite of having
been detained and tortured by the Zimbabwean military
in January 1999 (after his newspaper published a report
alleging an attempted coup within the military),
Chavhunduka remained as editor of the Standard and
continued to publish articles and opinion pieces
critical of the Government of Zimbabwe.

4. Chavhunduka has told us that the IV program, which
brought him into regular contact with Embassy Harare
and media organizations in the U.S., strengthened his
abilities as a journalist and helped sustain him
through the pressures he has faced.

SULLIVAN

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