Cablegate: Media Report "Zim Withdrawal From Drc;" Harare

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

UNCLAS HARARE 001880

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, INR/R/MR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KMDR KPAO ZI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT "ZIM WITHDRAWAL FROM DRC;" HARARE

1. Under headline "Zim withdrawal from DRC" the
independent weekly "The Sunday Mirror" dedicated its August
14 editorial to welcoming the withdrawal of Zimbabwean
troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). "Now
that peace is possible in the DRC, the U. N. Security
Council should be more pro-active and speed up the peace
process," the editorial directed. Excerpts:

2. "The announcement by President Mugabe that Zimbabwean
troops would soon withdraw from the DRC should be welcome
news, not only for the soldiers and their families, but
also for those who never wanted to see Zimbabwean troops in
the DRC in the first place. There are also those who have
not positively contributed to the DRC peace process, citing
the presence of foreign troops as their reason for not
participating. The U. N. Security Council troops have not
been effectively deployed, mainly because the U. S. A. did
not wish U. N. troops to be deployed side by side with
Zimbabwean forces. Ironically, as it turned out, those U.
N. troops who were put in positions felt much safer and
were able to discharge their duties more effectively in
areas where Zimbabwean troops were deployed. . .Now, the
DRC conflict is about to end, the security concerns of the
invaders are being addressed, and the Zimbabwean troops are
moving out. It is now hoped that the tradition of standing
together in time of need extends to the rest of Africa, not
only in matters of defense, but also in all other areas
that constitute the building blocs of continental unity and
development. In this regard, Zimbabwe has made an immense
contribution which succeeding generations of Africans will
acknowledge. Now that peace is possible in the DRC, the U.
N. Security Council should be more pro-active and speed up
the peace process. We hope that the SADC allied force -and
Zimbabwe in particular - will keep a watchful eye on a
process which could not have begun in earnest were it not
for their intervention that saved the DRC in 1998."

WHITEHEAD

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