Cablegate: Media Report African-American Criticizes Powell;

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

UNCLAS HARARE 001885

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD (COX, DALTON), AF/S (SCHLACHTER), AF/RA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OIIP KPAO KMDR ZI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT AFRICAN-AMERICAN CRITICIZES POWELL;
HARARE

1. A group of African-Americans, who flew into the
country last week at the invitation of the Zimbabwean
government, has accused U. S. Secretary of State Colin
Powell of extreme dislike of Africa. According to an
article carried on page two of the August 19 edition of the
government-controlled daily "The Herald," Mr. Elombe Brath
of the Patrice Lumumba Coalition said: "I went to the same
school with Powell and everyone knew that he never had any
love for Africa." Excerpts of the article published under
headline "`Powell has never loved Africa'" follow:

2. "U. S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has never had
any love or appreciation for Africa and therefore will
never do or say anything positive about the continent, a
visiting American said yesterday. Mr. Elombe Brath of the
Patrice Lumumba Coalition said he knew Mr. Powell well
enough as they grew up together in the U. S. `I went to
the same school with Powell and everyone knew that he never
had any love for Africa,' Mr. Brath said during a meeting
with the ZANU PF national chairman and Minister of Home
Affairs, (Mr.) John Nkomo, at the party headquarters. `We
went to the same church and lived along the same street and
he is known for his views against Africa. . .' According
to him, Mr. Powell was being `used' by the U. S.
administration in its fight against the `people of color.
The Washington system says blacks have no rights.' Mr.
Powell, who was branded as an `Uncle Tom' and `White House
nigger' by South African students during a visit to that
country early last year, went on to attack President Mugabe
and his government. "He criticized the ongoing land reform
program and accused (Mr.) Mugabe of `clinging to power.'

3. "Mr, Brath said that most average black people knew
that (Mr.) Mugabe was the most `dangerous' person in
that his views were `inimical' to the interests of
Western powers while advancing those of blacks.
`President Mugabe is on the verge of making history
in Africa. He is an example for the whole of the
continent. For instance, he made the correct
decision to intervene in the Democratic Republic of
Congo, which in history will become one of the most
important decisions ever made.' He also scoffed at
the U. S. presidential election, saying it was a
`mockery' for anyone to say Mr. George Bush was
fairly elected. . . ."

WHITEHEAD

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