Cablegate: Media Reaction Wssd; Harare

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

UNCLAS HARARE 002011

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, AF/RA
NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAO KMDR ZI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION WSSD; HARARE

1. Editorials in Zimbabwe's newspapers continue to
focus on the ongoing World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Excerpts:

2. Under headline "Earth summit hopes of ending
African poverty" the independent daily "The Daily News)
(09/02/02) comments:

"By the time the WSSD ends in Johannesburg later
this week, nearly 100 world leaders, including
President Mugabe, will have presented their
theories on how to end world poverty. Africa,
as the poorest continent, has been at the center
of the discussion preceding the arrival of the
world leaders. If the summit's proposals to end
poverty are implemented with more honesty and
dedication than the resolutions of the summit in
Rio de Janeiro in 1992, then there is a chance
the world could strike a decisive blow against
poverty. . . The struggle against poverty is
essentially a demand by the poor for the
developed world to loosen its purse strings when
dealing with the developing world, whether it is
in bilateral trade or straightforward aid. . .
In view of the failure of the rich nations to
live up to their promises at the Rio summit, who
can blame the angry demonstrators (against the
summit in Johannesburg)? At the same time,
there ought to (be simultaneous) demonstrations
against corruption in Africa."

3. Under headline "Region reflects on land" the
weekly ZANU PF organ "The People's Voice" (09/01/02)
comments:

"The issue of land was first brought onto the
agenda of the international community by the
conference of representatives of peasants and
peasant communities a few years ago. But, now
it has been inscribed in bold letters at the
WSSD in Johannesburg. All developing countries
should address the issue of land ownership, and
land utilization, and find viable solutions. In
southern Africa, Zimbabwe has led the way by
asserting the rights of the indigenous people
over their own natural resources. That
assertion is now being supported by the friendly
governments of Namibia and South Africa, who are
suggesting a regional approach to the land
question. That would be an important step
forward for the peasant farmers in the fourteen
nations of the SADC. . ."

SULLIVAN

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