Cablegate: Editorial Urges Non-Compliance with Media

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

UNCLAS HARARE 001390

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, AF/RA
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LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAO ZI
SUBJECT: EDITORIAL URGES NON-COMPLIANCE WITH MEDIA
CONTROL LAW

1. Under headline "Moyo: You have lost the plot" the
independent weekly "The Standard" dedicated its
June 9 editorial to calling on the privately owned
media to "simply ignore the restrictions" of the
newly enacted Access to Information and Protection
of Privacy Act (AIPPA), saying the Act is a
"ridiculous piece of legislation." Excerpts:

2. "In the tortuous world of Zimbabwean journalism,
the ultimate foolishness has to be (Information
Minister) Jonathan Moyo's desire to force his
deplorable beliefs on the private press and foreign
correspondents. It won't happen. No matter how often
he resorts to his grotesque AIPPA, and no matter how
many lawsuits he files against privately owned
newspapers and no matter how many pseudo-journalists on
the lunatic fringe he appoints to his media commission,
it still won't happen. . .

"In his anxiety to control everything, . . .
Jonathan Moyo has lost the plot. And for that
reason, certain things need to be spelt out plainly
so that even he can understand them. Firstly, the
independent press will defy him, his crass
legislation - and his cronies. Independent
journalists will not seek registration because that
would mean acceding to the rest of the draconian
AIPPA. . . Any journalist, editor or publisher
worth his salt will simply ignore the restrictions
of the AIPPA. . . In any event, it's impossible in
this age of the Internet and satellite
communication for governments to control
information and to keep information private. . .
Someday, Zimbabwe shall again be free, but not
before all of us close ranks to fight this
absolutely ridiculous piece of legislation - the
AIPPA."

SULLIVAN

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