Cablegate: Zbc Sees Link Between Sanctions Against Zimbabwean

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

UNCLAS HARARE 000513

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/S
AF/PDPA FOR DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS
NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO KMDR ZI
SUBJECT: ZBC SEES LINK BETWEEN SANCTIONS AGAINST ZIMBABWEAN
LEADERSHIP AND U.S. POLICY ON IRAQ

1. THE ZIMBABWE BROADCASTING CORPORATION'S (ZBC) PRIME-
TIME EVENING NEWS PROGRAM ON MARCH 12 REPORTED THAT NEWLY
IMPOSED U.S. FINANCIAL SANCTIONS AGAINST ZIMBABWEAN
LEADERSHIP ARE PART OF A POLITICAL ACCOMMODATION WITH GREAT
BRITAIN TO ENSURE CONINTUED UK SUPPORT FOR U.S. POLICY ON
IRAQ. REALLY, THEY DID.

2. IN ITS MAIN STORY, ZBC'S 8PM NEWS PROGRAM DEDICATED
ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO PRESIDENT BUSH'S EXECUTIVE ORDER OF
MARCH 6. WILLIAM NHARA, ONE OF ZBC'S FAVORED POLITICAL
ANALYSTS, OFFERED A 4-MINUTE COMMENTARY ON THE SANCTIONS.
HIS CENTRAL THESIS WAS THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT LED THE
U.S. GOVERNMENT TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS AS A CONDITION FOR
CONTINUED BRITISH SUPPORT OF U.S. POLICY ON IRAQ. NHARA
POINTED TO THE TIMING OF THE MARCH 6 EXECUTIVE ORDER
(PRESUMABLY AS THE U.S. IS PREPARING FOR WAR WITH IRAQ),
GROWING ANTI-WAR PUBLIC OPINION IN THE U.K., AND RECENT
DIPLOMATIC "TRIUMPHS" FOR ZIMBABWE (SUPPORT FROM THE
GOVERNMENTS OF SOUTH AFRICA AND NIGERIA, PARTICIPATION AT
THE FRENCH-AFRICA SUMMIT, SUPPORT FROM THE NON-ALIGNED
MOVEMENT) AS EVIDENCE THAT THE SANCTIONS WERE INSTITUTED AS
A POLITICAL TRADE FOR CONTINUED BRITISH SUPPORT OF U.S.
POLICY ON IRAQ.

SULLIVAN

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