Cablegate: Pro-Government Daily Faults Zimbabwe's

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

UNCLAS HARARE 000554

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR 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: PRO-GOVERNMENT DAILY FAULTS ZIMBABWE'S
CONTINUED SUSPENSION FROM COMMONWEALTH

1. Under headline "Stayaways and sanctions will not
solve our problems" the pro-government daily "The
Daily Mirror" offered a March 18 editorial criticizing
the Commonwealth for extending Zimbabwe's suspension,
saying the move was "unwise" and "also dampens
homegrown efforts to find a solution to our problems."
Excerpts:

2. "The announcement by the Commonwealth Secretary
General, Don McKinnon yesterday that the
Commonwealth was renewing sanctions (sic)
against Zimbabwe came as a shock to many. The
decision seems to have been taken without
consensus of African members of the
Commonwealth, raising serious doubts about its
validity. Although the hostility of white
members of this group towards Zimbabwe, and
President Mugabe in particular, is well known,
this harsh measure was, without doubt, unwise.
Not only does it go against the spirit of
political reconciliation, which various eminent
personalities from around the world have been
trying to foster. It also dampens homegrown
efforts to find a solution to our problems. . ."

SULLIVAN

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