MFA INQUIRES ABOUT AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 005362 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/10 TAGS: PREL OIIP US ZI SUBJECT: MFA INQUIRES ABOUT AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON BULAWAYO'S CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 B/D. ¶1. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD MET FOR HALF AN HOUR WITH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR EUROPE AND THE AMERICAS JONATHAN WUTAWUNASHE AT THE LATTER'S CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 05362 251504Z REQUEST SEPTEMBER 25. WUTAWUNASHE GOT TO THE POINT QUICKLY, ASKING WHETHER "THE DAILY NEWS" HAD STATED CORRECTLY THE OBJECT OF THE AMBASSADOR'S VISIT TO PIUS NCUBE, THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF BULAWAYO, ON SEPTEMBER 21. THE ARTICLE STATED THAT "MCDONALD'S VISIT WAS TO LOBBY NCUBE TO USE HIS INFLUENCE TO PERSUADE THE REGION TO ACCEPT THE BILL (ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY ACT)." ¶2. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD RESPONDED THAT THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE'S ACCOUNT WAS "NOT CORRECT, AND THAT THE REPORTER WAS UNPROFESSIONAL." THE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT HE HAD MET WITH THE ARCHBISHOP, BUT THE SUBJECT OF THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY ACT WAS NOT RAISED. HOWEVER, HE WOULD NOT DIVULGE WHAT WAS THE SUBSTANCE OF THE PRIVATE CONVERSATION. THE AMBASSADOR WENT ON TO STATE THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE SHOULD NOT LET ITSELF BE SEIZED BY ITS OWN PARANOIA, BUT RATHER TAKE TO HEART THE BILL'S SERIOUS MESSAGE. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: "THE DAILY NEWS'" FABRICATED ARTICLE THAT APPEARED ON SEPTEMBER 25, WAS CUT FROM WHOLE CLOTH. THE REPORTER RECEIVED NO INFORMATION EITHER FROM OURSELVES OR THE ARCHBISHOP. IF SOMEONE IN THE ARCHBISHOP'S OFFICE TIPPED OFF THE PRESS TO THE AMBASSADOR'S CALL IN ORDER TO HELP THE ARCHBISHOP, WHO HAS RECEIVED A NUMBER OF DEATH THREATS, HE OR SHE DID THE WRONG THING. THE FACT THAT THE AMBASSADOR WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT THIS ARTICLE SHOWS THAT THE ZIMBABWE GOVERNMENT'S PARANOIA IS IN OVERDRIVE. WE DO NOT INTEND TO PUBLICIZE THIS MATTER FURTHER, BUT WILL REGISTER OUR UNHAPPINESS ABOUT THE STORY WITH THE NEWSPAPER'S CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 05362 251504Z MANAGING EDITOR. END COMMENT. MCDONALD CONFIDENTIAL >