AMERICAN JOURNALISTS SUCCESSFULLY USE NEW

UNCLAS HARARE 002327 SIPDIS LONDON FOR GURNEY PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO ZI SUBJECT: AMERICAN JOURNALISTS SUCCESSFULLY USE NEW ZIMBABWEAN ACCREDITATION PROCEDURES ¶1. THE SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENTS FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES AND THE WASHINGTON POST SUCCESSFULLY USED THE NEW UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HARARE 02327 031030Z MEDIA ACCREDITATION PROCEDURES PUT INTO PLACE BY ZIMBABWEAN INFORMATION MINISTER JONATHAN MOYO IN JUNE ¶2001. THE JOHANNESBURG-BASED JOURNALISTS ARRIVED IN ZIMBABWE AUGUST 1 AND 3 AND INTEND TO SPEND ABOUT A WEEK IN THE COUNTRY COVERING POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES. ¶2. THE JOURNALISTS FOLLOWED THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED PROCEDURE OF APPLYING FOR PERMISSION, ON COMPANY LETTERHEAD, TO ENTER ZIMBABWE ONE MONTH IN ADVANCE OF ARRIVAL. THEY DEALT DIRECTLY WITH THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION IN HARARE RATHER THAN THROUGH THE ZIMBABWEAN HIGH COMMISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA. IN RESPONSE TO THE APPLICATIONS, THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SENT "INVITATION" LETTERS TO THE CORRESPONDENTS IN JOHANNESBURG. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT IN HARARE, THE JOURNALISTS PRESENTED THESE LETTERS TO IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS AND WERE ALLOWED TO ENTER WITH THE INSTRUCTION TO REPORT THE NEXT DAY TO THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION TO GET THEIR VISA/ACCREDITATION. UPON PAYMENT OF THE USD 100 FEE, THE WASHINGTON POST CORRESPONDENT WAS GIVEN A VISA/CREDENTIAL VALID FOR 9 DAYS, THE AMOUNT OF TIME HE REQUESTED. THIS FEE MUST BE PAID EACH TIME THE JOURNALIST ENTERS ZIMBABWE. THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTERS ARE TO REPORT TO THE MINISTRY LATER TODAY. ¶3. IN THIS CASE THE NEW ACCREDITATION PROCEDURE FOR FOREIGN JOURNALISTS WORKED EXACTLY AS ADVERTISED BY MINISTER MOYO. THE JOURNALISTS TELL US THAT MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY THEY "WILL BE FLEXIBLE" IF A BREAKING STORY IN ZIMBABWE MAKES ADVANCE APPLICATION FOR A VISA IMPRACTICAL. WE EXPECT THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 02327 031030Z TEST THE MINISTRY'S FLEXIBILITY IN THE MONTHS TO COME. WE WILL ALSO WATCH WITH INTEREST TO SEE IF UNFLATTERING REPORTING ON ZIMBABWE MAKE THE VISA/ACCREDITATION PROCESS MORE DIFFICULT. HOOKS UNCLASSIFIED >