MEDIA REPORT -- DR. MICHAEL SWANGO CASE

UNCLAS HARARE 002455 SIPDIS AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT, AF/P, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM ZI SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT -- DR. MICHAEL SWANGO CASE ¶1. THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY 'THE CHRONICLE' DEDICATED ITS AUGUST 15 EDITORIAL TO A CALL FOR THE EXTRADITION OF AMCIT DR. MICHAEL SWANGO, NOW SERVING LIFE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HARARE 02455 201428Z SENTENCE IN COLORADO FOR KILLING PATIENTS IN THE UNITED STATES. SWANGO IS WANTED ON SIMILAR CHARGES IN ZIMBABWE. UNDER HEADLINE "SWANGO SHOULD FACE MUSIC IN ZIMBABWE," THE PAPER COMMENTS: ¶2. "THE MBERENGWA COMMUNITY DESERVES RESPECT, ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR THE VALIANT EFFORT IT IS MAKING IN TRYING TO PICK UP THE PIECES AND COME TO TERMS WITH THE UNSPEAKABLE HORRORS PERPETRATED BY AMERICAN SERIAL KILLER, DR. MICHAEL SWANGO, DURING A THREE-MONTH SOJOURN. THE FULL EXTENT OF THE PERVERSE ACTIVITIES OF DR. SWANGO, WHO LEFT A TRAIL OF DEATHS AT MNENE HOSPITAL, UNITED BULAWAYO HOSPITALS AND MPILO HOSPITAL, MAY NOT BE KNOWN FULLY. HOWEVER, MBERENGWA, WHERE THE DOCTOR WAS BASED FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS, BORE THE BRUNT OF HIS CALLOUS DISREGARD FOR THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE. THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE BECOME ORPHANS AFTER LOSING PARENTS AT THE HANDS OF THE CRUEL DOCTOR COULD PROVE TO BE THE MOST ACCURATE BAROMETER OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE DESTRUCTION AND ANGUISH HE CAUSED. . .WHAT THE BEREAVED FAMILIES, THE COMMUNITY AND THE NATION NEEDS, TO BRING CLOSURE TO THIS SHOCKING AND TRAUMATIC EPISODE IS TO HAVE DR. SWANGO FACE THE FULL WRATH OF THE LAW ON ZIMBABWE SOIL. . .THE U. S. ITSELF HAS MADE A POINT OF ENSURING THAT SUSPECTS ACCUSED OF COMMITTING CRIMES AFFECTING ITS CITIZENS OR ASSETS ARE TRIED ON AMERICAN SOIL. THE TRIAL OF THOSE ACCUSED OF BOMBING THE U. S. EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA IS A CASE IN POINT. WE THEREFORE CALL ON THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES NOT TO ABANDON ATTEMPTS TO BRING THE SERIAL KILLER BACK TO FACE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 02455 201428Z ZIMBABWEAN JUSTICE BUT TO INCREASE PRESSURE ON THE U. ¶S. TO HAND HIM OVER." ROTH UNCLASSIFIED >