MEDIA REPORT LAND REFORM IN ZIMBABWE; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 002660 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: ZI PREL PHUM SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT LAND REFORM IN ZIMBABWE; HARARE ¶1. SEPTEMBER 9 AND 10 EDITORIALS IN THE GOVERNMENT- CONTROLLED WEEKLY "THE SUNDAY MAIL" AND THE INDEPENDENT DAILY "THE DAILY NEWS" FOCUS ON THE NIGERIAN-BROKERED AGREEMENT COVERING THE CONTROVERSIAL LAND REFORM PROGRAM IN ZIMBABWE. EDITORIAL EXCERPTS FOLLOW: ¶2. UNDER HEADLINE "AFTER ABUJA, TIME TO PUT WAR VETS IN THEIR PLACE," THE SEPTEMBER 10 EDITION OF THE "DAILY NEWS" COMMENTS: "THE AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN ZIMBABWE AND BRITAIN AT THE ABUJA TALKS ON LAND WAS POSSIBLE ONLY BECAUSE THE COMMONWEALTH NATIONS STOOD SOLIDLY AGAINST THE LAWLESSNESS PROMOTED BY THE MUGABE REGIME THROUGH THE SO-CALLED WAR VETERANS. NONE OF THEM WERE EVER IN DOUBT THAT THE LAND ISSUE HAD TO BE RESOLVED. THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE HAD NEVER DISPUTED THE NEED FOR A LAND REFORM PROGRAM THAT WOULD REDISTRIBUTE LAND SO THAT THE MAJORITY, NOW CONFINED TO OVERCROWDED COMMUNAL AREAS, COULD OWN MOST OF IT. WHAT MOST CRITICS WOULD NOT ACCEPT WAS THE VIOLENCE ACCOMPANYING LAND REFORM. . .ALTHOUGH THE AGREEMENT IN ABUJA HAS BEEN TOUTED AS A BREAKTHROUGH, MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE. THE BALL IS NOW FIRMLY IN MUGABE'S COURT. THE FUTURE OF THE WAR VETERANS' ROLE IN THE LAND SEIZURES HAS TO BE ADDRESSED FAIRLY URGENTLY IF THE PRESIDENT IS TO SIGNIFY HIS COMMITMENT TO THE ABUJA ACCORDS. . . ." ¶3. UNDER HEADLINE "MILESTONE REACHED IN LAND PROGRAMME (SIC)," THE SEPTEMBER 9 EDITION OF "THE SUNDAY MAIL" UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 02660 101233Z COMMENTS: "THE BREAKTHROUGH IN THE ABUJA LAND TALKS IS A VICTORY FOR ZIMBABWE AND AFRICA. FIRST, IT IS AN AFFIRMATION OF THE POSITION THAT ZIMBABWE HAS ALWAYS HELD ON THE LAND QUESTION. AND SECOND, IT CONFIRMS OUR BELIEF ALL ALONG THAT SOLUTIONS TO AFRICA'S PROBLEMS WILL ONLY COME FROM AFRICANS THEMSELVES. . .BRITAIN HAS UNDERTAKEN ALONGSIDE THE OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES REPRESENTED AT THE ABUJA MEETING. . .TO MOBILIZE OTHER COUNTRIES AND DONORS TO SUPPORT LAND REFORM IN ZIMBABWE. SURELY THE BRITISH WILL MOBILIZE NOBODY IF THEY DON'T MOBILIZE THEIR MAJOR ALLAY THE UNITED STATES, AND ALONG WITH IT, THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND THE WORLD BANK. AND FOR THE AMERICANS THE FIRST THING TO DO WOULD BE TO FLUSH DOWN THE TOILET THEIR ILL-CONCEIVED SANCTIONS BILL. . . ." ROTH UNCLASSIFIED >