Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01HARARE3638
2001-12-06 06:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
INDEPENDENT PRESS CRITICIZES INFORMATION BILL
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 060624Z Dec 01 UNCLASSIFIED PTO8003 PAGE 01 HARARE 03638 060717Z ACTION INR-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 A-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DS-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 TEST-00 USIE-00 IIP-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W ------------------47ACE0 060717Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0474 INFO NSC WASHDC AMEMBASSY PRETORIA AMEMBASSY LUSAKA AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK AMEMBASSY GABORONE AMEMBASSY LILONGWE AMEMBASSY LONDON
UNCLAS HARARE 003638
SIPDIS
AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR SCHLACHTER, AF/RA FOR
SWANN, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: INDEPENDENT PRESS CRITICIZES INFORMATION BILL
UNCLAS HARARE 003638
SIPDIS
AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR SCHLACHTER, AF/RA FOR
SWANN, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: INDEPENDENT PRESS CRITICIZES INFORMATION BILL
1. THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY "THE STANDARD" USED ITS
DECEMBER 2 EDITORIAL TO CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT OF
ZIMBABWE'S NEW INFORMATION BILL. THE BILL IS NOW AWAITING
CONSIDERATION BY PARLIAMENT. UNDER THE TITLE "INFORMATION
BILL ABSOLUTE MADNESS," THE PAPER COMMENTS:
2. "THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION PROTECTION OF PRIVACY
BILL. . .CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE MOST
DEVIOUS PIECES OF LEGISLATION CRAFTED IN POST-
INDEPENDENCE ZIMBABWE, AND ONE WHICH SEEKS TO MAKE
CRIMINALS OUT OF OTHERWISE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.
INTRODUCED OSTENSIBLY TO GIVE THE PUBLIC THE RIGHT TO
INFORMATION HELD BY PUBLIC BODIES AND TO PROTECT
PERSONAL PRIVACY, THE ALL-EMBRACING BILL. . .WILL HAVE
THE NET EFFECT OF CURTAILING AND INTERFERING WILL ALL
ASPECTS OF A NEWSPAPER'S OPERATIONS. IN ITS PRESENT
FORM, ASPECTS OF THE BILL SEEK TO HAND OVER TO THE
GOVERNMENT POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ARE VESTED
IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A MEDIA ORGANIZATION. . . SHOULD
THE BILL BE PASSED INTO LAW IN ITS PRESENT FORM, THEN
CLEARLY A MAJOR SHOWDOWN IS IN THE MAKING BETWEEN THE
GOVERNMENT AND THE INDEPENDENT PRESS."
SULLIVAN
UNCLASSIFIED
>
SIPDIS
AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR SCHLACHTER, AF/RA FOR
SWANN, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: INDEPENDENT PRESS CRITICIZES INFORMATION BILL
1. THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY "THE STANDARD" USED ITS
DECEMBER 2 EDITORIAL TO CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT OF
ZIMBABWE'S NEW INFORMATION BILL. THE BILL IS NOW AWAITING
CONSIDERATION BY PARLIAMENT. UNDER THE TITLE "INFORMATION
BILL ABSOLUTE MADNESS," THE PAPER COMMENTS:
2. "THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION PROTECTION OF PRIVACY
BILL. . .CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE MOST
DEVIOUS PIECES OF LEGISLATION CRAFTED IN POST-
INDEPENDENCE ZIMBABWE, AND ONE WHICH SEEKS TO MAKE
CRIMINALS OUT OF OTHERWISE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.
INTRODUCED OSTENSIBLY TO GIVE THE PUBLIC THE RIGHT TO
INFORMATION HELD BY PUBLIC BODIES AND TO PROTECT
PERSONAL PRIVACY, THE ALL-EMBRACING BILL. . .WILL HAVE
THE NET EFFECT OF CURTAILING AND INTERFERING WILL ALL
ASPECTS OF A NEWSPAPER'S OPERATIONS. IN ITS PRESENT
FORM, ASPECTS OF THE BILL SEEK TO HAND OVER TO THE
GOVERNMENT POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ARE VESTED
IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A MEDIA ORGANIZATION. . . SHOULD
THE BILL BE PASSED INTO LAW IN ITS PRESENT FORM, THEN
CLEARLY A MAJOR SHOWDOWN IS IN THE MAKING BETWEEN THE
GOVERNMENT AND THE INDEPENDENT PRESS."
SULLIVAN
UNCLASSIFIED
>