STATE-OWNED MEDIA CONDEMN ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY

UNCLAS HARARE 003648 SIPDIS AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT, AF/RA FOR SWANN, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM SUBJECT: STATE-OWNED MEDIA CONDEMN ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY BILL ¶1. STATE-OWNED MEDIA REPORTING ON THE HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT (ZDERA) REFLECTS IS CRITICAL OF THE BILL. THE MAIN POINTS MADE BY THE STATE-OWNED BROADCAST AND PRINT MEDIA ARE THAT: - ZDERA IS A SANCTIONS BILL THAT WILL HURT THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE; - CREATION AND PASSAGE OF ZDERA WAS ENGINEERED BY THE OPPOSITION MDC PARTY, THE BRITISH, COMMERCIAL FARMERS AND A RANGE OF OTHER PERCEIVED ENEMIES; - ZDERA IS AN UNJUSTIFIABLE ATTACK ON ZIMBABWEAN SOVEREIGNTY; - THE US DID NOT CONSULT WITH THE GOZ PRIOR TO PASSAGE OF THE BILL. ¶2. THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY "THE HERALD" DEDICATED ITS DECEMBER 7 EDITORIAL TO COMMENT ON THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT (ZDERA). UNDER HEADLINE "BETRAYAL BY THE INDIGENOUS," THE PAPER COMMENTS: ¶3. "THE SANCTIONS BILL SPONSORED BY THE MOVEMENT OF DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) HAS FINALLY SUCCEEDED IN PASSING BOTH HOUSES OF THE AMERICAN CONGRESS. IT WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE BIGGEST BETRAYAL AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE BY ITS OWN SONS AND DAUGHTERS. . . MORGAN TSVANGIRAI (MDC LEADER), WELSHMAN NCUBE, TENDAI BITI, SEKAI HOLLAND AND THE REST OF THE UNCLE TOMS SHALL BE JUDGED BY HISTORY FOR THE EVIL THEY HAVE UNLEASHED UPON THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE. . . IN ALL HONESTY, DOES HE (TSVANGIRAI) BELIEVE THAT THE AMERICANS CARE A HOOT ABOUT UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 03648 071025Z DEMOCRACY IN ZIMBABWE? OF COURSE NOT. NEITHER DO THE AMERICANS HAVE A FIGHT WITH ZIMBABWE. IT IS THE BRITISH WHO ARE BEYOND (SIC) THE WHOLE SORDID BILL. . . . " SULLIVAN UNCLASSIFIED >