MEDIA REPORT ZDERA; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 003666 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: MEDIA REPORT ZDERA; HARARE ¶1. THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY "CHRONICLE" DEDICATED ITS DECEMBER 8 EDITORIAL TO CONDEMN THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT (ZDERA) OF ¶2001. UNDER HEADLINE "DEMOCRACY BILL, A BULLYING TACTIC," THE PAPER COMMENTS: ¶2. ". . .IT IS STRANGE THAT THERE SHOULD BE ZIMBABWEANS CELEBRATING AMERICA'S PASSING OF A SO- CALLED DEMOCRACY BILL THAT IN FACT SEEKS TO CURTAIL DEMOCRACY. IT IS AN OPEN SECRET THAT THE WORLD'S FORMER COLONIAL POWERS ALREADY HAVE A CANDIDATE IN MIND AND THEY ARE ONLY WAITING FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF RESULTS AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PLEBISCITE. WE ARE TOLD THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE SO-CALLED ZDERA IS TO PRESSURE PRESIDENT MUGABE INTO HOLDING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS AND ESTABLISH LAND OWNERSHIP PROTECTION. THERE IS AN INSINUATION HERE THAT IT IS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WILL NOT BE FREE AND FAIR. WE SYMPATHIZE WITH THE IGNORANCE AND NAIVETY (SIC) OF THE AMERICANS. IF THEY EVER BOTHERED TO READ ZIMBABWE'S HISTORY, THEY WOULD KNOW THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS HELD SEVERAL ELECTIONS THAT WERE FREE AND FAIR. ANYWAY, WHO ARE THE AMERICANS TO TEACH US ABOUT CONDUCTING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS WHEN THEY THEMSELVES FAILED DISMALLY TO CONDUCT PROPER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS EARLY THIS YEAR. FOR ALL WE KNOW THE INCUMBENT PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH IS IN POWER FOLLOWING THE INTERVENTION OF THE COURTS IN THAT COUNTRY. IS THIS WHAT YOU CALL DEMOCRACY? FAILURES LIKE THE AMERICANS DO NOT QUALIFY TO LECTURE ZIMBABWE ON DEMOCRACY. . . THE AMERICAN EVIL BILL IS AN ATTEMPT TO RUN ZIMBABWE BY REMOTE CONTROL, AND WE SAY NO TO THIS. WE ARE A SOVEREIGN STATE WHICH DOES NOT NEED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 03666 110756Z 'FOSTER PARENTS' TO TELL US WHAT TO DO AT EVERY TURN. . . ." SULLIVAN UNCLASSIFIED >