MEDIA REPORT ZDERA; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 003679 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-OWNED WEEKLY "THE SUNDAY NEWS" DEDICATED ITS DECEMBER 9 EDITORIAL TO CONDEMNING THE UNITED STATES FOR PASSING THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT OF 2001. UNDER HEADLINE "LET'S PUT PROPHETS OF DOOM TO SHAME," THE PAPER COMMENTS: ¶2. "THE IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS AGAINST ZIMBABWE IS A RACIST ATTEMPT BY THE U.S. AND ITS BRITISH COUSINS TO DRAG US BACK TO COLONIAL RULE. IT IS ALSO AN ACT OF AGGRESSION. THROUGHOUT HISTORY, POWERFUL NATIONS HAVE IMPOSED SANCTIONS AND EMBARGOES ON WEAKER NATIONS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO WAR OR AS A PRELUDE TO WAR. THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE SHOULD NOW SEE THE OPPOSITION MDC (MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE) FOR WHAT IT IS. INSTEAD OF SEEKING FOREIGN PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT, MDC LEADERS HAVE COBBLED TOGETHER A CONCERTED CAMPAIGN TO MAKE OUR COUNTRY A PARIAH STATE. . . THE ANTI-PEOPLE SANCTIONS WILL WORSEN UNEMPLOYMENT, CREATE COMMODITY SHORTAGES AND MAKE LIFE UNBEARABLE. NO DOUBT PATRIOTIC ZIMBABWEANS WILL FIND IT DISGUSTING THAT A PARTY WHICH CYNICALLY CALLS ITSELF A GOVERNMENT-IN- WAITING IS ACTUALLY URGING THE WEST TO DECLARE WAR ON THE COUNTRY. . . ." SULLIVAN UNCLASSIFIED >