MEDIA REPORT ZDERA; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 003740 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 MAINSTREAM PRINT PRESS CONTINUES TO PUBLISH OPINION PIECES ON THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT (ZDERA) OF 2001. THIS WEEK THE ACT WAS INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA AT THE JUST-ENDED FIFTH ZANU PF NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONFERENCE IN VICTORIA FALLS. A QUICK SAMPLE OF THE OPINION PIECES AND WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT THE ZDERA AT THE ZANU PF CONGRESS FOLLOW: ¶2. UNDER HEADLINE "WHY WE SHOULD SUPPORT THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY BILL," THE DECEMBER 14 EDITION OF THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY "ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENT" CARRIED THE FOLLOWING PIECE BY PAUL MAVHIMA: ". . .THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL IS A GOOD INDICATOR THAT THE WORLD IS WATCHING ZIMBABWE AND THAT THERE IS NOW ZERO TOLERANCE EVEN FROM ITS AFRICAN-AMERICAN FRIENDS WHO COULD HAVE BLOCKED THE BILL IF THEY HAD REALLY WANTED TO DO SO. IT WOULD BE UNUSUAL TO FIND A SITUATION WHERE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WOULD NOT TAKE STEPS IN CONDEMNING A GOVERNMENT THAT IS KILLING ITS OWN PEOPLE. . . ." ¶3. UNDER HEADLINE "DEMOCRACY BILL: U.S.'S WAY OF TESTING THE TURBULENCE," THE DECEMBER 15 EDITION OF THE GOVERNMENT- CONTROLLED DAILY "CHRONICLE" RAN THE FOLLOWING FEATURE ARTICLE BY KENNEDY MAVHUMAHASHA: "DETRACTORS OF ZIMBABWE'S LAND REFORMS EXPECT U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH TO SIGN THE ZDERA 2001 INTO LAW SOON REGARDLESS OF STRONG REPRESENTATIONS FROM AFRICA AGAINST THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION. ANALYSTS SAID THAT THE FACT THAT THE ACT, CRITICIZED WIDELY FOR BEING UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 03740 172104Z 'DRACONIAN AND RACIST,' EASILY SAILED THROUGH THE AMERICAN SENATE AND CONGRESS REFLECTED THE HARD-LINE RESOLVE IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO HAVE ITS WAY AGAINST ZIMBABWE. . . ." ¶4. THE DECEMBER 17 EDITION OF THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY "THE HERALD" PRINTED CRITICISM OF ZDERA FROM CONGRESSWOMAN CYNTHIA MCKINNEY AND CHIEF ELDER OSIRIS AKKEBALA. THE PAPER PRINTED THEIR REMARKS ON THE OPINION PAGE UNDER HEADLINES "BILL PERPETUATES PRIVILEGES," AND "AMERICA STICKS IMPERIALIST HANDS IN SOVEREIGN AFFAIRS OF ZIMBABWE," RESPECTIVELY. ¶5. THE DECEMBER 16 EDITION OF THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED WEEKLY "THE SUNDAY MAIL" CARRIED AN OPEN LETTER TO CONGRESSMAN PAYNE SIGNED BY FRIENDS OF ZIMBABWE, BROOKLYN, NY, UNDER HEADLINE "HANDS OFF ZIMBABWE" [NB: WE NOTE THAT THE ANONYMOUS AUTHOR OF THIS LETTER USES DISTINCTLY NON- AMERICAN RHETORIC AND VOCABULARY]: "AS ONE OF 40,000,000 BLACK PEOPLE WHOM THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT, I WAS APPALLED TO LEARN THAT YOU HAVE CO-SPONSORED A VERSION OF THE ZDERA OF 2001. IN WHATEVER LANGUAGE IT IS COUCHED, THIS ACT IS STILL NOTHING BUT A SANCTIONS BILL AGAINST THE SECOND LONGEST STABLE DEMOCRACY ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT. ITS ALLEGED CONCERN ABOUT THE 'RULE OF DEMOCRACY' CONCEALS ITS REAL GOAL, WHICH IS TO PUNISH AN AFRICAN LEADERSHIP, WHICH HAS HAD THE COURAGE TO ACT ON THE RIGHT OF AFRICAN PEOPLE TO RECLAIM LAND WHICH WAS STOLEN FROM THEM. . . I ALSO CANNOT UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HARARE 03740 172104Z UNDERSTAND HOW YOU, WHO OPPOSED SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA, CAN NOW ADVOCATE THEM AGAINST ZIMBABWE, A COUNTRY WHOSE ECONOMY IS ALREADY DEVASTATED. THE CAMPAIGNS AGAINST IRAQ AND CUBA HAVE PROVEN THAT SANCTIONS DON'T WORK. . ." ¶6. UNDER HEADLINE "U.S., U.K. GOVERNMENTS WARNED," THE DECEMBER 15 EDITION OF THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY "THE HERALD" CARRIED THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE BY PHILLIP MAGWAZA: "THE ZIMBABWE NATIONAL LIBERATION WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION YESTERDAY (DECEMBER 14) WARNED THE AMERICAN AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS THAT THERE WILL BE NO PEACE IN THE COUNTRY ONCE THE ZIMBABWE SANCTIONS BILL IS PASSED INTO LAW BY U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH. . .' ONCE THE BILL IS PASSED, THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING THAT WILL STOP US FROM TAKING ACTION. WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT ON THE DAY THE BILL IS PASSED. THERE WILL BE NO PEACE IN THIS COUNTRY. . . .,' WAR VETERANS ACTING CHAIRMAN PATRICK NYARUWATA IS QUOTED AS SAYING. . . ." SULLIVAN UNCLASSIFIED >