MEDIA REPORT ZDERA; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 003742 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 "THE HERALD" USED ITS DECEMBER 15 EDITORIAL TO HAIL THE JUST-ENDED FIFTH ZANU PF NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONFERENCE IN VICTORIA FALLS AS "A RALLYING POINT" FOR THE RULING PARTY TO FIGHT "21ST CENTURY BRITISH AND AMERICAN IMPERIALISM." UNDER HEADLINE "BLACKMAIL OF SANCTIONS WON'T WORK," THE PAPER COMMENTS: ¶2. ". . .CONTRARY TO EXPECTATIONS THAT THE BLACKMAIL SANCTIONS BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WOULD DAMPEN THE SPIRIT OF ZIMBABWEANS AND TURN THEM AGAINST THEIR GOVERNMENT, THE OPPOSITE HAS HAPPENED. THE PEOPLE'S RESOLVE HAS BEEN STRENGTHENED AND THE ENEMY HAS PLAYED HIS HAND. IT IS NOW CLEAR FOR EVERYONE TO SEE WHO HAS BEEN BEHIND THEIR SUFFERING AND TO WHAT EXTENT THESE FORCES ARE PREPARED TO GO TO MAINTAIN THEIR STRANGLEHOLD ON THE ZIMBABWEAN ECONOMY WHILE THE PEOPLE CONTINUE TO GO HUNGRY AND POOR. THE CONFERENCE (FIFTH ZANU PF NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONFERENCE) HAS PROVIDED A RALLYING POINT FOR THE RULING PARTY TO LEAD THE COUNTRY IN ITS STRUGGLE AGAINST THIS 21ST CENTURY BRITISH AND AMERICAN IMPERIALISM. . . ." SULLIVAN UNCLASSIFIED >