STANDARD EDITOR BIDS FAREWELL, URGES

UNCLAS HARARE 001035

SIPDIS

AF/PD FOR COX AND ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT AND
SCHLACHTER, AF/RA FOR DIPALMA, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR
JENDAYI FRAZER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: STANDARD EDITOR BIDS FAREWELL, URGES
ZIMBABWEANS TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD DEMOCRACY



1. Under the title "A luta continua" ("the struggle
continues") the independent weekly "The Standard's"
April 18 editorial was a farewell from editor March
Chavhunduka and a call for Zimbabwe to continue seeking
democracy. Chavhunduka, who was tortured by Zimbabwean
military authorities in early 1999 for publishing an
article alleging an attempted coup in the Zimbabwean
Army, has edited the newspaper since its launch in

1997. He has recently acquired Thompson Publishing
Company and will leave the "Standard" to take over
management of his new company. Chavhunduka was an IV
grantee in 1992. Excerpts:


2. ". . .Despite all the trials and tribulations that
I and colleagues have gone through and at the hands of
an increasingly intolerant and paranoid regime, and
having suffered the same injustices as thousands of
Zimbabweans, many of whose stories have never hit
newspaper headlines, I strongly believe that all
Zimbabweans who cherish the ideals of a free, open and
democratic society should close ranks to fight to the
end the lawlessness, corruption, and anarchy prevailing
in the country. There is power in numbers. No amount
of twisting election results or murdering of people can
sustain an illegitimate government forever, and so it
is important that Zimbabweans not lose hope over the
outcome of one presidential or parliamentary election,
but continue to stand firm and united in the demand for
the country to return to civilized normalcy. Once
anarchy sets in among the people, then that is
tantamount to handing the country over to the devil on
a silver platter. We at 'The Standard' can safely say
we have consistently played our part in this endeavor,
and it is my hope and belief that the paper will
continue along the path, despite the minefields ahead.
The paper will not falter. . . We remain together in
the struggle for peace and justice."

SULLIVAN