TRANSCRIPT OF THE JANUARY 9 PRESS BRIEF BY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000107 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF AND AF/S NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER LONDON FOR GURNEY PARIS FOR NEARY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MARR ZI SUBJECT: TRANSCRIPT OF THE JANUARY 9 PRESS BRIEF BY ZIMBABWEAN SECURITY CHIEFS REF: HARARE 104 FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THE JANUARY 9 PRESS BRIEF BY ZIMBABWEAN SECURITY CHIEFS, DELIVERED BY ZDF FORCE COMMANDER VITALIS ZVINAVASHE. BEGIN TEXT: ¶1. OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A MARKED INCREASE IN SPECULATIVE, IMAGINARY AND FALSE ARTICLES BY THE SO- CALLED INDEPENDENT MEDIA BOTH INTERNALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, ON THE STATUS AND OPERATIONS OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS. THESE STATEMENTS HAVE CAUSED INSECURITY, UNCERTAINTY, CONFUSION AND HAVE IN THE MAIN TARNISHED THE CREDIBILITY OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY ARMS OF THE STATE OF ZIMBABWE. ¶2. ALL THESE MACHINATIONS HAVE PROMPTED THE CONVENING OF THIS PRESS BRIEF TO ARTICULATE THE POSITION OF THE SECURITY FORCES WHOSE CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE IS THE DEFENSE OF ZIMBABWE AND ITS INTERESTS. ¶3. ZIMBABWEANS FOUGHT A BITTER AND PROTRACTED STRUGGLE TO LIBERATE THEMSELVES FROM IMPERIALISM, COLONIALISM, SETTLERISM AND ALL FORMS OF NEO-COLONIALISM. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS BITTER STRUGGLE WAS TO ATTAIN POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL INDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY. THIS WOULD ENSURE THAT ZIMBABWEANS RESTORE THEIR DIGNITY, RESPECT, FREEDOM AND SECURITY LONG DENIED THEM BY THEIR UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 00107 01 OF 03 101512Z SETTLER COLONIZERS. IN THE PROCESS OF STRIVING TO ACHIEVE THESE VALUES, OVER 50,000 ZIMBABWEANS PERISHED, THOUSANDS WERE JAILED, MAIMED AND MANY MORE LEFT HOMELESS AND WITHOUT PARENTS OR CHILDREN DURING THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE. ¶4. TO SAFEGUARD OUR HISTORY, INDEPENDENCE, SOVEREIGNTY, TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ZIMBABWE'S DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS, THE SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS COMPRISING THE ZNA, AFZ, POLICE, CIO AND THE PRISON SERVICE WERE ESTABLISHED AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE CONSTITUTION OF ZIMBABWE. THIS CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION IS NOT ONLY APPLICABLE TO ZIMBABWE BUT IS UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED AND PRACTICED. ¶5. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR HARD-WON INDEPENDENCE, SOVEREIGNTY, NATIONAL HERITAGE, DIGNITY, CULTURE, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS. FORTUNATELY FOR ZIMBABWEANS, THE SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A LEADERSHIP THAT WAS PART OF THE BITTER STRUGGLE FOR LIBERATION. THIS STRUGGLE DEVELOPED POLITICAL CADIES WHO HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF ZIMBABWE'S HISTORY, VALUES AND DESTINY. HIGH TRAINING STANDARDS AND IRON-CLAD DISCIPLINE HAS CREATED HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL ARMS OF SECURITY WHICH HAVE GENERATED A SENSE OF SECURITY AND TRUST AT HOME, AND HIGH REGARD INTERNATIONALLY. ¶6. ANY NATION, AND ZIMBABWE IS NO EXCEPTION, HAS SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE GOVERNED BY LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS DEFINED BY THE CONSTITUTION TO STREAMLINE AND ENHANCE THEIR OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THESE SYSTEMS ARE NOT UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HARARE 00107 01 OF 03 101512Z ESTABLISHED BY INDIVIDUALS OR INCUMBENTS HOLDING EXISTING POSTS BUT ARE MEANT TO SERVE SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS. SO ZIMBABWEANS SHOULD KNOW THAT THE SYSTEMS IN PLACE AT THE MOMENT ARE PRIMARILY DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ZIMBABWEANS. ¶7. THERE IS THEREFORE NEED FOR ZIMBABWEANS TO RESPECT THESE CONSTITUTIONALLY ESTABLISHED SYSTEMS BECAUSE FAILURE TO DO SO WOULD RESULT IN INSTABILITY, LAWLESSNESS AND ULTIMATELY, ANARCHY. THE IMPACT OF MALICIOUS DISRESPECT AND GENERALIZED MALIGNING OF SECURITY ARMS OF THE STATE IS THAT SOCIETY LOSES CONFIDENCE IN THE SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT THEREBY UNDERMINING THE SECURITY OF THE NATION. ¶8. GIVEN THAT THE ZIMBABWEAN SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE LEARNT A LOT OF LESSONS FROM SITUATIONS OF ANARCHY REGIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY: FOR EXAMPLE IN SOMALIA, RWANDA, ANGOLA, SIERRA LEONE, KOSOVO, EAST TIMOR AND DRC, THEY NATURALLY, CANNOT ALLOW SUCH SITUATION TO DEVELOP IN ZIMBABWE. OUR RECORD IN CONTRIBUTING TO PEACE IN NEARLY ALL THESE COUNTRIES BEARS TESTIMONY TO OUR CAPABILITIES. ALL THIS CLEARLY AND IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS DEFINE THE HISTORY OF ZIMBABWE AND ITS PEOPLE, FOR A PEOPLE WITHOUT A HISTORY ARE A PEOPLE WITHOUT A DESTINY. EQUALLY, A PEOPLE WITHOUT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ2115 PAGE 01 HARARE 00107 02 OF 03 101512Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 CAEX-01 PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /011W -------------- 55E899 101512Z /38 O 101406Z JAN 02 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0710 SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 000107 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF AND AF/S NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER LONDON FOR GURNEY PARIS FOR NEARY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MARR ZI SUBJECT: TRANSCRIPT OF THE JANUARY 9 PRESS BRIEF BY UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HARARE 00107 02 OF 03 101512Z ZIMBABWEAN SECURITY CHIEFS PEACE, LAW AND ORDER CANNOT DEVELOP. ¶9. WHILE IT IS THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA TO INFORM AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, THERE IS NEED FOR THE MEDIA TO UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING WITH REGARDS TO SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS: ¶A. THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POLITICAL AND SECURITY SYSTEMS. IT THEREFORE FOLLOWS THAT IN THE PROCESS OF PROVIDING INFORMATION, THE MEDIA MUST SEPARATE THE TWO. ¶B. ATTACKS ON INDIVIDUALS BASED ON CONTRIVED INFORMATION BY THE MEDIA USING EXISTING SECURITY ORGANIZATION SYSTEMS BREED MISUNDERSTANDINGS, MISTRUST, DIVISIONS AND UNDERMINE THE CREDIBILITY OF THE SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS. TYPICAL EXAMPLES ARE: (1) COUP REPORT BY RAY CHOTO/MARK CHAVHUNDUKA (2) THE ALLEGED BURIAL OF A SOLIDER WITHOUT A HEAD BY GRACE KWINJEH (3) DRC REPORTS ON ALLEGED LOOTING BY ZIMBABWEAN MILITARY AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP (4) ATTACKS ON THE PERSON AND OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT (5) MASARA-NYAROTA REPORT (6) ALLEGATIONS OF POLITICAL VICTIMIZATION BY PRISON OFFICERS. IN ALL THESE CASES, NO IOTA OF EVIDENCE WAS PROVIDED. (7) FINGAZ REPORT BY DAVID MASUNDA ALLEGING THAT THE SECURITY CHIEFS HAD ADVISED THE PRESIDENT TO GO. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 00107 02 OF 03 101512Z ¶C. WHILST IT IS KNOWN THAT MEDIA HOUSES ARE IN BUSINESS, THEY MUST NOT GENERATE PROFITS OUT OF FALSE REPORTS THAT DISCREDIT THE LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP OF SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS. ¶D. SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS BY THEIR NATURE ARE SENSITIVE INSTITUTIONS AND THE SAME APPLIES TO THE INCUMBENT LEADERSHIP. THIS IS NOT A NEW POINT TO MAKE AS THIS SENSITIVITY IS KNOWN AND RESPECTED IN AND BY ALL SOCIETIES OF THE WORLD, INCLUDING INSTITUTIONS I THOSE SOCIETIES. IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT THAT MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS VERIFY REPORTS ON SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS PRIOR TO THEIR PUBLICATION. MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT INDIVIDUALS IN SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS LIKE ANY OTHER CITIZEN OF ZIMBABWE. ¶E. THE MEDIA SHOULD NOT CREATE SITUATIONS THAT INVITE THE SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BE INVOLVED. OUR EXPERIENCES HAVE SHOWN THAT WHEN SITUATIONS DETERIORATE AND SECURITY FORCES ARE CALLED UP, IT IS USUALLY THE INNOCENT MAJORITY WHO SUFFER MOST. FURTHERMORE, EXPERIENCE ALSO SHOWS THAT MISREPRESENTATION OF FACTS BY THE MEDIA HAVE RESULTED IN CONFLICTS. ¶10. WE ARE THEREFORE ADVISING ALL CITIZENS OF ZIMBABWE THAT ANY REPORTS AND ACTIONS DESIGNED TO CREATE INSTABILITY IN ZIMBABWE WILL BE MET BY THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW. THIS WILL INCLUDE ENFORCEMENT, WHERE IT IS DEEMED NECESSARY. INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ANSWERABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. THE LAW WILL TAKE ITS COURSE TO ENSURE THAT ZIMBABWE'S INDEPENDENCE, TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND SOVEREIGNTY, WHICH TO A LARGE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HARARE 00107 02 OF 03 101512Z EXTEND DEPEND ON UPHOLDING THE VALUES AND GOOD NAME OF THE SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE PRESERVED. ¶11. SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE THEREFORE APPEALING TO OUR PARLIAMENTARIANS TO ENACT LAWS THAT PROTECT OUR SOVEREIGNTY AND INDEPENDENCE AND THAT SERVE THE INTERESTS OF THE MAJORITY OF ZIMBABWEANS. ¶12. THE SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS WANT ZIMBABWEANS TO CAMPAIGN AND VOTE IN A PEACEFUL MANNER. THERE SHOULD BE NO ENCOURAGEMENT OF VIOLENCE AND POLITICAL LEADERS AND THEIR FOLLOWERS SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE RESOLVED TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO A PEACEFUL ELECTORAL PROCESS. ¶13. IN PURSUING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, THE SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE GUIDED BY TWO CRUCIAL VALUES. THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND DIED FOR THE LIBERATION OF ZIMBABWE DID NOT DO SO IN VAIN. SECONDLY, ANY CHANGE DESIGNED TO REVERSE THE GAINS OF THIS REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE SUPPORTED. ¶14. AS WE CONCLUDE THIS PRESS BRIEF, WE WISH TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO ALL ZIMBABWEAN CITIZENS THAT THE SECURITY UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ2116 PAGE 01 HARARE 00107 03 OF 03 101512Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 CAEX-01 PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /011W -------------- 55E89B 101512Z /38 O 101406Z JAN 02 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0711 SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 000107 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF AND AF/S NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER LONDON FOR GURNEY PARIS FOR NEARY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MARR ZI SUBJECT: TRANSCRIPT OF THE JANUARY 9 PRESS BRIEF BY UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HARARE 00107 03 OF 03 101512Z ZIMBABWEAN SECURITY CHIEFS ORGANIZATIONS WILL ONLY STAND IN SUPPORT OF THOSE POLITICAL LEADERS THAT WILL PURSUE ZIMBABWEAN VALUES, TRADITIONS AND BELIEFS FOR WHICH THOUSANDS OF LIVES WERE LOST, IN PURSUIT OF ZIMBABWE'S HARD WON INDEPENDENCE, SOVEREIGNTY, TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND NATIONAL INTERESTS. TO THIS END, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THE HIGHEST OFFICE ON THE LAND IS A "STRAIGHT JACKET" WHOSE OCCUPANT IS EXPECTED TO OBSERVE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE. WE WILL THEREFORE NOT ACCEPT, LET ALONE SUPPORT OR SALUTE ANYONE WITH A DIFFERENT AGENDA THAT THREATENS THE VERY EXISTENCE OF OUR SOVEREIGNTY, OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PEOPLE. ¶15. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING AND WE DO HOP WE HAVE MADE OUR POSITION VERY CLEAR TO OUR FELLOW CITIZENS. END TEXT. SULLIVAN UNCLASSIFIED >