MEDIA REPORT -- EDITORIAL REACTION TO ARMY

UNCLAS HARARE 000139 SIPDIS AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, SCHLACHTER, AF/S FOR KRAFT, AF/P, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT -- EDITORIAL REACTION TO ARMY STATEMENT ¶1. LAST WEEK'S JOINT STATEMENT BY THE HEADS OF ZIMBABWE'S DEFENSE AND SECURITY FORCES, DECLARING THAT THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT ANYONE WITHOUT CREDIBLE LIBERATION CREDENTIALS, RECEIVED CONTRASTING EDITORIAL COMMENTS IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA. WHILE THE INDEPENDENT PRESS CONDEMNED THE STATEMENT AS "OUTRIGHT TREASON" OR A "DE FACTO COUP," THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED PRINT AND ELECTRONIC PRESS PRAISED THE STATEMENT. EXCERPTS FOLLOW: ¶2. UNDER HEADLINE "SERVICE CHIEFS' STANCE WELCOME," THE JANUARY 13 EDITION OF THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED WEEKLY "THE SUNDAY MAIL" COMMENTS: ". . .THAT STATEMENT WAS OVERDUE AND WE CONGRATULATE THE ARMY AND SECURITY CHIEFS ON HAVING THE FORESIGHT TO SPELL OUT THE VALUES THAT SHOULD DETERMINE THE PRESIDENT AND FUTURE LEADERSHIP IN ZIMBABWE. EACH COUNTRY HAS SUCH VALUES, BELIEFS AND TRADITIONS, WHICH ARE SACROSANCT. . . THIS IS VERY TRUE OF THE ONLY SUPERPOWER, THE UNITED STATES. ANY ASPIRANT TO THE PRESIDENCY OF THE U.S. HAS TO BE PREPARED TO CHAMPION THE CAUSE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THE LEADERS OF YORE. HE OR SHE IS NOT ALLOWED TO SEEK A REVERSAL OF THOSE VALUES AND TRADITIONS BUT THEIR FURTHERANCE. HIS OR HER CREDENTIALS IN ANY WARS FOUGHT BY AMERICA DURING HIS LIFETIME ARE CAREFULLY EXAMINED FOR HE IS EXPECTED TO DEFEND THAT COUNTRY AGAINST FOREIGN AGGRESSION. . . THUS, THE GENERALS ARE RIGHT IN SAYING THE POTENTIAL OCCUPANT OF THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 00139 141501Z LAND MUST BELIEVE IN THOSE VALUES. . . ." ¶3. UNDER HEADLINE "ZVINAVASHE IS NOT GOD," THE JANUARY 13 EDITION OF THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY "THE STANDARD" COMMENTS: "CONTRARY TO WHAT HE MAY THINK OF HIMSELF, OR WHATEVER HE MAY HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE BY HIS COMPATRIOTS IN ZANU PF, GENERAL VITALIS ZVINAVASHE. . .NEEDS TO BE DISABUSED OF THE THINKING THAT THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY AND PEOPLE IS A MATTER OF HIS PERSONAL DISCRETION. . . ZVINAVASHE. . .MADE AN UNPRECEDENTED AND SHOCKING STATEMENT TO THE NATION THAT THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY FORCES WOULD NOT ACCEPT A PRESIDENT WHO DOES NOT SUIT THEIR REQUIREMENTS, SUCH AS POSSESSING CREDIBLE LIBERATION WAR CREDENTIALS. . . WE URGE ZIMBABWEANS TO IGNORE WITH THE CONTEMPT THAT IT DESERVES THE STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE SERVICE CHIEFS THIS WEEK. ZIMBABWEANS MUST LEARN TO STAND UP AND SAY 'NO' TO BULLY BOY TACTICS..." ¶4. UNDER HEADLINE "WHAT DOES TSVANGIRAI FEAR?," THE JANUARY 12 EDITION OF THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY "THE HERALD" COMMENTS: "THE SECURITY FORCES' STATEMENT ON THE FORTHCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. . .AS EXPECTED. . .WAS TWISTED TO IMPLY THAT THE ARMY HAD DISQUALIFIED THE OPPOSITION'S MDC (MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, MR. MORGAN UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HARARE 00139 141501Z TSVANGIRAI, FROM CONTESTING THE ELECTION, ON THE ALLEGED BASIS THAT HE DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE. AT NO POINT DID THE GENERALS DISQUALIFY ANYONE, LET ALONE NAME MR. TSVANGIRAI, OR EVEN SUGGEST THAT ONLY CANDIDATES WITH LIBERATION STRUGGLE CREDENTIALS WOULD BE RECOGNIZED BY THE MILITARY AND SECURITY FORCES. WHAT THE GENERALS STATED EXPLICITLY WAS THAT THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT ANYONE WHOSE AGENDA THREATENS TO REVERSE THE GAINS OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE. 'WE WILL NOT ACCEPT, LET ALONE SUPPORT OR SALUTE, ANYONE WITH AN AGENDA THAT THREATENS THE EVERY EXISTENCE OF OUR SOVEREIGNTY, OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PEOPLE.' WHAT COULD BE MORE CLEAR THAN THAT...? THE HYSTERICAL REACTION MADE BY THE OPPOSITION PARTY AND ITS WESTERN BACKERS CONFIRMS THE REAL FEARS THAT THE GENERALS HAVE ABOUT ZIMBABWE'S FUTURE. . ." SULLIVAN UNCLASSIFIED >