MEDIA REACTION EU TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 001782 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, INR/R/MR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR PGOV PREL KPAO ZI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION EU TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS; HARARE ¶1. Stung by the recent detention and deportation of former Bulawayo mayor Joshua Malinga at Gatwick Airport (London) and Sweden's refusal of visas to four ZANU-PF women legislators, an editorial in the August 5 edition of the government-controlled daily "The Herald" calls on the government of Zimbabwe to hit back. Under headline "Zim should take retaliatory steps" the paper comments: ¶2. ". . .It is now time for Zimbabwe to consider implementing the eye for an eye rule. . .The international community should not cry foul when government puts in place measures that will in turn prohibit the movement of some Westerners to Zimbabwe. . .The government should now take retaliatory steps, which should include the withdrawal of passports from political opponents. . . ." WHITEHEAD