MEDIA REACTION: LAND REFORM ZIMBABWE; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 001859

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INR/R/MR, AF/PD (DALTON),AF/S (SCHLACHTER),AF/RA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAGR PGOV KPAO KMDR ZI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: LAND REFORM ZIMBABWE; HARARE



1. Under headline "Evict defiant farmers" the government-
controlled daily "Chronicle" dedicated its August 15
editorial to encouraging the government of Zimbabwe to
eject all "defiant farmers" from the designated commercial
farms under the fast-trek land reform program. "Terrorists
masquerading as farmers must be crushed," the editorial
bellowed. Excerpts:


2. ". . .It is pertinent to warn any farmer that there is
no individual, whether they have blue eyes or white skin,
who can take the might of the State and win. In fact no
government will tolerate that. Ours will not be an
exception. That is called terrorism and to quote U. S.
President George W. Bush, no resources will be spared to
fight terrorists. Terrorists masquerading as farmers must
be crushed. . .If Britain and the U. S. really care about
their citizens they should advise them to comply by moving
out of the acquired farms peacefully as they face forcible
eviction. . .No amount of statements from the U. S. State
Department or Britain will change that. Not even
`extending' the hollow personal sanctions against the
government can stop the agrarian revolution. . .In short,
to borrow a phrase from Mr. Bush, they must be `flushed
out' before their tails grow longer."

SULLIVAN