MEDIA REPORT AFRICAN-AMERICAN CRITICIZES POWELL;

UNCLAS HARARE 001885 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/PD (COX, DALTON),AF/S (SCHLACHTER),AF/RA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OIIP KPAO KMDR ZI SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT AFRICAN-AMERICAN CRITICIZES POWELL; HARARE ¶1. A group of African-Americans, who flew into the country last week at the invitation of the Zimbabwean government, has accused U. S. Secretary of State Colin Powell of extreme dislike of Africa. According to an article carried on page two of the August 19 edition of the government-controlled daily "The Herald," Mr. Elombe Brath of the Patrice Lumumba Coalition said: "I went to the same school with Powell and everyone knew that he never had any love for Africa." Excerpts of the article published under headline "`Powell has never loved Africa'" follow: ¶2. "U. S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has never had any love or appreciation for Africa and therefore will never do or say anything positive about the continent, a visiting American said yesterday. Mr. Elombe Brath of the Patrice Lumumba Coalition said he knew Mr. Powell well enough as they grew up together in the U. S. `I went to the same school with Powell and everyone knew that he never had any love for Africa,' Mr. Brath said during a meeting with the ZANU PF national chairman and Minister of Home Affairs, (Mr.) John Nkomo, at the party headquarters. `We went to the same church and lived along the same street and he is known for his views against Africa. . .' According to him, Mr. Powell was being `used' by the U. S. administration in its fight against the `people of color. The Washington system says blacks have no rights.' Mr. Powell, who was branded as an `Uncle Tom' and `White House nigger' by South African students during a visit to that country early last year, went on to attack President Mugabe and his government. "He criticized the ongoing land reform program and accused (Mr.) Mugabe of `clinging to power.' ¶3. "Mr, Brath said that most average black people knew that (Mr.) Mugabe was the most `dangerous' person in that his views were `inimical' to the interests of Western powers while advancing those of blacks. `President Mugabe is on the verge of making history in Africa. He is an example for the whole of the continent. For instance, he made the correct decision to intervene in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which in history will become one of the most important decisions ever made.' He also scoffed at the U. S. presidential election, saying it was a `mockery' for anyone to say Mr. George Bush was fairly elected. . . ." WHITEHEAD