GOVERNMENT PRESS SAYS WEST CANNOT STOP "LAND

UNCLAS HARARE 001966 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, AF/RA NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER LONDON FOR GURNEY PARIS FOR NEARY NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO KMDR ZI SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT PRESS SAYS WEST CANNOT STOP "LAND REFORM" ¶1. Under the headline "Demonisation won't derail land reform" the government-controlled daily "The Herald" dedicated its August 27 editorial to declaring that Zimbabwe's land reform program is irreversible. Excerpts: ¶2. "A new wave of hysteria has gripped Britain, Australia and the United States in their bid to demonize the Zimbabwean government as the battle over the country's land intensifies. Having failed to stop the land reform exercise by dislodging the ZANU PF government from power during the 2000 parliamentary elections and the 2002 presidential poll, these Western countries are now throwing tantrums in the hope that something will give. . . We are now witnessing a reincarnation of the pre-2000 parliamentary and 2002 presidential poll campaigns where successive British foreign secretaries shouted blue murder at anything coming out of Harare, whether real or imagined. ". . .According to the American government, the same forces that were mobilized during the two elections have been re-hired for a fresh onslaught against Zimbabwe. . . Unfortunately, the plans have come unstuck over the alleged role of South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana in isolating and eventually toppling President Mugabe's government as the three Southern Africa countries have dissociated themselves from such uncouth behavior. While America is still trying to deal with this embarrassment, the Aussies have taken the relay stick in support of their kith and kin in (Rhodesia) Zimbabwe. . . Trumped up charges of ethnic cleansing are being bandied around to incite hatred against the Zimbabwean government among whites throughout the world. . . The bottom line, however, is that Zimbabwe belongs to the majority indigenous population and no amount of demonisation will alter the reality that this is their land." SULLIVAN