MEDIA REACTION WSSD; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 002011 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 PHUM KPAO KMDR ZI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION WSSD; HARARE ¶1. Editorials in Zimbabwe's newspapers continue to focus on the ongoing World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Excerpts: ¶2. Under headline "Earth summit hopes of ending African poverty" the independent daily "The Daily News) (09/02/02) comments: "By the time the WSSD ends in Johannesburg later this week, nearly 100 world leaders, including President Mugabe, will have presented their theories on how to end world poverty. Africa, as the poorest continent, has been at the center of the discussion preceding the arrival of the world leaders. If the summit's proposals to end poverty are implemented with more honesty and dedication than the resolutions of the summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, then there is a chance the world could strike a decisive blow against poverty. . . The struggle against poverty is essentially a demand by the poor for the developed world to loosen its purse strings when dealing with the developing world, whether it is in bilateral trade or straightforward aid. . . In view of the failure of the rich nations to live up to their promises at the Rio summit, who can blame the angry demonstrators (against the summit in Johannesburg)? At the same time, there ought to (be simultaneous) demonstrations against corruption in Africa." ¶3. Under headline "Region reflects on land" the weekly ZANU PF organ "The People's Voice" (09/01/02) comments: "The issue of land was first brought onto the agenda of the international community by the conference of representatives of peasants and peasant communities a few years ago. But, now it has been inscribed in bold letters at the WSSD in Johannesburg. All developing countries should address the issue of land ownership, and land utilization, and find viable solutions. In southern Africa, Zimbabwe has led the way by asserting the rights of the indigenous people over their own natural resources. That assertion is now being supported by the friendly governments of Namibia and South Africa, who are suggesting a regional approach to the land question. That would be an important step forward for the peasant farmers in the fourteen nations of the SADC. . ." SULLIVAN