EDITORIAL ON FOOD CRISIS AND ZIMBABWE'S

UNCLAS HARARE 002429 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, AF/S, AF/RA, AF/PDPA 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: EDITORIAL ON FOOD CRISIS AND ZIMBABWE'S RELATIONS WITH THE WEST ¶1. In its November 7 editorial, "NEPAD peer review: why it scares some leaders," the independent daily "Daily News" challenged the Government of Zimbabwe to address allegations of using food aid as a political weapon. Excerpts follow. ¶2. ". . .The government has set itself on a political course against the West, with the United States this week threatening to do more than just protest against the unfair distribution of food aid. It is wrong-headed of the government to believe that there are no Zimbabweans who are aggrieved by the use of food aid as a political weapon, and that the accusation by the West is without foundation. It is just as wrong for the government to believe that all the criticism and condemnation of its political and economic blunders is confined to, or is influenced by, the West. There are millions of Zimbabweans facing starvation who blame the government for their miserable situation. They don't need the West to tell them when their empty stomachs are rumbling from hunger. Instead of stubbornly seeing a Western spy under every bed, the government ought to open its eyes to the consequences of its policies. . . Sovereignty which places little value on human life is not worth the paper it is written on." SULLIVAN