Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02HARARE600
2002-03-07 09:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION ZIM PRESIDENTIAL POLL; HARARE
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 070951Z Mar 02 UNCLASSIFIED PTQ2893 PAGE 01 HARARE 00600 071434Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SS-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 IIP-00 PMB-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /005W ------------------70E933 071434Z /48 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1123 INFO NSC WASHDC AMEMBASSY PRETORIA AMEMBASSY LUSAKA AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK AMEMBASSY GABORONE AMEMBASSY LILONGWE AMEMBASSY LONDON
UNCLAS HARARE 000600
SIPDIS
AF/PD FOR COX AND ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT AND
SCHLACHTER, AF/RA FOR SWANN, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI
FRAZER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ZIM PRESIDENTIAL POLL; HARARE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 HARARE 00600 071434Z
UNCLAS HARARE 000600
SIPDIS
AF/PD FOR COX AND ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT AND
SCHLACHTER, AF/RA FOR SWANN, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI
FRAZER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ZIM PRESIDENTIAL POLL; HARARE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 HARARE 00600 071434Z
1. UNDER HEADLINE "PLACING OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF
VOTERS," THE INDEPENDENT "DAILY NEWS" DEDICATED ITS
MARCH 7 EDITORIAL CRITICIZING APPARENT EFFORTS BY THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE TO MAKE VOTING IN URBAN AREAS
MORE DIFFICULT. EXCERPTS FOLLOW:
"THE FAILURE BY BOTH THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE
AND THE ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION (ESC) TO
ADVISE VOTERS PROPERLY ON THEIR RESPECTIVE WARDS AND
POLLING STATIONS IS ONE OF MANY ATTEMPTS TO CONFUSE
THE ELECTORATE AND PREDETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF THIS
WEEKEND'S MAYORAL, MUNICIPAL AND PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS. WITH JUST TWO DAYS TO GO BEFORE VOTING
STARTS, THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF
WHAT VOTERS SHOULD DO IN ORDER TO AVOID UNNECESSARY
FRUSTRATION. IN THE CASE OF MAYORAL AND MUNICIPAL
ELECTIONS IN CHITUNGWIZA AND HARARE, THE FAILURE MUST
BE SEEN AS PART OF AN OVERALL STRATEGY TO CONFUSE THE
ELECTORATE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE RULING PARTY, ZANU
PF'S GRIP IN THE TWO MAJOR URBAN CENTERS DOES NOT
SUFFER AN INGLORIOUS DEMISE.
".FORCED DISENFRANCHISEMENT IS ANOTHER WEAPON IN THE
ARSENAL OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE RULING PARTY. IN
THE URBAN AREAS THE LIKELIHOOD OF MORE PEOPLE BEING
TURNED AWAY IS GOING TO BE HIGHER THAN ELSEWHERE IN
THE COUNTRY. THE REASON FOR THIS IS THE GOVERNMENT
DOES NOT TRUST THE SUPPORT OF THE URBAN VOTERS AND
THEY WILL BE DOING THEIR DAMNEDEST TO ENSURE CITY
DWELLERS DO NOT HAVE A FAIR CHANCE OF VOTING. . . THE
DEMAND FOR PROOF OF RESIDENCY IS YET ANOTHER OBSTACLE.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 HARARE 00600 071434Z
. . THAT IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH GOVERNMENT HAS GONE
IN ORDER TO SUBVERT THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO FREELY
ELECT WHO SHOULD LEAD THIS COUNTRY."
SULLIVAN
UNCLASSIFIED
>
SIPDIS
AF/PD FOR COX AND ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT AND
SCHLACHTER, AF/RA FOR SWANN, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI
FRAZER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ZIM PRESIDENTIAL POLL; HARARE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 HARARE 00600 071434Z
1. UNDER HEADLINE "PLACING OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF
VOTERS," THE INDEPENDENT "DAILY NEWS" DEDICATED ITS
MARCH 7 EDITORIAL CRITICIZING APPARENT EFFORTS BY THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE TO MAKE VOTING IN URBAN AREAS
MORE DIFFICULT. EXCERPTS FOLLOW:
"THE FAILURE BY BOTH THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE
AND THE ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION (ESC) TO
ADVISE VOTERS PROPERLY ON THEIR RESPECTIVE WARDS AND
POLLING STATIONS IS ONE OF MANY ATTEMPTS TO CONFUSE
THE ELECTORATE AND PREDETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF THIS
WEEKEND'S MAYORAL, MUNICIPAL AND PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS. WITH JUST TWO DAYS TO GO BEFORE VOTING
STARTS, THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF
WHAT VOTERS SHOULD DO IN ORDER TO AVOID UNNECESSARY
FRUSTRATION. IN THE CASE OF MAYORAL AND MUNICIPAL
ELECTIONS IN CHITUNGWIZA AND HARARE, THE FAILURE MUST
BE SEEN AS PART OF AN OVERALL STRATEGY TO CONFUSE THE
ELECTORATE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE RULING PARTY, ZANU
PF'S GRIP IN THE TWO MAJOR URBAN CENTERS DOES NOT
SUFFER AN INGLORIOUS DEMISE.
".FORCED DISENFRANCHISEMENT IS ANOTHER WEAPON IN THE
ARSENAL OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE RULING PARTY. IN
THE URBAN AREAS THE LIKELIHOOD OF MORE PEOPLE BEING
TURNED AWAY IS GOING TO BE HIGHER THAN ELSEWHERE IN
THE COUNTRY. THE REASON FOR THIS IS THE GOVERNMENT
DOES NOT TRUST THE SUPPORT OF THE URBAN VOTERS AND
THEY WILL BE DOING THEIR DAMNEDEST TO ENSURE CITY
DWELLERS DO NOT HAVE A FAIR CHANCE OF VOTING. . . THE
DEMAND FOR PROOF OF RESIDENCY IS YET ANOTHER OBSTACLE.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 HARARE 00600 071434Z
. . THAT IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH GOVERNMENT HAS GONE
IN ORDER TO SUBVERT THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO FREELY
ELECT WHO SHOULD LEAD THIS COUNTRY."
SULLIVAN
UNCLASSIFIED
>