MEDIA REACTION ZIMBABWE DECIDES; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 000615 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 ZIMBABWE DECIDES; HARARE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HARARE 00615 082349Z ¶1. THE BULAWAYO-BASED GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY "CHRONICLE" HAS CARRIED AN ARTICLE, BASED ON ANONYMOUS "HIGHLY PLACED SOURCES," ACCUSING THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN OF PLANNING A "MAJOR MILITARY OFFENSIVE" TO OUST THE MUGABE ADMINISTRATION IF IT STAYS IN POWER AFTER THE MARCH 9 AND 10 PRESIDENTIAL POLL. ACCORDING TO THE LEAD ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE MARCH 6 EDITION OF THE "CHRONICLE," UNDER HEADLINE "MAJOR MILITARY OFFENSIVE PLANNED," A U. S. AND BRITISH-LED INSURGENCY IS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE IN MATABELELAND SOON AFTER THIS WEEKEND'S ELECTION. EXCERPTS OF THIS LENGTHY PIECE FOLLOW: ¶2. "THE BRITISH AND AMERICAN GOVERNMENTS ARE ALLEGEDLY SETTING THE STAGE FOR A MAJOR MILITARY OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE SPONSORING OF AN INSURGENCY INTO MATABELELAND AFTER THIS WEEKEND'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WHICH PRESIDENT MUGABE IS HEAVILY TIPPED TO WIN, 'CHRONICLE' LEARNT THIS WEEK. HIGHLY PLACED SOURCES IN LONDON AND WASHINGTON SAID THE DEPLOYMENT OF A PARAMILITARY GROUP CODE NAMED CIRA (CAMPAIGN IN RURAL AREAS) BY THE OPPOSITION MDC IN RURAL MATABELELAND WAS AIMED AT 'TESTING THE WATERS' AHEAD OF THE FULL DEPLOYMENT OF ARMED UNITS IN THE REGION TO FIGHT THE 'MUGABE REGIME' AFTER THE ELECTIONS. . . ACCORDING TO SOURCES, BRITAIN AND THE U.S. PLAN TO SPONSOR AN INSURGENCY USING MDC'S STRONGHOLD OF MATABELELAND AND LATER JUSTIFY MILITARY UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 00615 082349Z INTERVENTION AND THE TOPPLING OF PRESIDENT MUGABE. 'THE PEOPLE OF MATABELELAND WILL ONCE AGAIN BE USED AS SACRIFICIAL LAMBS IN A POWER GAME BY THE WEST WHICH IS INTENT ON INSTALLING A PUPPET REGIME IN ZIMBABWE. THE PLAN WILL TAKE SHAPE AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. AN INSURGENCY WILL START IN RURAL MATABELELAND. THESE PEOPLE WILL SUPPOSEDLY BE FIGHTING THE OUTCOME OF THE POLLS. WHEN THE GOVERNMENT MOVES IN TO CRUSH THE INSURGENCY, THE WEST WILL THEN INTERVENE AND TOPPLE PRESIDENT MUGABE,' SAID A HIGHLY PLACED SOURCE PRIVY TO THE PLAN. BRITAIN AND AMERICA WILL JUSTIFY THEIR INTERVENTION BY PROFFERING THE ARGUMENT THAT THEY WILL HAVE PREVENTED MASS GENOCIDE OF THE NDEBELE PEOPLE. . . ." SULLIVAN UNCLASSIFIED >