MEDIA REACTION ZIM PRESIDENTIAL POLL; HARARE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 000698 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 ¶1. EDITORIALS IN THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HARARE 00698 01 OF 04 181109Z NEWSPAPERS PLAY ON ANTI-COLONIAL EMOTIONS AND URGE ZIMBABWEANS TO MOVE ON BEYOND THE ELECTIONS TO NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND PROGRESS. EDITORIALS IN THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS, HOWEVER, FOCUS ON QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ELECTION AND THE LEGITIMACY OF THE MUGABE GOVERNMENT. EXCERPTS FOLLOW: ¶2. UNDER HEADLINE "MUDEDE HAS FAILED THE NATION UNFORGIVABLY," INDEPENDENT DAILY "THE DAILY NEWS' (03/18) COMMENTS: "THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CRUCIAL PLAYERS WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE YESTERDAY FOR ROBERT MUGABE TO STAND BEFORE CHIEF JUSTICE GODFREY CHIDYAUSIKU WHO SWORE HIM IN AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS THIRD TERM AS PRESIDENT OF ZIMBABWE. THE MAN AT THE CENTER OF MUGABE'S PYRRHIC (SIC) VICTORY IS TOBAIWA MUDEDE, THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL AND A CLOSE RELATIVE OF THE PRESIDENT. THE DISPUTED PLEBISCITE IS THE SIXTH NATIONAL POLL HE HAS PRESIDED OVER. . . MUDEDE'S RECORD AS A PARTISAN AND INCOMPETENT PUBLIC OFFICIAL IS WELL DOCUMENTED. . . IN ORDER TO COMMAND THE RESPECT OF ALL CONTESTANTS IN AN ELECTION, THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL MUST BE COMPLETELY ABOVE ANY FORM OF SUSPICION. MUDEDE LOST THAT TRUST AND RESPECT A DECADE AGO. . . TOGETHER WITH OTHERS, MUDEDE MUST BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR WHATEVER HAPPENS IN THE POST-ELECTION PERIOD ARISING FROM MUGABE'S CONTROVERSIAL AND LARGELY UNRECOGNIZED VICTORY. MUDEDE HAS FAILED ZIMBABWE UNFORGIVABLY. HE MUST RESIGN." UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 00698 01 OF 04 181109Z ¶3. UNDER HEADLINE "TIME TO REDIRECT ENERGIES," THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY "THE HERALD" (03/18) COMMENTS: ". . .EMERGING FROM A HARD-FOUGHT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ZIMBABWEANS SHOULD NOW PUT THE PAST MONTHS BEHIND THEM AND REDIRECT THEIR ENERGIES TOWARDS RECONSTRUCTING THE ECONOMY. WE SHOULD ALL NOW PULL IN THE SAME DIRECTION. AS THE PRESIDENT SAID (IN HIS INAUGURATION SPEECH ON MARCH 17),ALL ZIMBABWEANS, INCLUDING MDC SUPPORTERS, MUST BE UNITED TO WORK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ZIMBABWE. SANCTIONS WILL HURT ALL THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY, REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PERSUASION. FOREIGNERS CANNOT INTERFERE IF ZIMBABWEANS CLOSE RANKS. THE MDC SHOULD DISABUSE ITSELF OF THE NOTION THAT ZIMBABWEANS ARE ANGRY AND MIGHT RISE UP AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. PEOPLE HAVE MOVED ON AND EXPECT THE OPPOSITION PARTY TO BE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO PLAY ITS ROLE IN ZIMBABWE'S DEVELOPMENT. . . THE PROBLEMS WE FACE AS A NATION ARE MANY AND VARIED. BUT IF ALL ZIMBABWEANS PLAY THEIR PART THEY CAN BE OVERCOME." ¶4. UNDER HEADLINE "AFRICANS MUST NOT BE INTIMIDATED," THE BULAWAYO-BASED GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY "CHRONICLE" (03/18) COMMENTS: ". . .WE TAKE PRIDE IN THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES BUT WE WISH UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HARARE 00698 01 OF 04 181109Z TO WARN THEM THAT THE STRUGGLE IS NOT OVER YET. . . WE KNOW THAT THE WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE ALREADY TRYING TO BLACKMAIL PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI OF SOUTH AFRICA. WE WOULD BE NAVE AS A PEOPLE IF WE GAVE IN TO THE WHIMS OF WHITE PEOPLE AT A TIME WHEN WE SEEM ON COURSE TO REASSERT OUR INTEGRITY AS THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA. WE URGE AFRICAN COUNTRIES NOT TO RELENT AT THE LAST MINUTE, FOR THE HOUR FOR OUR VICTORY IS NIGH. AFRICA HAS A VOICE AND THAT VOICE SHOULD BE LISTENED TO, TONY BLAIR OR NO TONY BLAIR! WE STAND TALL BECAUSE MOST LEADERS FROM THE SOUTHERN AFRICA REGION ATTENDED PRESIDENT MUGABE'S INAUGURATION YESTERDAY IN A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE." ¶5. UNDER HEADLINE "NO SURRENDER TO AUTOCRACY," THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY "THE STANDARD" (03/17) COMMENTS: ". . .THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE. . .MUST REJECT THIS FRAUD BY ALL MEANS AT THEIR DISPOSAL. THEY MUST UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTO4697 PAGE 01 HARARE 00698 02 OF 04 181109Z ACTION INR-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 A-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 USNW-00 DODE-00 DS-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00 TEST-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 IIP-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /004W -------------- 7681AD 181110Z /38 P 181057Z MAR 02 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1235 INFO NSC WASHDC AMEMBASSY PRETORIA AMEMBASSY LUSAKA AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK AMEMBASSY GABORONE AMEMBASSY LILONGWE AMEMBASSY LONDON UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 000698 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 REJECT AN ILLEGAL GOVERNMENT LED BY A PREDATORY UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HARARE 00698 02 OF 04 181109Z POLITICAL PARTY THAT HAS GROWN WILD IN SAVAGERY AND LED BY AN OLD AND SENILE AUTOCRAT WITH THE POLITICAL MORALITY OF A SEWER RAT. THEY MUST RECLAIM THEIR POWER TOGETHER WITH THEIR ELECTORAL VICTORY. THIS ENTAILS BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS, BUT THERE IS NO EASY WAY TO FREEDOM. ZIMBABWEANS MUST CONFRONT AUTOCRACY WITH THE SAME RESOLUTION AND DETERMINATION SIMILAR TO THE RUTHLESSNESS WITH WHICH THE DESPOTIC REGIME HAS MAINTAINED A JACKBOOT ON THEIR NECKS FOR SO LONG. IT IS NO LONGER A CHOICE OF GOVERNMENTS; IT IS NOW A PLAIN AND SIMPLE CHOICE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL; BETWEEN HOPE AND DESPAIR; BETWEEN LIFE AND CERTAIN DEATH. . . IN THEIR VALIANT STRUGGLE AGAINST AUTOCRACY, ZIMBABWEANS MUST TAKE COURAGE AND COMFORT IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT PEACE-LOVING AND DEMOCRATIC NATIONS OF THE WORLD ARE BEHIND THEM. THE REGIME CAN CONTINUE TO MURDER, TORTURE, RAPE, BRUTALIZE, DEHUMANIZE AND COMMIT ALL MANNER OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. BUT ONE THING IS CERTAIN: THE PEOPLE SHALL PREVAIL IN THE END AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS OUTRAGE WILL ONE DAY HAVE TO ANSWER BEFORE A COURT OF THE PEOPLE'S JUSTICE. THERE IS NO DICTATOR IN HISTORY, HOWEVER MIGHTY, WHO HAS DEFEATED THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. A DESPOTIC REGIME THAT IS DRENCHED IN THE BLOOD OF THE SLAUGHTERED HUNDREDS, AND PEGGED ON THE FRESH SKELETONS OF ZIMBABWEANS, MUST BE FOUGHT TO THE BITTER END. . . ZIMBABWEANS MUST VOW THAT THERE WILL BE NO COMPROMISE OR SURRENDER." UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 00698 02 OF 04 181109Z ¶6. UNDER HEADLINE "TSVANGIRAI SINKS INTO POLITICAL OBLIVION," THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED WEEKLY "THE SUNDAY MAIL" (03/17) COMMENTS: "THE DUST WILL NOT SETTLE EASILY ON ZIMBABWE'S WATERSHED ELECTION, WHICH SAW PRESIDENT MUGABE, THE INDEFATIGABLE CHAMPION OF BLACK NATIONALISM, DEFEAT MR. MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, THE NEW FACE OF NEO- COLONIALISM IN AFRICA. TSVANGIRAI'S DEFEAT HAD FAR- REACHING EFFECTS NOT ONLY IN AFRICA BUT ALSO THE WORLD OVER. . . ZIMBABWE'S ELECTIONS WERE A TEST CASE FOR THE POSSIBLE RE-EMERGENCE OF THE RE- COLONIZATION OF AFRICA THROUGH THE IMPOSITION OF PLIANT NEOCOLONIAL LEADERS. THIS IS PERHAPS WHY THERE IS SO MUCH RELIEF AND EXCITEMENT IN PAN- AFRICAN CIRCLES FROM CAPE TO CAIRO AND SO MUCH CRYING IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. BUT THE DUST OF THE ELECTION CONTINUES TO BE RAISED BY REPORTS SUCH AS THE SHOCKINGLY MISINFORMED AND OUT OF LINE REPORT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OBSERVER GROUP. TO BE FAIR, THE REPORT READS LIKE A MEMO FROM THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE AND IS TOTALLY OUT OF SYNC WITH OTHER REPORTS OF OBSERVER TEAMS. IT ONLY AGREES WITH REPORTS FROM ONE OR TWO ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH WERE FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND WERE THUS AN EXTENSION OF BRITISH PROPAGANDA. . . WHEN THE COMMONWEALTH OBSERVER MISSION REPORT IS TAKEN TOGETHER WITH STATEMENTS BY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MR. TONY BLAIR BEFORE THE ELECTIONS THAT THE OBSERVER GROUP WOULD HAVE TO FIND THAT THE ELECTIONS ARE NOT FREE AND FAIR, THEN THE WHOLE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HARARE 00698 02 OF 04 181109Z REPORT BECOMES NOTHING BUT JUST A DAMP SQUIB. WHILE ZIMBABWE'S ELECTIONS WERE NOT PERFECT, THEY WERE SUBSTANTIALLY FREE AND FAIR. . . MR. TSVANGIRAI WAS DEFEATED BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE MUCH TO SELL TO THE ELECTORATE. . . ." ¶7. UNDER HEADLINE "POLL 'VICTORY' MAY PROVE TO BE MUGABE'S UNDOING," THE INDEPENDENT DAILY "THE DAILY NEWS" (03/16) COMMENTS: ". . .(PRESIDENT) MUGABE CANNOT URGE THE NATION TO 'BEAT SWORDS INTO PLOUGHSHARES,' WHICH HE RESORTED TO AFTER HIS 1980 VICTORY, BECAUSE EVEN THAT CALL WON'T HAVE A RING OF SINCERITY TO IT, AND EVEN IF IT DID, FEW WOULD BE TAKEN IN BY IT. . . MUGABE NOW ALSO HAS TO DEAL WITH THE LAWLESSNESS HE SANCTIONED AND CONDONED DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS. IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE TO SEE IF HE HAS THE COURAGE TO PUT HIS FOOT DOWN. ANOTHER HURDLE HE MUST OVERCOME IS HOW TO OBTAIN INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AND LEGITIMACY OF THE OUTCOME OF THE PRESIDENTIAL UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTO4698 PAGE 01 HARARE 00698 03 OF 04 181110Z ACTION INR-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 A-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 USNW-00 DODE-00 DS-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 CAEX-01 TEST-00 USIE-00 IIP-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /004W -------------- 7681C6 181110Z /38 P 181057Z MAR 02 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1236 INFO NSC WASHDC AMEMBASSY PRETORIA AMEMBASSY LUSAKA AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK AMEMBASSY GABORONE AMEMBASSY LILONGWE AMEMBASSY LONDON UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 000698 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 ELECTION AND EMBARK ON CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HARARE 00698 03 OF 04 181110Z SO CRITICAL IN ATTRACTING FOREIGN INVESTMENT THAT IS VERY CRUCIAL IN TACKLING THE 70 PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. THERE ARE MANY IMMEDIATE CHALLENGES HE MUST FACE AND ONE OF THE PRESSING ONES IS THE HUNGER THAT IS STALKING THE COUNTRY'S POPULATION. HE HAS MADE HIS BED. NOW HE MUST PREPARE TO LIE ON IT." ¶8. UNDER HEADLINE "ZIMBABWE WILL REPEL ANY ATTACKS," THE BULAWAYO-BASED GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY "CHRONICLE" COMMENTS: ". . .MOST AFRICAN STATES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OBSERVER TEAMS HAVE SINCE DECLARED THE POLLS FREE AND FAIR. THE IMPERIALIST WORLD-LED BY BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES AND ITS LOCAL CHIHUAHUAS ON THE OTHER HAND HAVE BEGGED TO DIFFER PRINCIPALLY BECAUSE THEIR CANDIDATE, MDC LEADER MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, LOST. THIS CIRCUS HAS LEFT MANY PEOPLE WONDERING WHETHER THE LEGITIMACY OF THE RESULT OF THIS ELECTION IS BEING JUDGED ON THE BASIS OF DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AS WE ALL KNOW THEM OR SOME 'I HATE THE FACE' CRITERION. . . WE ALL KNOW THAT ZIMBABWE'S FORMER COLONIAL MASTER BRITAIN, THE MAJOR SPONSOR OF MDC, HAD HOPED THAT MR. TSVANGIRAI WOULD WIN AND THUS PAY THEM BACK BY REVERSING THE LAND REFORM PROGRAM. THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE PUT THEM TO SHAME BY VOTING FOR PRESIDENT MUGABE. IN DOING SO THE MESSAGE FROM THE PEOPLE WAS LOUD AND CLEAR - WE WANT LAND. NOW LIKE A DOG ON A LEASH, MDC IS BEING TOLD TO COME UP WITH 'MASS ACTIONS' TO UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 00698 03 OF 04 181110Z ATTACK ZIMBABWE. LET IT BE KNOWN THAT ZIMBABWE HAS THE CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY TO REPEL SUCH ATTACKS. WE WANT TO URGE ZIMBABWEANS NOT TO BE USED AS FODDER BY REFUSING TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE SO- CALLED 'PROTESTS.' WE WOULD LIKE TO APPLAUD COUNTRIES SUCH AS SOUTH AFRICA, TANZANIA, NIGERIA, NAMIBIA, ZAMBIA, CHINA AND KENYA. . .WHO HAVE ALREADY ENDORSED THE ELECTIONS, FOR RESISTING THE MACHINATIONS OF THE BRITISH AND THE AMERICANS. THIS IS THE TIME FOR AFRICAN STATES TO UNITE AGAINST BULLYING TACTICS BY THE WEST. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT SOME OF OUR AFRICAN BROTHERS SUCH AS THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL, MR. KOFI ANNAN AND FORMER NIGERIAN PRESIDENT GENERAL ABDULSALAMI ABUBAKAR WHO CHAIRED THE COMMONWEALTH OBSERVER MISSION, HAVE DEVELOPED WEAK SPINES. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A SIMPLE QUESTION OF HE WHO PAYS THE PIPER CALLS THE TUNE. MR. ANNAN CANNOT BE SEEN OPPOSING THE AMERICAN POSITION BECAUSE THE UN IS HEAVILY BANKROLLED BY THE USA. . . WE CANNOT BE FOOLED BY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE THEIR CAKE AND EAT IT. THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE HAVE SPOKEN AND THE WORLD SHOULD RESPECT THEIR WILL. AFTER ALL PRESIDENT MUGABE WAS ELECTED TO LEAD ZIMBABWE NOT THE USA OR BRITAIN." ¶9. UNDER HEADLINE "NOW THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE VOTED. . .," THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY "THE ZIMBABWE MIRROR" (03/15) COMMENTS: ". . .ZIMBABWE HAS JUST COMPLETED ANOTHER UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HARARE 00698 03 OF 04 181110Z SUCCESSFUL EXERCISE IN DEMOCRACY, THROUGH AN ELECTION IN WHICH BOTH THE RULING ZANU PF AND OPPOSITION MDC PARTICIPATED FULLY AND, NOTWITHSTANDING 'ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHTS' HERE AND THERE, WAS FREE AND FAIR. THEREFORE, IT IS WHAT HAPPENS HEREAFTER THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW. . . THE POST-ELECTION PERIOD OFFERS ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITIES AND POTENTIAL FOR NATIONAL HEALING, NATIONAL RENEWAL, AND A NATIONAL STRATEGY TOWARDS ECONOMIC RECOVERY. WE BELIEVE THAT, AS A TRUE NATIONALIST AND ONE THAT HAS GIVEN THE BEST OF HIS LIFE TO THE STRUGGLE FOR NATIONAL LIBERATION, ROBERT MUGABE HAS ALREADY A PLAN ON THE BASIS OF WHICH TO EFFECT A VISION OF THE POST-ELECTION ZIMBABWE. THIS SHOULD INCLUDE THE NEED FOR ZANU PF MEMBERS TO REALIZE. . .THAT THE MDC AND ITS SUPPORTERS ARE PART OF THE ZIMBABWEAN FAMILY; AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT, THAT THERE ARE GENUINE PROBLEMS AND GRIEVANCES THAT AFFLICT ZIMBABWEAN SOCIETY AND FOR WHICH URGENT RESOLUTION WILL NEED TO BE FOUND AS PART OF THE VISION OF A POST-ELECTION ZIMBABWE." UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1289 PAGE 01 HARARE 00698 04 OF 04 181110Z ACTION INR-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 A-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 USNW-00 DODE-00 DS-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 CAEX-01 TEST-00 USIE-00 IIP-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /004W -------------- 7681D4 181110Z /38 P 181057Z MAR 02 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1237 INFO NSC WASHDC AMEMBASSY PRETORIA AMEMBASSY LUSAKA AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK AMEMBASSY GABORONE AMEMBASSY LILONGWE AMEMBASSY LONDON UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 000698 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 00698 04 OF 04 181110Z SULLIVAN UNCLASSIFIED >