Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02HARARE725
2002-03-20 06:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
ZIMBABWE: REPRESSIVE MEDIA LEGISLATION GOES
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 200657Z Mar 02 CONFIDENTIAL PTO2322 PAGE 01 HARARE 00725 200711Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /010W ------------------77CA69 200711Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1272 INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000725
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY
PARIS FOR CHARLES NEARY
NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/12
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE: REPRESSIVE MEDIA LEGISLATION GOES
INTO EFFECT
REF: HARARE 345
CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL OFFICER TODD FAULK FOR REASONS:
1.5 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000725
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY
PARIS FOR CHARLES NEARY
NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/12
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE: REPRESSIVE MEDIA LEGISLATION GOES
INTO EFFECT
REF: HARARE 345
CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL OFFICER TODD FAULK FOR REASONS:
1.5 (B) AND (D).
1. (U) ON MARCH 15, PRESIDENT MUGABE SIGNED AND
GAZETTED INTO LAW THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND
PROTECTION OF PRIVACY ACT, WHICH THE PARLIAMENT OF
ZIMBABWE PASSED ON JANUARY 31 (REFTEL),AND WHICH PLACES
SEVERE RESTRICTIONS ON THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA. THE
GAZETTING OF THE ACT BRINGS IT INTO IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
2. (C) COMMENT: PRESIDENT MUGABE PROBABLY WAITED UNTIL
AFTER THE ELECTION TO SIGN THE ACT BECAUSE HE DID NOT
WANT TO GIVE HIS INTERNATIONAL DETRACTORS MORE
AMMUNITION FOR TOUGH ACTION DURING HIS CAMPAIGN. HE
ALSO KNEW THAT KEY PROVISIONS OF THE ACT WOULD NOT GO
INTO EFFECT UNTIL AFTER THE ACT WAS GAZETTED. ONE OF
THEM IS THE REQUIREMENT THAT MASS MEDIA OUTLETS REGISTER
WITH THE YET-TO-BE-ESTABLISHED MEDIA AND INFORMATION
COMMISSION WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THE GAZETTING OF THE
ACT (WHICH NOW MAKES THE DEADLINE JUNE 15). MUGABE'S
DECISION TO BRING THE ACT INTO EFFECT ONLY TWO DAYS
AFTER HE WAS DECLARED THE WINNER OF THE ELECTION
DEMONSTRATES HIS DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE SUPPRESSING
HIS CRITICS IN ZIMBABWE. END COMMENT.
SULLIVAN
CONFIDENTIAL
>
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY
PARIS FOR CHARLES NEARY
NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/12
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE: REPRESSIVE MEDIA LEGISLATION GOES
INTO EFFECT
REF: HARARE 345
CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL OFFICER TODD FAULK FOR REASONS:
1.5 (B) AND (D).
1. (U) ON MARCH 15, PRESIDENT MUGABE SIGNED AND
GAZETTED INTO LAW THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND
PROTECTION OF PRIVACY ACT, WHICH THE PARLIAMENT OF
ZIMBABWE PASSED ON JANUARY 31 (REFTEL),AND WHICH PLACES
SEVERE RESTRICTIONS ON THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA. THE
GAZETTING OF THE ACT BRINGS IT INTO IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
2. (C) COMMENT: PRESIDENT MUGABE PROBABLY WAITED UNTIL
AFTER THE ELECTION TO SIGN THE ACT BECAUSE HE DID NOT
WANT TO GIVE HIS INTERNATIONAL DETRACTORS MORE
AMMUNITION FOR TOUGH ACTION DURING HIS CAMPAIGN. HE
ALSO KNEW THAT KEY PROVISIONS OF THE ACT WOULD NOT GO
INTO EFFECT UNTIL AFTER THE ACT WAS GAZETTED. ONE OF
THEM IS THE REQUIREMENT THAT MASS MEDIA OUTLETS REGISTER
WITH THE YET-TO-BE-ESTABLISHED MEDIA AND INFORMATION
COMMISSION WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THE GAZETTING OF THE
ACT (WHICH NOW MAKES THE DEADLINE JUNE 15). MUGABE'S
DECISION TO BRING THE ACT INTO EFFECT ONLY TWO DAYS
AFTER HE WAS DECLARED THE WINNER OF THE ELECTION
DEMONSTRATES HIS DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE SUPPRESSING
HIS CRITICS IN ZIMBABWE. END COMMENT.
SULLIVAN
CONFIDENTIAL
>