ZIMBABWE: REPRESSIVE MEDIA LEGISLATION GOES

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 >