MEDIA REACTION ZIM AFTER PRESIDENTIAL POLL;

UNCLAS HARARE 000735 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 AFTER PRESIDENTIAL POLL; HARARE ¶1. EDITORIALS IN THE MARCH 21 EDITIONS OF THE INDEPENDENT DAILY "THE DAILY NEWS" AND THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY "THE FINANCIAL GAZETTE" CALL ON PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THAT LED TO ZIMBABWE'S SUSPENSION FROM THE COMMONWEALTH. EXCERPTS: ¶2. "LIFE CANNOT GO ON AS BEFORE WHEN YOU CHEAT," THE "DAILY NEWS" (03/21) COMMENTS: "(SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT) EMMERSON MNANGAGWA'S REACTION TO ZIMBABWE'S SUSPENSION FROM THE COMMONWEALTH IS LOADED WITH THE FALSE BRAVADO WITH WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAS REACTED TO CENSURE AND CONDEMNATION FOR ITS ACTIONS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. ON THE SURFACE, IT SMACKS OF DEFIANCE AND ARROGANCE, BUT IT IS REALLY A CRY OF PAIN AND REJECTION. . . WHAT MNAGNGAGWA AND HIS COLLEAGUES OUGHT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT ZIMBABWE HAS BEEN SUSPENDED BECAUSE ZANU PF CHEATED IN THE RECENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. . . IN A SMALL WAY, THE COMMONWEALTH DECISION TO SUSPENDED ZIMBABWE MUST SERVE TO REMIND MUGABE THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD IS WATCHING HIS EVERY MOVE AND WILL POUNCE ON HIM IF HE CONTINUES TO STRAY FROM THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW PATH OF GOOD GOVERNANCE. ". . .WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO RESTORE THE DIGNITY OF THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD IS FOR MUGABE. . .TO END THE VIOLENCE AGAINST HIS OWN PEOPLE, TO PUT THE WAR VETERANS IN THEIR PLACE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HARARE 00735 210922Z ONCE AND FOR ALL, TO ABANDON THE TRAINING OF MISGUIDED, JOBLESS YOUTHS INTO PARTY MEDIA, NOT AS ENEMIES OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY, BUT AS PATRIOTS AS ANXIOUS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR COUNTRY AS HE AND ZANU PF OUGHT TO BE. LIFE MAY GO ON AFTER EXPULSION FROM THE COMMONWEALTH, BUT ZIMBABWE WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME." ¶3. "MUGABE'S OPTIONS," THE "FINANCIAL GAZETTE" (03/21) COMMENTS: "EVEN BEFORE HE TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE TO START A NEW SIX-YEAR TERM, PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE LAST WEEK SIGNALED THE DIRECTION OF HIS GOVERNMENT BY IMMEDIATELY SIGNING INTO LAW THE CONTROVERSIAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY BILL. THE NEW LAW. . .BULLDOZED THROUGH PARLIAMENT JUST BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, NOT ONLY STIFLES PRESS FREEDOM IN ZIMBABWE BUT THREATENS TO SHUT DOWN THE COUNTRY'S ENTIRE INDEPENDENT NEWS MEDIA. . . HOW CAN THE PRESIDENT RECONCILE THE FACT THAT ON ONE HAND HE WANTS COOPERATION FROM THE OPPOSITION WHILE ON THE OTHER HE LAUNCHES A CRACKDOWN ON ITS MEMBERS? INDEED, HOW CAN A CONCILIATORY PRESIDENT WHO IS DETERMINED TO HEAL THE NATION'S BLOODLETTING AND PALPABLE PAIN OF THOSE WHO REGARD HIS ELECTION AS STOLEN GO AHEAD WITH A BILL WHICH DEPRIVES THE NATION OF INFORMATION THAT IS SO VITAL TO DECISION- MAKING?. . ." UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HARARE 00735 210922Z SULLIVAN UNCLASSIFIED >