GOVERNMENT PAPER COVERS POWELL-NCUBE MEETING

UNCLAS HARARE 001029 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/PDPA FOR DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER LONDON FOR GURNEY PARIS FOR NEARY NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO KMDR ZI SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT PAPER COVERS POWELL-NCUBE MEETING ¶1. The meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Bulawayo Archbishop Pius Ncube provided the lead story in the May 22 edition of the government- controlled daily "Chronicle." The article distorted the purpose and substance of the may 20 meeting Washington, DC. The article accused the United States for exploiting the meeting with Ncube to advance its desire to "overthrow" the government of Robert Mugabe. change of government in Zimbabwe." Excerpts of Under the headline "U.S. praises Pius Ncube: Archbishop thanked for anti-govt stance," the article says in part: ¶2. "The United States Government has lauded the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Matabeleland, Archbishop Pius Ncube, for assisting it in its bid to effect a change of Government in Zimbabwe. U.S. Secretary of States Mr. Colin Powell met Archbishop Ncube, a controversial cleric who dabbles in politics, in Washington on Tuesday and `thanked' him for his anti-Government stance. . . Diplomatic sources said Archbishop Ncube was being rewarded for helping the U.S. and Britain in their quest to topple President Mugabe. . . ." SULLIVAN