STATE-CONTROLLED PAPER HAILS JOURNALIST'S

UNCLAS HARARE 001034 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 ZI SUBJECT: STATE-CONTROLLED PAPER HAILS JOURNALIST'S EXPULSION ¶1. Under headline "Meldrum's expulsion was long overdue" the editorial in the May 28 edition of the government-controlled daily "The Herald" said: "After painting the situation in Zimbabwe in dark colors and generally portraying the country as a lawless community on the very brink of collapse, American-born journalist and suspected intelligence officer, Andrew Meldrum, has finally been deported. We feel that the expulsion of Meldrum, who in addition to reproducing false and damaging stories about Zimbabwe, compiled damning, often fabricated reports on the country, was long overdue. Zimbabwe has the right, without undue external influence or coercion, to decide who lives or works within its borders." ¶2. Comment: The Herald's editorial, nearly 2 weeks after Meldrum's expulsion, indicates some degree of official tetchiness about the continuing international coverage and condemnation of the event. It is worth noting that the Herald editorial makes no mention of most damaging fact about the expulsion - that is was carried out in direct defiance of orders from the High Court of Zimbabwe. SULLIVAN