MEDIA COVERAGE PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO AFRICA;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 001371 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: MEDIA COVERAGE PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO AFRICA; HARARE ¶1. An avalanche of news articles and opinion pieces focusing on the decisive African Nations Cup qualifying soccer match between Zimbabwe and Eritrea, especially in the government-controlled print and electronic media, failed to eclipse critical articles against President George W. Bush's visit to Africa. In a move described by political analysts as "a deliberate ploy" to deflect and drown out public attention from President Bush's imminent visit to Africa, the government-controlled media deliberately down-played politics from the usual pole position to promote the "crucial game." Even the ZANU PF's important politburo meeting last Wednesday, including the subsequent 54th Session of the party's Central Committee meeting addressed by Robert Mugabe the following day, played second fiddle to news on the soccer match. It was uncharacteristic of the state-run ZTV to tuck Mugabe's news clip - in which he urged the party's Central Committee members not to be cowed by Bush's visit - deep into Thursday's (July 3) "Newshour" bulletin at 2000 hours. Excerpts of the of the nit- picking news articles, op-ed and opinion pieces against President Bush's visit that appeared mostly in the government-controlled and pro-government mainstream newspapers between July 4 and 7 follow: ¶2. Under headline "Bush's visit threatens peace" the government-controlled daily "The Herald" (07/07) reproduced the following article by Patrica Gwen Afwoni, Africa Strategy Personal Assistant, African Region, on page 7: "Africa Strategy notes with sadness and shame the degree of hypocrisy in which the current Right wing Republican Administration of George Bush has conducted its foreign policy on Africa. The forth coming African tour of Bush. . .is designed to threaten the peace and widen the gaps between moderate states and war mongers in Africa. . .The spirit of Abraham Lincoln will roll in the grave when they hear that President Bush has visited a pseudo democracy in Uganda and spent over six hours dining and dancing with the military dictatorship that has refused people to associate and assemble freely. . .We note with great concern the way millions and millions of U. S. dollars are being channeled through Uganda to train and pay mercenary armies to overthrow the government of President Mugabe. We are also worried about the Millions of USD that has been pumped into the hands of opposition in Zimbabwe for ECOMIC SABOTAGE (sic). . .Africa Strategy wishes to use this opportunity to warn all those who are bent on paying the government of Uganda to commit violence in the region like. . .the black surrogate Colin Powell that all the peaceful people of the region are documenting all your encounters. We have now obtained clear evidence from sources about all your financial transactions which point at USA and Britain as the main countries fuelling violence in Zimbabwe. . .We are aware of the impending fabrication and malice that Colin Powell and Bush want to link the people of Zimbabwe and the Great Lakes Region so as to justify regime change. . . ." ¶3. The July 6 edition of the independent weekly "The Daily News on Sunday" printed an article by Agence France- Presse (AFP) on page one that reported on President Bush's interview centering on his imminent visit to Africa with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) television. The "Sunday Special" story ran under the headline "Bush calls for fresh Zimbabwe elections." Another independent weekly "the Standard" (07/06) also carried an article focusing on President Bush's visit to Africa on page one under headline "MDC to meet Bush over Mugabe." ¶4. Under headline "Bush's Africa safari" the pro-government weekly "The Sunday Mirror" (07/06) carried the following opinion piece under the ghost column "The Scrutator" on page 10: ". . .Despite assertions to the contrary, many of those (countries) left out of yet another sweeping but selective tour by the leader of the world's sole super power are quietly lamenting and, in some cases fearing, the possible implications of such exclusions and oversight. . . So serious is the U. ¶S. A. about our continent that it has consistently demonstrated a disdain for both the Organization of African Unity which neither (Jimmy) Carter nor (Bill) Clinton visited on the occasion of their respective safaris, and the African Union which, if the U. S. administration had a more defined and sensitive policy in this regard, Bush could have accommodated in his schedule, especially since the AU Summit is meeting in Maputo next Friday. . .Indeed, the U. S. Africa policy is so largely immersed in strategic and economic considerations that the issue of democracy has always been quite secondary. Even the outpourings on Zimbabwe are only part of that `democracy' smokescreen. Not surprisingly, therefore, Zimbabwe will not loom large nor should the MDC expect anything more than a reaffirmation of the `African initiative,' spearheaded by South Africa, another long-standing `sub-center' in the superpower's imperialist sphere of influence." ¶5. The same newspaper also ran an interesting article by Tendai Chari" under his weekly column "Media Analysis" on page 11 - under headline "How about a regime change in the media?" Excerpts: "When U. S. A. President George Bush visits Southern Africa. . .he should bring with him, among other rescue packages, a rescue package for the Zimbabwean media? He must also facilitate a regime change in our media. The men and women of the pen have become the property and monopoly of political parties. . .Having earned himself the much-fancied title of `liberator' in Iraq I expect President Bush to liberate our media from the bondage pf cronyism. He must extricate these embeds from the clutches of politicians holding on to them with crab-like tenacity. We need a free media. . . ." ¶6. Under headline "Why Bush is coming to Africa: U. S. leader in bid to spread his imperialist wings" the July 6 edition of the government-controlled weekly "The Sunday Mail" carried the following opinion piece by Munyaradzi Huni, Political Editor, on page 9: "So the African Union (AU) summit will be held in Maputo, Mozambique, this week, while the Texan gunslinger, Mr. George W. Bush, will at the same time be roaming around Africa for the time since he `stole' the American election from Mr. Al Gore. . .? But then don't be fooled that it's by mere coincidence that the cunning fox decided to visit this beloved continent at the time when the AU will be taking place. No! . . .And by the way, don't be fooled into thinking that Mr. Bush just woke up one day and decided to visit South Africa, Botswana, Uganda, Nigeria and Senegal. . .Mr. Bush is already dangling the carrot in billions of American dollars to buy out the African leaders so that they can allow him to spread his stinking imperialistic wings. . . ." ¶7. Under headline "African leaders must rally behind Zimbabwe" the same newspaper carried the following opinion piece by South African-based independent political and socio-economic analyst and media columnist Udo W. Froese on page 10: "It is clear that the mighty West. . .particularly Washington. . .will use Africa's own program, NEPAD, to discipline this continent and do the dirty work for and on behalf of the hopeful sponsors, the G-8 members. African countries and their leadership will have to toe the line of the new world economic order and globalization, or face the music. However, both Western programs are to Africa's peril. . .Any attempt to destabilize Zimbabwe further would gave serious regional security implications. It would enhance wide racism and instability. As is it is, Zimbabwe is at war. It would be a political and economic disaster for the Southern African development Community (SADC) to launch a military operation from neighboring Botswana and Uganda in order to force a `fast regime change' in Zimbabwe. As much as U. S. President George Bush wants to reward Britain's Tony Blair for his zealous support in Afghanistan and Iraq and the rest of the world by returning Zimbabwe to the British crown, such brutal action would create chaos, and terrorism would take advantage. If President Mugabe's government would be destroyed, thousands of highly trained ZANU PF guerillas would retreat to the bush in order to again pick up the war for their country. . .This would cause havoc in the region. . .When America's President George W. Bush visits Africa this week, Africans have no alternative but to demonstrate that they are unanimous in their decision to counter any destabilization efforts in their regions. Africa would do well rallying behind Zimbabwe. . . ." ¶8. Under headline "Bush's Africa tour bound to fail - analysts" the Bulawayo-based government-controlled weekly "Sunday News" (07/06) carried the following article by Herbert Zharare, Chief Reporter, on page 3: "American President George W. Bush's visit to Africa next week, during which he will arm-twist Zimbabwe's neighbors to support a hostile Western campaign against the country, will fail dismally and also prove that the MDC leaders who are jostling to meet with him are puppets of imperialism, analysts have said. . .Political observers argued this week that there is no doubt that Mr. Bush will dangle several incentives to African countries, in a desperate bid to force them to support his agenda of toppling the elected government of Zimbabwe. . .Dr. (Tafataona) Mahoso said African countries that allowed themselves to be used by Mr. Bush to topple President Mugabe were going to be haunted by the aftermath of such an expedition.. . .Dr. William Nhara, the head of a Harare-based regional political think-tank, the Southern Africa Institute for Democracy, told `Sunday News'. . .that the U. S. President can go ahead with is visit to selected African countries, but will achieve nothing. . .Bulawayo-based political and social commentator Dr. Lawton Hikwa concurred with Dr. Mahoso and Mr. Nhara that Mr. Bush's visit. . .was part of the Western campaign to effect so-called regime change in Zimbabwe. . . ." ¶9. Under headline "'Bush's visit not critical': Africa should not be intimidated, says President" the lead story in the July 4 edition of the government-controlled daily "The Herald" reads: "Africa should not be intimidated when the U. S. President George Bush visits the continent. . .President Mugabe said (July 3). `When Bush visits here, it should not send tremors to your nerves,' he said while addressing the 54th Ordinary Session of the ZANU PF Central Committee. `He is coming to visit and he would not dare to try what he did to Iraq. He knows the situation is different. After all we do not have oil,' he said. . .Of late, the U. S. ha renewed its onslaught against Zimbabwe with President Bush, Secretary of State Mr. Colin Powell and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Mr. Walter Kansteiner calling for President Mugabe's exit from power. `We know that the Bush administration and the Blair government are against this country and its leadership. . .But their conspiracies should never be allowed to succeed and we are glad that Africans oppose that . . . .'" ¶10. While the rest of the government-controlled and independent print media carried wire articles by ¶U. S.-based news agencies on President Bush's remarks at the recent biennial meeting of the Corporate Council on Africa, the July 3 edition of the pro-government weekly "Business Tribune" reproduced the full text of his speech on page 12, under headline "Bush sets agenda for Africa tour: Remarks by U. S. President to the Corporate Council on U. S. (sic) - Africa Business Summit." SULLIVAN