MEDIA REACTION PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO AFRICA;

UNCLAS HARARE 001379 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 ZI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO AFRICA; HARARE ¶1. Mainstream newspapers have started dedicating acres of editorial space to mull over United States President George ¶W. Bush's visit to Africa. Editorial excerpts follow: ¶2. Under headline "The Bush African trail" the independent weekly "The Daily News on Sunday" (06/29) comments: ". . .George W. Bush. . .who begins an historic journey through a changing Africa next month, has an opportunity to join that pantheon of conservative statesmen, by engaging the leaders in a dialogue for a change in their priorities. . .Understandably, Bush is not visiting Zimbabwe, because President Robert Mugabe is (an) old man who refuses to open his eyes to the reality of his country. Politically and economically, he is bereft of new ideas to rescue his country from certain disaster. He should step aside to let younger people with 21st century ideas take over. Bush must convince South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki that Mugabe must step down if the regime change in Zimbabwe is to be without bloodshed." ¶3. Under headline "African leaders must ignore Bush's antics" the government-controlled weekly "The Sunday Mail" (06/29) comments: "The American President, George W. Bush, has grown so arrogant that he is now giving deadlines on when governments should be set up or deposed, ahead of his African visit. The contempt he is showing for African leadership is as sickening as his attitude towards the leadership of the people of Afghanistan and Iraq. . .On what pedestal is he standing? In fact, he speaks with an air of a god. It was clear that the weapons of mass destruction that his country possesses have deluded him into believing that he is now a divine being who can speak and it will (be) done. He sees himself as Almighty God. . .No wonder the revered former South African president, Nelson Mandela, once remarked that the Texan `cannot think properly' anymore. We welcome the stance that Mr. Mandela has taken in advance of Bush's visit that the Texan should be met with a clear message of how appalled Africans are by the murderous policies of the Bush and Blair administrations. African leaders across the continent must stand firm and refuse to be patronized. . .Bush is a war-monger and not a peacemaker and must be made to feel like one. . .Zimbabwe and Africa should simply ignore Colin Powell and Bush and look inside and among themselves for solutions to the challenges that beset them." SULLIVAN