Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03HARARE1383
2003-07-08 13:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Harare
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO AFRICA;

Tags:  PREL KPAO KMDR ZI 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS HARARE 001383 

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 REACTION PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO AFRICA;
HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 001383

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 REACTION PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT TO AFRICA;
HARARE


1. Under headline "Bush must tell Mbeki to act decisively
on Zimbabwe" the July 8 edition of the independent daily
"The Daily News" printed an op-ed by Joseph Whande on page
8, in which he urges President George Bush to help resolve
the socioeconomic and political impasse in Zimbabwe by
encouraging his South African counterpart Thabo Mbeki to
"uphold internationally accepted mediation practices."
Excerpts:


2. ". . .Both George Bush and Thabo Mbeki must be warned
not to continue using Zimbabwe as a playground where
international norms, laws, human rights and other practices
are disregarded at will. This has to stop and Bush must
make it clear to Mbeki that if he does not want to uphold
internationally accepted mediation practices, he should
leave the Zimbabwean issue to people who would like to
resolve the problem. . .Bush must take note that if he
relies too much on Mbeki, he will not get anything resolved
in Zimbabwe. He must be reminded that the people of
Zimbabwe have long lamented how Mbeki is a stumbling block
to our own efforts to correct the bad situation in our
country. . .Apart from Mbeki's cowardice in
confronting Mugabe, what we are seeing is a
deliberate policy by South Africa to strengthen
their economy at our expense. . .We have a problem
here in Zimbabwe and it is not an exaggeration that
people are suffering needlessly under our Mugabe.
Many would like to see him go. But if your solution
to our problems is the same as the one you applied
in Iraq, then please forget it. We are peace-loving
people and we only need the kind of assistance that
will make it possible and easier for us to resolve
our problems peacefully. The person you should get
tough with is Mbeki. Make him play his role as
responsible regional leader, a role befitting the
president of South Africa. As you talk to our
dictators around the continent, please keep in mind
that you do not incite us to stand up and fight for
our rights then fly back home and watch as we get
butchered. Tackling Africa's dictators is a
full-time job that needs the participation of the
international community. . . ."

SULLIVAN