MEDIA REPORT PRESIDENT BUSH'S TRIP TO AFRICA;

UNCLAS HARARE 001462 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 REPORT PRESIDENT BUSH'S TRIP TO AFRICA; HARARE According to press reports, South African President Thabo Mbeki has distanced himself from news stories alleging that he had told President George W. Bush - during their meeting in Pretoria - that Robert Mugabe would step down in December. Mbeki's denial has made headlines in the local press. The July 18 edition of the government-controlled daily "The Herald" published a wire article by Agence France Presse as its lead story, under headline "Mbeki denies report: `There was no discussion at all about anybody stepping down.'" The independent daily "The Daily News" (07/18) relegated the same story to page 3. Reacting to reports in Britain's Independent newspaper that he (President Mbeki) and President Bush had discussed Mugabe's exit during President Bush's whistle-stop visit of Africa last week, SAPA news agency quotes, President Mbeki as having told reporters at a briefing in Pretoria: "There is no such thing. I don't know where that comes from. . .There was no discussion at all about anybody stepping down." A weekend report in Britain's Independent newspaper, by Zimbabwean journalist Basildon Peta, also said Mugabe's stepping down as leader of ZANU PF could pave the way for "his exit and fresh elections in 2004." SULLIVAN