MEDIA REACTION U. S. ACCUSED OF TRYING TO ISOLATE

UNCLAS HARARE 001705 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 KMDR ZI KAPO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION U. S. ACCUSED OF TRYING TO ISOLATE ZIM; HARARE ¶1. The United States Institute of Peace is reported to have accused the United States and the European Union (EU) of trying to isolate Zimbabwe. Under headline "ZANU PF rule unavoidable: U. S. report," the August 28 edition of the government-controlled daily "The Herald" carried the article by Lovemore Chikova on page one: ¶2. "Many Zimbabweans feel ZANU PF rule is unavoidable because of the party's ability to address historical grievances and its liberations credentials, research by the United States Institute of Peace has revealed. . .In a report on Zimbabwe titled `Zimbabwe and the Prospects for Non-violent Political Change' released this month the institute said ZANU PF's commitment to ratifying colonial imbalances appealed to the majority. `Since independence in 1980, the ruling ZANU PF government has used its anti-colonial legacy and its role in the war of liberation to build a nationalist platform with a stated commitment to rectifying colonial injustice. . .The theme garners support from many leaders in developing countries and Zimbabwe's rural populace. The party's incumbency, its ability to capitalize on historic grievances and its liberation credentials makes many Zimbabweans feel that ZANU PF's continued involvement in any government is inevitable," (said the institute). The U. S. institute, linked to the local Mass Public Opinion founded by the late government critic Professor Masipula Sithole, said sanctions imposed on the country by some Western countries had stifled its ability to grow. . . `Sanctions have severely undermined the Zimbabwe government's ability to deliver social services - most donors have stopped their assistance, except for humanitarian relief and HIV/AIDS programs. . .The United States and the European Union have tried to isolate Zimbabwe, but the government continues to enjoy friendly relations with various countries around the globe. . .The imposition of `smart sanctions' and the withdrawal of international donor support that followed have crippled the government's ability to resuscitate the economy,' said the institute." SULLIVAN