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