MOZAMBICAN MEDIA FAULTS WEAK CIVIL SOCIETY FOR LACK OF

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000669 AF/S FOR MSHIELDS AF/PD FOR CANYASO AND KJAKSA SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO KMDR PREL PGOV MZ ZI SUBJECT: MOZAMBICAN MEDIA FAULTS WEAK CIVIL SOCIETY FOR LACK OF COMMENT ON ZIMBABWE ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Charge hosted a lunch on July 17 for six top independent media editors, at which discussion of Zimbabwe dominated. The editors expressed disappointment with the Government of Mozambique's (GRM) silence on the issue, in part a symptom of weak civil society organizations in the country. The Charge reiterated to the editors his statement to the GRM that Zimbabwe's neighbors have a responsibility to speak out, and that keeping quiet is damaging Mozambique's international reputation. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) During the Charge's lunch with six top independent media editors in Mozambique on July 17, conversation on Zimbabwe dominated. The editors, representing six different private media outlets in Mozambique - TV, Radio and Print - expressed frustration with the situation in Zimbabwe and the lack of response from their government. While the party of the President, FRELIMO, issued an official letter of congratulations to Mugabe and ZANU-PF after the June elections (not released to the media as per custom but discovered by journalists and then widely covered here),President Guebuza himself has not made such a public proclamation. Still, most editors attribute Guebuza's presence at the recent African Union summit and his continued relations with the ZANU-PF Ambassador here as a clear sign that FRELIMO support translates into GRM support. ¶3. (U) The Charge reiterated his message to the GRM with the editors present: Neighboring African states have a responsibility to speak out on the crisis in Zimbabwe, and as of now, Mozambique is "on the wrong side [of history]." The Charge told editors that Mozambique's international reputation, with the United States and others, is slipping each day the silence continues. ¶4. (SBU) The editors responded that the independent media has been vocal and continues to speak out against Mugabe's rule but that civil society remains largely silent for a number of reasons: Its own weak nature, due to a lack of civic education in schools; a dearth of institutions that represent civil society in Mozambique; and the largely-held fear of being reprimanded or punished by the GRM. One editor noted that if the GRM spoke out against Mugabe, then civil society would follow suit - but until then will remain quiet. One media representative stated that the cancellation of a recently-planned public demonstration against violence in Zimbabwe exemplified Mozambican civil society's weakness. ¶5. (SBU) The group of editors unanimously expressed great pessimism over Zimbabwe and its effects on Mozambique. They agreed that the situation in Zimbabwe will worsen and that Mozambique, in particular its central region that borders Zimbabwe, will pay a severe price. ¶6. (U) As Mozambique prepares for its own elections - municipal on November 19 and presidential in 2009 - Zimbabwe will be an issue on Mozambicans' minds, if not from their mouths. The editor of the weekly newspaper Zambeze (distribution 20,000; readership 100,000) titled his July 17 editorial "The Mugab-ization of Mozambique" writing that today's climate in Mozambique is not much different than the climate here just before its civil war. ¶7. (SBU) Post will remain engaged with the independent media here, as they represent the strongest voice in Mozambique speaking out on Zimbabwe. CHAPMAN