This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS HARARE 000010
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR INR/R/MR THIBEAULT
INFO AF/PDPA DALTON, MITCHELL, SIMS AND AF/S RAYNOR
NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KMDR ZI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: FOOD CRISIS IN ZIMBABWE; HARARE
1. Under headline "Only return to sanity will end food
shortages" the independent daily "The Daily News" dedicated
its January 3 editorial to persuading the government of
Zimbabwe to cooperate with the international community,
adding that "the survival of the nation should not be made
a sacrificial lamb on the alter of political expediency."
Excerpts follow:
2. "The only way to end the shortages caused by the self-
inflicted economic crisis - the worst in Zimbabwe's history
- is for the government to face reality, by accepting aid
from the international community. It is imperative for the
government to bring back sanity and peace so as to create
an economic environment that does not drive potential
investors away or cost the country thousands of lives
through starvation. The survival of the nation should not
be made a sacrificial lamb on the alter of political
expediency. . .If the government is really anxious about
the fate of the millions of people facing death from
starvation, they must swallow their pride and accept
responsibility for the current food shortage. They must
create the appropriate conditions to resuscitate the
economy that has itself been starved of investment. The
land reform program is a disaster because it was ill
planned. Millions of people cannot pay for that blunder
with their lives."
WHITEHEAD