This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS HARARE 001369
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 REACTION AU SUMMIT; HARARE
1. Under headline "AU must make a stand" the independent
daily "The Daily News" dedicated its July 3 editorial to
urge the African Union (AU) - meeting in Maputo,
Mozambique, next week for its second summit - to "publicly
and firmly denounce Harare" for human rights abuses, the
erosion of the rule of law and bad governance in Zimbabwe.
Excerpts:
2. "The AU will next week have another chance to put its
high ideals to the test by boldly condemning Harare's naked
abuse of power and flouting of internationally accepted
norms of good governance. . .Next week's Mozambican summit
coincides with the first visit to the continent of American
President George Bush, who has not minced his words in
condemning the blatant repression of its people by a
government that is determined to hold on to power at all
costs. It would be a shameful act on the part of Africa's
leaders if they failed to take a stand on the basic issues
that have been highlighted by those bodies that have been
voluble in their criticism of the rights abuses in
Zimbabwe. . .They are especially crucial for the AU, which
has adopted as its economic program the New Partnership for
Africa's development (NEPAD), which is anchored in the
observance by African governments of the rule of law and
good governance to reverse the continent's economic
decline, endemic poverty and costly civil wars. African
leaders will best serve their own cause and the cause of
democracy in Zimbabwe if they publicly and firmly denounce
Harare for failing to live up to the principles espoused by
the AU and NEPAD. . .If the AU fails to vigorously meet the
challenge presented by Zimbabwe, it will merely become
another albatross around the continent's neck."
SULLIVAN