US embassy cable - 01HARARE3638

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INDEPENDENT PRESS CRITICIZES INFORMATION BILL

Identifier: 01HARARE3638
Wikileaks: View 01HARARE3638 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Harare
Created: 2001-12-06 06:24:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: ZI PREL PHUM
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

060624Z Dec 01

 

                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTO8003

PAGE 01        HARARE  03638  060717Z 
ACTION INR-00   

INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    A-00     ACQ-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  
      DS-00    EUR-00   UTED-00  VC-00    TEDE-00  LAB-01   VCE-00   
      NSAE-00  TEST-00  USIE-00  IIP-00   DSCC-00  DRL-02   NFAT-00  
      SAS-00     /003W
                  ------------------47ACE0  060717Z /38    
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0474
INFO NSC WASHDC
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA 
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK 
AMEMBASSY GABORONE 
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
UNCLAS HARARE 003638 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF/PD FOR COX, ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR SCHLACHTER, AF/RA FOR 
SWANN, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ZI, PREL, PHUM 
SUBJECT: INDEPENDENT PRESS CRITICIZES INFORMATION BILL 
 
 
1.   THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY "THE STANDARD" USED ITS 
    DECEMBER 2 EDITORIAL TO CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT OF 
    ZIMBABWE'S NEW INFORMATION BILL.  THE BILL IS NOW AWAITING 
    CONSIDERATION BY PARLIAMENT.  UNDER THE TITLE "INFORMATION 
    BILL ABSOLUTE MADNESS," THE PAPER COMMENTS: 
 
2.   "THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION PROTECTION OF PRIVACY 
    BILL. . .CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE MOST 
    DEVIOUS PIECES OF LEGISLATION CRAFTED IN POST- 
    INDEPENDENCE ZIMBABWE, AND ONE WHICH SEEKS TO MAKE 
    CRIMINALS OUT OF OTHERWISE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS. 
    INTRODUCED OSTENSIBLY TO GIVE THE PUBLIC THE RIGHT TO 
    INFORMATION HELD BY PUBLIC BODIES AND TO PROTECT 
    PERSONAL PRIVACY, THE ALL-EMBRACING BILL. . .WILL HAVE 
    THE NET EFFECT OF CURTAILING AND INTERFERING WILL ALL 
    ASPECTS OF A NEWSPAPER'S OPERATIONS.  IN ITS PRESENT 
    FORM, ASPECTS OF THE BILL SEEK TO HAND OVER TO THE 
    GOVERNMENT POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ARE VESTED 
    IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A MEDIA ORGANIZATION. . .  SHOULD 
    THE BILL BE PASSED INTO LAW IN ITS PRESENT FORM, THEN 
    CLEARLY A MAJOR SHOWDOWN IS IN THE MAKING BETWEEN THE 
    GOVERNMENT AND THE INDEPENDENT PRESS." 
 
SULLIVAN 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 

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