US embassy cable - 02HARARE345

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 000345 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY 
PARIS FOR CHARLES NEARY 
NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/12 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, ZI, Media and Communications 
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT PLACES 
INDEPENDENT PRESS UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL OFFICER TODD FAULK FOR REASONS: 
1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY: ON JANUARY 31, THE PARLIAMENT OF 
ZIMBABWE PASSED THE DECEPTIVELY-NAMED ACCESS TO 
INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY ACT AFTER THREE 
WEEKS OF DEBATE.  THE ACT, WHICH HAS YET TO BE SIGNED BY 
THE PRESIDENT AND GAZETTED INTO LAW, ESSENTIALLY PLACES 
ZIMBABWE'S INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA COMPANIES 
UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL AND RESTRICTS THE OPERATION OF 
FOREIGN JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA IN ZIMBABWE.  AFTER THE 
PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE (PLC) ISSUED AN ADVERSE 
REPORT ON THE BILL, ABOUT HALF OF THE ORIGINAL BILL'S 
CLAUSES WERE AMENDED IN BEHIND-THE-SCENES WRANGLING 
BETWEEN JUSTICE MINISTER PATRICK CHINAMASA AND PLC 
CHAIRMAN EDDISON ZVOBGO.  MEDIA WATCHER ORGANIZATIONS 
CALLED THE CHANGES "INSIGNIFICANT" AND SAID THE FINAL 
VERSION OF THE ACT IS STILL REPRESSIVE.  PRESIDENT 
MUGABE MAY DELAY IMPLEMENTING THE ACT TO AVOID FURTHER 
RECRIMINATIONS FROM WESTERN COUNTRIES PLANNING TO SEND 
ELECTION OBSERVERS.  END SUMMARY. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
CONTENTIOUS DEBATE ON CONTROVERSIAL BILL 
---------------------------------------- 
 
2.  (C) ON JANUARY 31, THE PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE PASSED 
THE DISINGENUOUSLY-NAMED ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND 
PROTECTION OF PRIVACY ACT AFTER THREE WEEKS OF DEBATE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  00345  01 OF 04  071444Z 
AND UNEXPECTED DELAY.  MOST OF THE CONTENTION IN 
PARLIAMENT OCCURRED NOT BETWEEN THE RULING ZANU-PF AND 
MDC, BUT BETWEEN MEMBERS OF ZANU-PF.  THE TROUBLE BEGAN 
WHEN ZANU-PF MP AND CHAIRMAN OF THE PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL 
COMMITTEE (PLC) EDDISON ZVOBGO FOUND THE INFORMATION 
BILL UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND ISSUED AN ADVERSE REPORT ON IT 
IN EARLY JANUARY.  ZANU-PF LIKELY INTENDED TO IGNORE THE 
REPORT, AS IT HAS DONE WITH OTHER UNFAVORABLE ONES, AND 
RUSH THE BILL THROUGH.  HOWEVER, WHEN ZVOBGO REPEATEDLY 
REFUSED TO APPEAR IN PARLIAMENT TO PRESENT THE REPORT, A 
REQUIREMENT FOR THE BILL TO PROCEED, ZANU-PF FOUND 
ITSELF STUCK.  JUSTICE MINISTER PATRICK CHINAMASA (AND 
LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY) APPROACHED ZVOBGO ON 
WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET THE BILL THROUGH.  THIS 
RESULTED IN NEARLY TWO WEEKS OF BEHIND-THE-SCENES 
NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN CHINAMASA AND THE PLC.  INFORMATION 
MINISTER JONATHAN MOYO, AUTHOR OF THE BILL AND MUCH 
DESPISED IN HIS OWN PARTY, WAS VISIBLY EMBARRASSED.  ON 
THE NIGHT OF THE BILL'S PASSAGE, CHINAMASA REPORTEDLY 
REBUFFED MOYO ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, MUCH TO THE AMUSEMENT 
OF THE MDC MEMBERS.  THE BILL FINALLY RECEIVED THE PLC'S 
ASSENT WITH 50 OUT OF 103 CLAUSES AMENDED OR DELETED; 
THE MDC DID NOT CONTEST ITS PASSAGE. 
 
--------------------------- 
AMENDMENTS ARE MOSTLY MINOR 
--------------------------- 
 
3.  (C) MOST OF THE AMENDMENTS WRITTEN INTO THE ACT BY 
THE PLC ARE RELATIVELY MINOR OR COSMETIC.  ONE OF THE 
MORE SIGNIFICANT IS A PROVISION FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  00345  01 OF 04  071444Z 
JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA HOUSES TO NOMINATE AT LEAST THREE 
MEMBERS TO THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION COMMISSION THAT 
WILL BE REGULATE JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS. 
PREVIOUSLY, THE INFORMATION MINISTER WOULD HAVE 
APPOINTED ALL FIVE TO SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
SOME OF THE OTHER CHANGES: 
 
-- FOREIGN INVESTORS WILL BE PERMITTED TO OWN MINORITY 
SHARES OF ZIMBABWEAN MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS RATHER THAN 
BEING BANNED ALTOGETHER.  HOWEVER, THIS CLAUSE IS NOT 
RETROACTIVE, AND OWNERSHIP OF MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS AS OF 
JANUARY 31, 2002 WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO CHANGE. 
 
-- ALL JOURNALISTS WITH PRESS CREDENTIALS BEFORE THE ACT 
IS GAZETTED WILL BE DEEMED REGISTERED WITH THE 
COMMISSION UNTIL THE END OF 2002 INSTEAD OF BEING 
REQUIRED TO REGISTER WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THE ACT'S 
GAZETTING. 
 
-- DISPUTES OVER ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF THE BILL WILL BE 
REFERRED TO THE COURTS RATHER THAN THE INFORMATION 
MINISTER. 
 
-- FOREIGN JOURNALISTS MAY APPLY TO WORK IN ZIMBABWE FOR 
"A LIMITED PERIOD" RATHER THAN "A FEW DAYS." 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ7054 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  00345  02 OF 04  071444Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  AS-01    CIAE-00  INL-00 
      DODE-00  DOEE-00  WHA-00   SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    EUR-00 
      OIGO-00  VC-00    H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01 
      L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    DCP-01   NSAE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01 
      OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00 
      STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02 
      G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00   SWCI-00    /011W 
                  ------------------6380E0  071445Z /38 
P 071427Z FEB 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0897 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 000345 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY 
PARIS FOR CHARLES NEARY 
NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/12 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, ZI 
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT PLACES 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  00345  02 OF 04  071444Z 
INDEPENDENT PRESS UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL 
 
ZIMBABWEAN JOURNALISTS MAY NOW REPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL 
MEDIA, IN ADDITION TO THEIR ZIMBABWEAN MEDIA EMPLOYER, 
PROVIDED THEY HAVE THE PERMISSION OF THE EMPLOYER. 
 
-- MAXIMUM FINES FOR MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS IN VIOLATION OF 
THE ACT WERE REDUCED FROM $Z 1 MILLION (US$3,300) TO 
Z$300,000 (US$1,000). 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
ACT PLACES NUMEROUS GOVERNMENT CONTROLS ON MEDIA 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
4.  (SBU) THE ACT, WHICH HAS YET TO BE SIGNED BY THE 
PRESIDENT AND GAZETTED INTO LAW, STILL PLACES ZIMBABWE'S 
JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA COMPANIES UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL 
AND RESTRICTS THE OPERATION OF FOREIGN JOURNALISTS AND 
MEDIA IN ZIMBABWE DESPITE THE AMENDMENTS.  THE ACT IS 
DIVIDED INTO 13 PARTS, WHICH ARE SUBDIVIDED INTO A TOTAL 
OF 94 SECTIONS.  BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF THE SUBSTANTIAL 
PARTS: 
 
-- PART 2: RESTRICTS RIGHT TO ACCESS ANY RECORD OR 
PERSONAL INFORMATION TO CITIZENS OR PERMANENT RESIDENTS 
OF ZIMBABWE AND MASS MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS REGISTERED 
UNDER THE ACT. 
 
-- PART 3: INFORMATION NOT RELEASABLE TO ANY APPLICANT: 
THE DELIBERATIONS OF CABINET OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES, 
ADVICE GIVEN TO THE PRESIDENT, INFORMATION THAT MAY 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  00345  02 OF 04  071444Z 
COMPROMISE A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR NATIONAL 
SECURITY.  A PUBLIC BODY MAY REFUSE TO RELEASE 
INFORMATION RELATED TO INTER-GOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS, 
PUBLIC BODY FINANCES, THE ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF THE 
STATE, OR THE BUSINESS INTERESTS OF A THIRD PARTY. 
 
-- PART 5: A PUBLIC BODY MAY COLLECT PERSONAL 
INFORMATION IF IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF: NATIONAL 
SECURITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH, THE ACTIVITY 
OF THE PUBLIC BODY, OR THE FORMULATION OF PUBLIC POLICY. 
 
------------------------- 
MEDIA COMMISSION AND FUND 
------------------------- 
 
-- PART 7: ESTABLISHES A MEDIA AND INFORMATION 
COMMISSION THAT SHALL, AMONG OTHER THINGS, RECEIVE AND 
ACT UPON COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON THE PERFORMANCE OF 
MASS MEDIA IN ZIMBABWE, ACCREDIT JOURNALISTS, ENFORCE 
PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS OF THE MASS MEDIA, 
REGISTER MASS MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS, AND CONDUCT 
INVESTIGATIONS OF MASS MEDIA OUTLETS TO ENSURE 
COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT.  THE COMMISSION SHALL BE 
CONTROLLED BY A BOARD OF AT LEAST FIVE AND NOT MORE THAN 
SEVEN MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION. 
AT LEAST THREE OF THE MEMBERS WILL BE SELECTED FROM 
NOMINEES PROVIDED BY ASSOCIATIONS OF JOURNALISTS AND 
MASS MEDIA OUTLETS.  (COMMENT: THE LANGUAGE OF THE ACT 
IS NOT CLEAR ON THE LATTER POINT AND LEAVES OPEN THE 
POSSIBILITY, IN A LEGAL CHALLENGE, THAT THE ASSOCIATION 
OF JOURNALISTS AND THE ASSOCIATION OF MASS MEDIA OUTLETS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  00345  02 OF 04  071444Z 
COULD EACH SUBMIT THREE NOMINATIONS FOR A TOTAL OF SIX. 
END COMMENT.) 
 
-- PART 8: ESTABLISHES A MEDIA AND INFORMATION FUND THAT 
WILL "STANDARDIZE MASS MEDIA SERVICES" AND ASSIST IN THE 
TRAINING OF PERSONS IN MASS MEDIA.  EVERY MASS MEDIA 
OWNER, EXCEPT BROADCASTING LICENSEES (I.E. THE 
GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED ZIMBABWE BROADCASTING 
CORPORATION), SHALL PAY AN ANNUAL LEVY TO THE FUND. 
THOSE FAILING TO PAY WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF THE DUE DATE 
PRESCRIBED BY THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION SHALL HAVE THE 
LEVY DOUBLED AND MAY GO TO A COURT TO RECOVER THE LEVY. 
 
-- PARTS 9 AND 10: THE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE THE 
AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS, AUDITS OR 
INQUIRIES, ISSUE SUMMONS, AND REQUIRE THAT A PUBLIC BODY 
PRODUCE ANY RECORD, INCLUDING PERSONAL INFORMATION, IN 
THE COURSE OF ITS INVESTIGATIONS.  THE COMMISSION MAY 
DECIDE ALL QUESTIONS OF FACT AND LAW ARISING FROM AN 
INQUIRY AND ISSUE ORDERS BASED ON ITS FINDINGS.  ANY 
PERSON AGGRIEVED BY A COMMISSION DECISION MAY APPEAL TO 
AN ADMINISTRATIVE COURT. 
 
----------------------------- 
CONTROL OF MASS MEDIA OUTLETS 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ7052 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  00345  03 OF 04  071445Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  AS-01    CIAE-00  DODE-00 
      DOEE-00  WHA-00   SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    EUR-00   VC-00 
      H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00 
      AC-01    NSAE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00 
      PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00 
      PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00 
      SWCI-00    /010W 
                  ------------------6380ED  071445Z /38 
P 071427Z FEB 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0898 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 000345 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY 
PARIS FOR CHARLES NEARY 
NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/12 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, ZI 
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT PLACES 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  00345  03 OF 04  071445Z 
INDEPENDENT PRESS UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL 
 
----------------------------- 
 
-- PART 11: ANY PERSON ACCREDITED TO A REGISTERED MEDIA 
OUTLET WHO "ABUSES THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION" BY 
CONTRAVENING THE ACT OR "KNOWINGLY PUBLISHING A FALSE 
RECORD OF PERSONAL INFORMATION" (I.E. SLANDER) SHALL BE 
SUBJECT TO A FINE OF Z$100,000 (US$330) OR TWO YEARS 
IMPRISONMENT.  ONLY ZIMBABWEAN CITIZENS, PERMANENT 
RESIDENTS, OR CORPORATE BODIES CONTROLLED BY ZIMBABWEAN 
CITIZENS OR PERMANENT RESIDENTS MAY BE MASS MEDIA 
OWNERS.  EXISTING MASS MEDIA OWNERS AS OF JANUARY 31, 
2002 ARE EXEMPTED FROM THE OWNERSHIP PROVISO.  A MASS 
MEDIA OWNER MUST REGISTER WITH THE COMMISSION WITHIN 
THREE MONTHS OF THE ACT GOING INTO EFFECT (I.E. ITS 
PUBLICATION IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE); THE 
REGISTRATION, IF APPROVED, WILL BE VALID FOR TWO YEARS. 
THE MASS MEDIA SERVICE MUST NOTIFY THE COMMISSION IF: 
ITS OWNERSHIP CHANGES, ITS NAME OR FREQUENCY OF 
DISSEMINATION CHANGES, THE AREA WHERE ITS PRODUCTS ARE 
CIRCULATED CHANGES, OR ITS EDITORIAL OFFICE CHANGES 
LOCATION.  REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES MAY BE SUSPENDED OR 
CANCELLED FOR, AMONG OTHER THINGS, EMPLOYING 
UNACCREDITED JOURNALISTS.  A PERSON OPERATING A MASS 
MEDIA SERVICE OR NEWS AGENCY WITHOUT VALID REGISTRATION 
IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF Z$300,000 (US$1,000) AND/OR TWO 
YEARS IMPRISONMENT. 
 
---------------------- 
CONTROL OF JOURNALISTS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  00345  03 OF 04  071445Z 
---------------------- 
 
-- PART 12:  NO JOURNALIST SHALL OPERATE WITHOUT BEING 
ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION.  ONLY CITIZENS OR 
PERMANENT RESIDENTS MAY BE ACCREDITED (FOR ONE YEAR). 
NONCITIZENS OR NON-PERMANENT RESIDENTS MAY BE ACCREDITED 
FOR "A LIMITED PERIOD," (PRESUMABLY LESS THAN ONE YEAR). 
EVERY NEWS AGENCY THAT OPERATES IN ZIMBABWE SHALL EMPLOY 
ONLY ACCREDITED JOURNALISTS AS STIPULATED ABOVE FOR ITS 
ZIMBABWEAN OPERATIONS.  THE FALSIFICATION OR FABRICATION 
OF INFORMATION OR THE PUBLISHING OF "FALSEHOODS" SHALL 
CONSTITUTE AN "ABUSE OF JOURNALISTIC PRIVILEGE" AND BE 
SUBJECT TO A FINE OF Z$100,000 (US$330) OR TWO YEARS 
IMPRISONMENT.  THE COMMISSION SHALL, IN CONJUNCTION WITH 
ORGANIZATIONS IT DEEMS REPRESENTATIVE OF JOURNALISTS, 
DEVELOP A CODE OF CONDUCT GOVERNING JOURNALISTS AND 
SHALL ENFORCE THAT CODE OF CONDUCT.  FOREIGN MASS MEDIA 
SERVICES MAY NOT ESTABLISH A REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE IN 
ZIMBABWE WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE COMMISSION. 
 
PART 13: THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION MAY ISSUE 
REGULATIONS GOVERNING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE 
APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION, THE MANNER IN WHICH 
COMPLAINTS AGAINST MASS MEDIA SERVICES AND JOURNALISTS 
ARE DEALT WITH, THE AMOUNTS OF LEVIES PAID TO THE FUND 
AND THE MANNER IN WHICH MONEY RAISED MAY BE INVESTED, 
THE AMOUNT OF ACCREDITATION AND REGISTRATION FEES, AND 
THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR ACCREDITATION OF JOURNALISTS. 
 
-------------------- 
ACT WIDELY CONDEMNED 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  00345  03 OF 04  071445Z 
-------------------- 
 
5.  (SBU) IN A FEBRUARY 1 PUBLIC STATEMENT, THE MEDIA 
INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (MISA) CONDEMNED THE 
INFORMATION ACT AND OBJECTED TO THE "STRINGENT 
ACCREDITATION REGULATIONS" AND THE PUNITIVE MEASURES 
THAT WOULD BE METED OUT TO VIOLATORS.  MISA STATED THAT 
THE PASSED BILL "RETAINS ITS LIMITATIONS ON INFORMATION 
THAT CAN BE ACCESSED BY JOURNALISTS AND ORDINARY MEMBERS 
OF THE PUBLIC," WHILE THERE IS "NO BINDING OBLIGATION" 
ON PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO RELEASE INFORMATION.  THE GLOBAL 
CAMPAIGN FOR FREE EXPRESSION SAID THE SYSTEM OF 
REGISTRATION FOR MASS MEDIA OUTLETS, AS OVERSEEN BY THE 
COMMISSION, IS "CLEARLY SUBJECT TO POLITICAL 
INTERFERENCE."  RESTRICTIONS ON JOURNALISTS ARE "A CLEAR 
BREACH OF THE GUARANTEE OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION." 
ZIMBABWE LAWYERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (ZLHR) PUBLICLY STATED 
THAT "CONTRARY TO ITS TITLE, THE (ACT) ... SEEKS TO 
MUZZLE THE PRESS AND AT THE SAME TIME UNDERMINE THE 
RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND ACCESS CONTAINED IN 
... THE CONSTITUTION. ... THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION 
COMMISSION ... HAS NO INDEPENDENT SECURITY OF TENURE AND 
DESPITE BEING PAID FOR BY PUBLIC FUNDS WILL RUN ERRANDS 
FOR THE MINISTER (OF INFORMATION)." 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ7053 
 
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ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  AS-01    CIAE-00  DODE-00 
      DOEE-00  WHA-00   SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    EUR-00   VC-00 
      H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00 
      AC-01    NSAE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00 
      PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00 
      PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00 
      SWCI-00    /010W 
                  ------------------6380EF  071445Z /38 
P 071427Z FEB 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0899 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 000345 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY 
PARIS FOR CHARLES NEARY 
NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/12 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, ZI 
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT PLACES 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  00345  04 OF 04  071445Z 
INDEPENDENT PRESS UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL 
 
-------------------------------------- 
COMMENT: NO HURRY TO IMPLEMENT THE ACT 
-------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (C) AN ARTICLE IN THE FEBRUARY 2 EDITION OF THE 
GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED "THE HERALD" HINTED THAT THE ACT 
MAY NOT BE IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 
BECAUSE OF CONCERNS OVER "LAST-MINUTE AMENDMENTS" MADE 
TO THE BILL.  IN ACTUALITY, THE GOZ MAY NOT SEE THE BILL 
AS PRESSING, SINCE MANY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT 
PROVISIONS, SUCH AS THE REGISTRATION OF MEDIA HOUSES, 
WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE FOR THREE MORE MONTHS.  MUGABE MAY 
BE HOLDING OFF ON SIGNING THE ACT TO GIVE THE EU AND 
OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES PAUSE IN THEIR CONSIDERATION FOR 
SANCTIONS.  END COMMENT. 
 
SULLIVAN 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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