US embassy cable - 05HARARE1521

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 001521 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF/S FOR B. NEULING 
SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2015 
TAGS: ASEC, PGOV, PHUM, PREL, ZI 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION TO AMBASSADOR,S TOUGH TALK 
 
REF: REFTEL: HARARE 1418 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell for reasons 1.5 b/d 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (SBU) The Ambassador,s speech on November 2 on the 
causes of Zimbabwe,s economic decline has generated a wide 
array of media coverage within Zimbabwe.  These accounts 
range from factual portrayals and enthusiastic endorsement in 
the independent press to sensationalized calls for the 
Ambassador,s expulsion in the state-controlled papers.  The 
GOZ has yet to formally respond to the speech.  End Summary. 
 
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Independent Media Trumpet Message 
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2.  (SBU) Zimbabwe,s independent media were the first to 
report on the Ambassador,s speech.  The reporting was 
factual and the editorials echoed the Ambassador,s criticism 
of GOZ economic policies.  The Independent, which is heavily 
critical of GOZ policies, carried both an article that quoted 
directly from the speech and an editorial in support of the 
Ambassador,s statements.  The editorial, entitled &Running 
out of scapegoats for failure,8 characterized the 
Ambassador's comments as "irrefutable" and " the strongest 
rebuttal to date by a foreign envoy of government's claims 
that Zimbabwe's economic decline is a result of drought and 
sanctions.  It added that &it was refreshing to have the 
envoy of the world,s largest economy speak out on the 
dishonesty Zimbabweans are fed everyday by their politicians 
and state media.8 
 
3.  (SBU) The Financial Gazette, which has been increasingly 
critical of the GOZ on economic matters in recent months, 
also carried a factual story that quoted heavily from the 
speech.  The independent online source, ZimOnline, published 
the entire speech.  Meanwhile, in a piece entitled "Dell 
fires another salvo", the Standard on November 6 reported the 
Ambassador,s comments at the unveiling of a $35 million 
HIV/AIDS project, including a quote that bad government 
economic policies were undermining the battle against the 
pandemic. 
 
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State Media Vilify Messenger 
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4.  (SBU) The government-controlled media responded over the 
weekend, a delay likely caused by the need to coordinate the 
coverage with State House, launched ad hominem attacks on the 
Ambassador.  In a front page story entitled "US envoy, 
governor in public showdown", the semi-independent ruling 
party-aligned Daily Mirror on November 4 reported on 
Manicaland governor Tinaye Chigudu,s rejoinder to the 
Ambassador,s speech.  Although the article did carry some 
quotes from the speech, it gave prime billing to Chigudu,s 
statements, such as that &the message I have got from Dell 
is that Zimbabweans must go and try to revolt against and 
overthrow the government.8  (N.B. The press account did not 
mention the jeering given by the students after this 
statement.) 
 
5. (SBU) In the November 5 state-controlled Herald, columnist 
"Nathaniel Manheru" (widely regarded as Ministry of 
Information PermSec George Charamba) embarked on a series of 
personal attacks against the Ambassador, including a 
disparaging reference to the incident several weeks ago at 
the botanical garden (reftel).  The article ignored the 
substance of the Ambassador's speech. 
 
6. (SBU) The Daily Mirror continued its slanted coverage on 
Sunday November 6, when the paper quoted an unnamed source at 
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who stated that President 
Mugabe planned to summon the Ambassador this week to explain 
his &undiplomatic behavior.8  The article stated that the 
Ambassador made his speech despite &glaring evidence8 that 
sanctions and drought had caused the economic decline.  The 
state-controlled Herald on November 7 warned in a front page 
article that the Ambassador risked being expelled for &his 
continued meddling in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe.8 
However, the article also signaled a possible climb down by 
the GOZ, noting that it was the Foreign Minister who would 
now call in the Ambassador and ending with the threat that he 
might be subjected to the same treatment as former British 
Ambassador Donnelly and put under "open surveillance." 
 
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Comment 
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7. (C) The independent media and the vast majority of post,s 
contacts have embraced the Ambassador,s remarks.  In 
addition, given the enthusiastic response of the students at 
African University and the many unsolicited &man on the 
street8 expressions of appreciation, the Ambassador appears 
to have struck a nerve with the Zimbabwean public.  The GOZ 
has been unable to withstand a true portrayal of the abysmal 
state of affairs that it has created in Zimbabwe or to 
counter the substance of the Ambassador,s speech.  Instead, 
the official media have turned to personal attacks in an 
attempt to distract public attention.  Meanwhile, the 
government has painted itself into a corner with its threat 
of expulsion - backing down now would be a sign of weakness, 
while following through would undermine its efforts to 
rehabilitate its image internationally and re-engage 
international financial institutions and others. 
DELL