Zimbabwe was not a punch bag for bullies from the Western world who, while preaching democracy, had autocratic foreign policies. This was said by the Bulawayo daily, Chronicle, in an editorial in which the paper supported President Robert Mugabe’s threats to hit back at the Western nations by imposing sanctions on them as well.
Mugabe had threatened to impose retaliatory sanctions on the United States and European Union which had imposed what were called “ smart” sanctions against him and his top lieutenants.
“The European Union and the United States have imposed what they prefer to call smart sanctions on 72 senior government and ZANU PF officials for giving land to the black majority. What these nations forgot was that they have no monopoly in imposing sanctions against any nation, no matter how small it might be,” the paper said.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 02HARARE1839, MEDIA REPORT TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS; HARARE
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS HARARE 001839
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, INR/R/MR
E.O. 12958: N/A
SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS; HARARE
¶1. Under headline “Retaliatory sanctions welcome” the
government-controlled daily “Chronicle” dedicated its
August 14 editorial to backing Mr. Robert Mugabe’s
“retaliatory sanctions” against the United States, European
Union and other Western countries that have imposed travel
restrictions on Mugabe’s administration. Excerpts:
¶2. “There is an adage that says: if you sow wind, you
reap the whirlwind, and when this happens, you will
have only yourself to blame. The European Union and
the United States have imposed what they prefer to
call smart sanctions on 72 senior government and
ZANU PF officials for giving land to the black
majority. . .What these nations forgot was that they
have no monopoly in imposing sanctions against any
nation, no matter how small it might be. . .We
welcome the President’s announcement and hope that
it will send the right message to the British and
their MDC messengers who appear to be basking in the
misguided notion that they are immune to
sanctions. . .Zimbabwe is not a punch bag for
bullies from the Western world who, while preaching
democracy, have autocratic foreign policies.
President Mugabe has already made it clear that the
time to hit back has come and we hope that those who
got the ball rolling will not cry foul when we
retaliate. . .The Tony Blairs and the George Bushes
of this world need to be reminded that Zimbabwe is
no longer a colony that is told what to do at every
turn. They should leave the country’s leaders to go
about their business in this global village without
hindrance.”
SULLIVAN
(19 VIEWS)
