The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act was finally passed after three weeks if haggling between Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Parliamentary Legal Committee Chairman Eddison Zvobgo.
Zvobgo had argued that the bill was unconstitutional and had issued an adverse report on it and refused to appear in Parliament to present the report.
After two weeks behind the scenes Zvobgo and Chinamasa finally agreed after amendments to 50 out of the 103 clauses.
The Movement for Democratic Change did not contest the passage of the bill.
Media organisations said the amendments were insignificant.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 02HARARE345, ZIMBABWE ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT PLACES
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071427Z Feb 02
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ7051
PAGE 01 HARARE 00345 01 OF 04 071444Z
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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
——————6380D7 071445Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0896
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 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
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
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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
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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
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
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
PAGE 01 HARARE 00345 04 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
——————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
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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