Mugabe, Bin Laden and Tsvangirai

There was nothing wrong for Zimbabweans to say that a British-sponsored party would never rule the country because equally the United States would never salute Osama Bin laden if he won an election in that country.

This was the view of the Sunday Mail when it criticised Europe for its double standards because it had come out openly in support of French President Jacques Chirac.

The paper said the circumstances surrounding the outcome of the French elections were no different from the disputed poll in Zimbabwe.

“The just-ended presidential elections in France made it very clear for everyone to see Europe’s double standards. In the elections, President Chirac won over 82 percent of the votes against Le Pen’s 18 percent, “ the paper said.

“What is interesting in the elections is the way the whole of Europe united in making sure that Le Pen loses the elections. Even the French media united in making sure that Le Pen, who they consider to be threat to their country’s interests, loses the elections.

“By fighting to make sure that Le Pen loses, the people of France were defending their country’s interests and what they did is exactly what the people of Zimbabwe did when they voted for President Mugabe. Mr. Tsvangirai is Zimbabwe’s version of France’s Le Pen.”

Full cable:

Viewing cable 02HARARE1139, MEDIA REACTION ZIM/FRENCH ELECTIONS; 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 001139

SIPDIS

AF/PD FOR COX AND ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT AND SCHLACHTER,

AF/RA FOR DIPALMA, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ZIM/FRENCH ELECTIONS; HARARE

¶1.   Under headline “Europe’s double standards exposed” the

government-controlled weekly “The Sunday Mail” dedicated

its May 12 editorial to stating that circumstances

surrounding the outcome of the French election are no

different from the disputed presidential poll in Zimbabwe.

Excerpts:

“. . .The just-ended presidential elections in France

made it very clear for everyone to see Europe’s double

standards. In the elections. . .President Chirac won

over 82 percent of the votes against Le Pen’s 18

percent. What is interesting in the elections is the

way the whole of Europe united in making sure that Le

Pen loses the elections. Even the French media united

in making sure that Le Pen, who they consider to be

threat to their country’s interests, loses the

elections.

“. . .By fighting to make sure that Le Pen loses, the

people of France were defending their country’s

interests and what they did is exactly what the people

of Zimbabwe did when they voted for President Mugabe. .

.   Mr. Tsvangirai is Zimbabwe’s version of France’s Le

Pen. While the French describe Le Pen as a ‘xenophobic

candidate,’ Zimbabweans describe Mr. Tsvangirai as a

‘sellout. . .’ It has been said before that Americans

would not salute Osama Bin Laden if he wins elections in

their country and surely there is nothing wrong when

Zimbabweans say a British-sponsored party will never

rule in Zimbabwe. . .”

SULLIVAN

(18 VIEWS)