Paper calls on government to ban rogue NGOs

The Bulawayo daily, The Chronicle, called on the government to ban rogue non-governmental organisations which were reportedly handing out drought relief food to rural communities claiming it was coming from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

The paper was commenting after Home Affairs Minister John Nkomo had threatened to ban NGOs that were abusing the privilege to distribute food by spreading anti-government vitriol and misinforming the villagers that food shortages had been caused by the land reform programme.

“It is. . .mind-boggling that some political nonentities are lying to beneficiaries of the drought relief program and suggesting that it was the discredited opposition that was sourcing the food. It is a pity that these political upstarts have perfected the art of lying to an extent that they even believe their own lies. We urge the government not to waver in its resolve to flush out rogue NGOs that are being used by imperialists out to discredit it and divide the people of this country,” the paper said.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 02HARARE1812, MEDIA REACTION FOOD AID; 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 001812

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD (DALTON), AF/S (SCHLACHTER), INR/R/MR

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: KMDR PGOV PHUM EAID KPAO ZI

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION FOOD AID; HARARE

¶1.   Under headline “Flush out rogue NGOs” the government-

controlled daily “The Chronicle” dedicated its August 7

editorial to calling on the government to excommunicate all

non-governmental organizations (NGOs) accused of “abusing

the privilege” to hand out drought relief supplies to rural

communities. The editorial comes a day after the newspaper

(08/06) published a story in which Home Affairs Minister

John Nkomo is quoted as having said that the government

would soon ban NGOs that are abusing the privilege to

distribute drought relief supplies to rural communities by

“spreading anti-government vitriol” and “misinforming

villagers that the food shortages were caused by the on-

going land reform program.” Excerpts:

¶2.   “. . .It is. . .mind-boggling that some political

nonentities are lying to beneficiaries of the drought

relief program and suggesting that it was the discredited

opposition that was sourcing the food. It is a pity that

these political upstarts have perfected the art of lying to

an extent that they even believe their own lies. We urge

the government not to waver in its resolve to flush out

rogue NGOs that are being used by imperialists out to

discredit it and divide the people of this country.

President Mugabe has assured the nation that nobody will

starve and the government is working tirelessly to ensure

that every family has a meal on its table everyday. Credit

for these efforts should not be claimed by rogues who want

to make us believe that they are politicians working for

the people when their only interest is to line their

pockets. The government should carry out an audit of NGOs

in the country and find out whether they are operating

within the parameters that they proffered when they applied

for registration. There is no way that we can allow

political parties to use NGOs as party structures. . . .”

WHITEHEAD

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