While the local private media was still questioning President Robert Mugabe’s legitimacy, he received a tremendous morale booster when Zimbabwe was elected to the Geneva-based Commission on Human Rights barely two months after his disputed victory.
The Herald hailed Zimbabwe’s election as another victory over Britain.
“The election of Zimbabwe to the influential 15-member Geneva-based Commission on Human Rights is an intrepid demonstration of the international community’s confidence in the country and its role in international affairs,” the paper said.
“We applaud the latest victory over Britain and its allies who have ganged up to demonise the government and President Mugabe. The election is recognition of Zimbabwe’s respect for human rights and democracy.”
Full cable:
Viewing cable 02HARARE1090, MEDIA REPORT ZIM’S ELECTION TO COMMISSION ON
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS HARARE 001090
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
SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT ZIM’S ELECTION TO COMMISSION ON
HUMAN RIGHTS; HARARE
¶1. Under headline “Another victory over Britain,” the
government-controlled daily “The Herald” dedicated
its May 2 editorial to hailing Zimbabwe’s election
to the Geneva-based Commission on Human Rights as
“an intrepid demonstration of the international
community’s confidence in the country,” adding that
Zimbabwe’s election was also a “victory over
Britain and its allies who have ganged up to
demonize” Mr. Mugabe’s government.
¶2. “The election of Zimbabwe to the influential 15-
member Geneva-based Commission on Human Rights is an
intrepid demonstration of the international community’s
confidence in the country and its role in international
affairs. We applaud the latest victory over Britain
and its allies who have ganged up to demonize the
government and President Mugabe. The election is
recognition of Zimbabwe’s respect for human rights and
democracy. It has also over-ridden the erroneous
impression of a pariah state that has been portrayed by
the Western media and some governments. . . The latest
British defeat means that alleged human rights abuses
in Zimbabwe will not be used as a weapon to tarnish the
image of the country. . . Zimbabwe now needs to use
its position on the 15-member commission to be the
voice of the voiceless that have endured untold
suffering at the hands of the same forces that seek to
entrench their dominance on the earth. We hope that
sense will finally prevail and those tormenting
Zimbabwe will realize that their sinister actions have
been exposed. The only way for them to save face would
be to join the other nations in rallying behind
Zimbabwe’s efforts to redistribute land.”
SULLIVAN
(10 VIEWS)
The Zimbabwe Gold fell against the United States dollar for five consecutive days from Monday…
An Indian think tank has described Starlink, a satellite internet service provider which recently entered…
Zimbabwe’s new currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), firmed against the United States dollars for 10…
Zimbabwe is among the top 30 countries in the world with the widest gap between…
Zimbabwe’s battered currency, the Zimbabwe Gold, which was under attack until the central bank devalued…
Plans by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front to push President Emmerson Mnangagwa to…