SADC sees the light at last

The Daily News applauded the Southern African Development Community’s decision to block President Robert Mugabe from the SADC chairmanship saying the regional organisation had seen the light at last.

“Most people in Zimbabwe had given up on SADC as an effective and active player in the democratization stakes in the region. This latest decision by the group, whatever Mugabe’s spin doctors say of its origins, is to be commended. SADC has at last seen the light.”

Full cable:

Viewing cable 02HARARE2241, INDEPENDENT PAPER PRAISES SADC MOVE TO SIDELINE

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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 002241

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, AF/RA

NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR NEARY

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAO KMDR ZI

SUBJECT: INDEPENDENT PAPER PRAISES SADC MOVE TO SIDELINE

MUGABE

¶1.   Under headline “SADC commended for seeing light at

last” the independent daily “The Daily News” dedicated its

October 8 editorial to welcoming the decision by the

Southern African Development Community (SADC) to block

Robert Mugabe from SADC chairmanship. Excerpts:

¶2.   “. . .The bigger political picture, ignoring the

arguments about whether Zimbabwe withdrew its claim

to the deputy chairmanship voluntarily, or was

kicked out on its ear, is that SADC has at last seen

the light. Most people in Zimbabwe had given up on

SADC as an effective and active player in the

democratization stakes in the region. . . This

latest decision by the group, whatever Mugabe’s spin

doctors say of its origins, is to be commended.

SADC has at last seen the light.”

SULLIVAN

(21 VIEWS)