Zimbabwe is not a punch bag for Western nations

Zimbabwe was not a punch bag for bullies from the Western world who, while preaching democracy, had autocratic foreign policies. This was said by the Bulawayo daily, Chronicle, in an editorial in which the paper supported President Robert Mugabe’s threats to hit back at the Western nations by imposing sanctions on them as well.

Mugabe had threatened to impose retaliatory sanctions on the United States and European Union which had imposed what were called “ smart” sanctions against him and his top lieutenants.

“The European Union and the United States have imposed what they prefer to call smart sanctions on 72 senior government and ZANU PF officials for giving land to the black majority. What these nations forgot was that they have no monopoly in imposing sanctions against any nation, no matter how small it might be,” the paper said.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 02HARARE1839, MEDIA REPORT TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS; 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 001839

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, INR/R/MR

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PREL KMDR KPAO ZI

SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORT TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS; HARARE

¶1.   Under headline “Retaliatory sanctions welcome” the

government-controlled daily “Chronicle” dedicated its

August 14 editorial to backing Mr. Robert Mugabe’s

“retaliatory sanctions” against the United States, European

Union and other Western countries that have imposed travel

restrictions on Mugabe’s administration. Excerpts:

¶2.   “There is an adage that says: if you sow wind, you

reap the whirlwind, and when this happens, you will

have only yourself to blame. The European Union and

the United States have imposed what they prefer to

call smart sanctions on 72 senior government and

ZANU PF officials for giving land to the black

majority. . .What these nations forgot was that they

have no monopoly in imposing sanctions against any

nation, no matter how small it might be. . .We

welcome the President’s announcement and hope that

it will send the right message to the British and

their MDC messengers who appear to be basking in the

misguided notion that they are immune to

sanctions. . .Zimbabwe is not a punch bag for

bullies from the Western world who, while preaching

democracy, have autocratic foreign policies.

President Mugabe has already made it clear that the

time to hit back has come and we hope that those who

got the ball rolling will not cry foul when we

retaliate. . .The Tony Blairs and the George Bushes

of this world need to be reminded that Zimbabwe is

no longer a colony that is told what to do at every

turn. They should leave the country’s leaders to go

about their business in this global village without

hindrance.”

SULLIVAN

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