The government of Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe on Friday issued a chilling threat against Western journalists working in the Southern African country as political tensions mount.
In a statement quoted by the state-run Herald newspaper, the information ministry warned journalists, including the correspondents of two British newspapers — Jan Raath of the Times and Peta Thornycroft of the Daily Telegraph — that the government might be forced to act against them.
The statement also accused broadcaster CNN of supporting a United States government policy of regime change in the country.
”CNN’s editorial hostility echoes the American administration’s policy of regime change through illegal and pernicious sanctions designed to hurt Zimbabwe’s economy and build disaffection in the populace,” the statement claimed.
”Sadly, CNN has embedded itself within such a treacherous imperialist policy which has already repeatedly failed and will never succeed in Zimbabwe,” the statement continued.
Zimbabwe’s government is hostile to many Western media outlets, and has registered very few to operate inside the country.
All journalists working have to be licensed with the state-appointed Media and Information Commission (MIC).
On Friday the MIC claimed Western embassies were smuggling reporters into the country.
It also warned Zimbabweans offering accommodation to unlicensed foreign correspondents that they too would face prosecution.
”It is, therefore, important for all Zimbabweans hosting or accommodating any foreigners to tell them that if they are journalists, they ought to report to the MIC immediately and apply for accreditation,” it said.
‘This man is a disaster’
Australia’s Prime Minister John Howard said on Friday he had run out of patience with Mugabe and defended an Australian diplomat who escorted Mugabe opponents to safety.
”We pussyfoot around far too much using diplomatic language. This man is a disaster. His country is just a total heap of misery. Frankly, I’ve run out of patience,” Howard told Australian radio in a blistering criticism of Mugabe’s latest attacks on political rivals.
Australia’s consul in Zimbabwe, Mark Lynch, on Thursday escorted members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, as they were flown to South Africa for medical treatment after a police beating.
MDC policy secretary Sekai Holland, a former Australian citizen, and Grace Kwinje flew to Johannesburg after the High Court ruled they were free to travel if they informed police. ”She’s relatively well, considering her appalling injuries, but she’s in excellent spirits,” Holland’s Australian husband Jim said on Friday, adding his wife was determined to return home as she felt Zimbabwe was at a tipping point.
South Africa, the regional power, has said it is concerned about ”deteriorating” conditions in Zimbabwe but insists Zimbabweans must find their own solutions to their problems.
But Howard, whose country four years ago led efforts to suspend Zimbabwe from the 53-nation Commonwealth following flawed presidential elections, said African nations, and especially South Africa, had to convince Mugabe to go.
”He was a brother in arms against apartheid, I know that, but that’s a long time ago,” Howard said.
”The police are using brutal tactics, they’re bashing up opposition politicians, they’re fracturing skulls, they’re behaving in a totally unacceptable fashion.”
Mugabe’s government is reportedly considering drafting in up to 3 000 militia from close ally Angola to support the crackdown and plug holes left by desertions in its own security forces. – Reuters, Sapa-DPA