Zimbabwe -- Herald lied 100%, says UN envoy

Zimbabwe Standard ^ | 26 January 2003 | Henry Makiwa

[Clive]

JAMES Morris, the UN special envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, yesterday dressed down the state-controlled daily, The Herald saying it had peddled "100% lies", in yesterday's front-page lead story.

Morris who says his deep-seated concern for the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe should be accurately reflected, told journalists, diplomats and government officials at a press conference, that he was shocked to see The Herald publish a story purporting that he had accepted the irreversibility of the land reform exercise. Morris, a special envoy of UN secretary general Koffi Annan, is visiting Zimbabwe to assess the humanitarian situation as part of his tour of Africa.

Morris said The Herald's lead story entitled: 'Help New Farmers: UN Special Envoy', constituted a gross misrepresentation of what he had said when addressing journalists on Friday afternoon.

According to The Herald report, Tim (sic) Morris, had accepted the irreversibility of the land reform exercise and had urged humanitarian agencies working in Zimbabwe to provide farmers with water and inputs.

Said Morris yesterday: "The comments in The Herald were 100% lies. I did not comment as The Herald purportedly reports in its front page story today (yesterday). I did not accept that the land reform process was irreversible as they (The Herald), quote me as saying. It was gross misrepresentation of the worst form. "What I did say was that the future of Zimbabwe depended on the success of a robust agro-based economy.

It is also embarrassing that The Herald repeatedly quoted me as 'Tim Morris' when my real name is James Morris. Ironically, I have a 36-year-old son called Tim who will probably be attributed to The Herald's utterances, not myself!" Morris said, drawing roaring laughter from the audience.

Disappointed with this kind of gutter reporting, Morris said he had since written a letter to the editor of The Herald, a copy of which is in the possession of The Standard, stressing his concern over the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.

Reads part of the letter: " I am writing to correct the misrepresentation in the 25 January edition of The Herald of the substance of my meetings with the government of Zimbabwe. I particularly stressed the importance of reaching former commercial farm workers, as well as vulnerable populations in resettlement lands, and those living in urban areas. This takes into account serious concerns on the deteriorating food security throughout the country."

Zimbabwe is in the throes of a crippling food shortage which threatens over seven million of the country's 11,6 million people. Mugabe's chaotic land reforms are being held responsible for the hardships being experienced in the country.

Morris' visit to Zimbabwe is part of a tour of Africa to reassess the humanitarian situation. Already, he has been to Ethiopia and is expected to visit three other drought-hit countries: Lesotho, Malawi and Zambia.

On Friday, he met Mugabe at State House to review the current responses to the Zimbabwean crisis and follow up on the findings of his first mission in September last year.

Said Morris: "I have discussed with Mugabe and the foreign minister (Stan Mudenge) on six occasions over the issue of political interference in the distribution of food, and they have both accepted that there is need for change to boost international confidence. "

"The UN will soon start working with the government to monitor the distribution of food," Morris said.

[Clive]

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[JeeperFreeper]

Say, is the Herald a satellite newspaper of the N.Y. Slimes??? Sounds like they both got the same editorial policies.

[happygrl]

BUMP!