Treat Wikileaks with caution, its a ploy to divide Zimbabweans: Analysts

The latest release of United States embassy cables by whistle blowing website WikiLeaks should be treated with caution as they may be a strategy by the West to split Zimbabwe by using past events, analysts warned.

The controversial website recently released a batch of secret US embassy cables containing details of various meetings held between some senior government officials and politicians across the political divide denigrating their leaders, Zimbabwean news agency, New Ziana reported.

Analysts have warned that the identification of officials and politicians who held secret meetings with US embassy officials could be a plot to crack the political parties and the inclusive government.

Political analyst and senior lecturer in the History department of the University of Zimbabwe Dr Kenneth Manungo said the cables contained old stories which may not be relevant today.

Manungo said media houses and the political parties should carry out their own investigations and not rely on old reports.

He said all those implicated in the WikiLeaks reports should not be judged basing on the publications, but with their current loyalty and actions.

International relations expert, lecturer and political analyst Abisia Ushewokunze concurred with Manungo saying WikiLeaks was aimed at disturbing the peace and unity prevailing in the country.

"The timing of the release should tell it all. The West knows very well that we are approaching elections and they want to influence the process," he said.

Ushewokunze said Western countries have been enemies of Zimbabwe for a long time and it was surprising that all of sudden they were providing information they claim assists the country.

"Why should Satan tell us about the goodness of God," he queried.

He said the leaked cables were open to abuse and easy to manufacture, therefore following them was like following gossip in the street.

International law expert and political analyst Dr Maxwell Howe said it was up to the political parties to discipline their cadres basing on WikiLeaks reports.

"It is the prerogative of the political parties to crack the whip on their members using evidence from WikiLeaks," he said.

Meanwhile, legal expert Dr Lovemore Madhuku ruled out any prosecution basing on WikiLeaks.

"There is no basis for prosecution. Only that those implicated will lose out in character assassination," he said.

The MDC-T has said it will absolve all its officials implicated in the leaked cables while Zanu PF has said it would conduct thorough investigations into the issue.