MONTHLY REPORT -- SWAZILAND BUREAU -- JANUARY 1986

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87-01104R000100150012-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 2, 2012
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: February 5, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100150012-3
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
P. 0. Box 199
Mbabane, Swaziland
5 February 1986
MMB-5016
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, FBIS
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report -- Swaziland Bureau -- January 1986
Wordage Record -- The bureau set another wordage record in January,
this time topping the 500,000 mark. Over 400,000 words of this total
was devoted to South Africa.
Slot Approval -- Plans to add another American staff editor at
the bureau are progressing. The bureau received approval from the
Swazi Government for this and an additional teletypist position,=and
the ambassador has cabled his approval of the two positions to the
department. The bureau chief and engineer are now looking for suitable
staff housing.
A. Editorial/Monitorial
1. At the first of the month, South Africa began applying pressure
to Lesotho, imposing "security measures" at the border which resulted in
reducing the flow of goods into the country to a trickle and therefore
causing shortages of various items, especially gasoline. Not surprisingly,
this caused great dissension in the country and on 20 January, after a week
of reported rumors of a coup, SAPA reported that Para-Military Force
Commander J..M. Lekhanye had announced he had taken over the government from
from Chief Jonathan--the first military coup in southern Africa. An
open watch was immediately initiated, and a number of announcements
were processed on the establishment of the Military Council, the
declaration of a curfew, and the vesting of executive and legislative
power in the king. This put a strain on the bureau's limited Sesotho
capability, which has now been reduced to one monitor with the resignation
of the second monitor with some capability in the language. The American
Embassy in Maseru told Ambassador Nelson that the bureau's file was
being heavily relied on for information on the coup, especially during
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100150012-3
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the early hours, and the embassy was grateful for excellent coverage.
Moreover, the State Department's AF/S desk praised both embassy reporting
and "as always, the timely feeds from FBIS Mbabane" for keeping the
department informed of developments.
2. On the 31st, South African State President P. W. Botha gave
his long-awaited speech opening parliament. Among other things Botha
said that South Africa had "out-grown" apartheid and he promised
changes on the pass laws. He also announced the creation of a National
Statutory Council which would be composed of black leaders with himself
as chairman to negotiate and formulate change. The bureau filed many
SAPA reports on highlights of the speech and processed the text in
Afrikaans and English from the radio. BBC Newsburo sent thanks for the
speed at which the bureau "moved Botha" and said its "professional handling
was appreciated."
3. During the month, the bureau assumed coverage of Dakar Pana
for items off southern Africa and of Moscow in Afrikaans, a new program
carried on Friday evenings. At the request of Pretoria Political Officer
Tim Carney, the bureau covered Johannesburg Domestic Service in Zulu
on the 31st for a special message by the state president directed
specifically at blacks, asking for support of his reform efforts. The
bureau was able to process a report on the statement, although the
statement itself was not carried textually. Evidently the test was k
carried on TV-2, the Zulu television service which the bureau is unable
to monitor as the Swazi feed only carries TV-1. The bureau plans to
sample the Johannesburg Zulu cast to determine if it adds material not
covered elsewhere.
4. Johannesburg television continues to prove its value as a
source, particularly since the new "Network" discussion program was
begun. The program carried alternately in Afrikaans and English six
in-depth discussions of constitutional options for South Africa, all of
which were processed. During the month, the bureau began participating
in the "Cities project," sending back via DHL the main English news on
each weekday night. This is in addition to the fairly large number of
tapes being supplied MOD regularly by pouch.
5. Luanda Radio has carried considerable material dealing with
Angola's concern--some say panic--that the U.S. will begin providing
aid to UNITA. At the same time, the Angolans are attempting to
reorganize the country in an effort to get the economy moving and cope
with the rising UNITA threat. Among other things, the bureau covered
Dos Santos remarks at a press conference with Assistant Secretary Crocker,
his speech to the People's Assembly reiterating that the withdrawal of
Cuban troops is not "realistic" under current conditions, a Party Central
Communique reorganizing the party structure, and an announcement of the
firing of several ministers and the creation of four "super-ministers"
to revitalize the country.
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100150012-3
6. A little surprisingly, the bureau was busy with coverage
of the deteriorating situation in both Sudan and Uganda. As a result
of its coverage of BBC for all of Africa, a fair number of lengthy
interviews with participants were processed and a number were run on
the wire.
7. Guess who didn't come to dinner in Harare. The Iranians.
On his swing through southern Africa, the Iranian president arrived in
Harare only to find three women of rank and power waiting to greet him
at the airport. He ignored them. After much diplomatic wrangling,
the Iranians then refused to attend a dinner at the Sheraton Hotel
because of the presence of wine and women. The Zimbabweans went ahead
and ate without them, the Foreign Minister stating that Zimbabwean women
had played a major role in the revolution and would not be excluded.
Further evidence for those who say Sally Mugabe really runs the country,
as well as a victory for wine-lovers everywhere.
III. ADMINISTRATION
A. Personnel
arrived 18 January from Tel Aviv to replace F
as bureau electronics sp
2 February on PCS headquarters.
2. Afrikaans/African Languages monitor
resigned effective 1 February. The bureau is curren y testing
candidates for this and another vacant position in that section.
B. Buildings and Grounds
1. The emergency generator at the remote monitoring site is
now fully operational. Wiring was completed during the month allowing
automatic operation.
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
Chief, Swaziland Bureau
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 . Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100150012-3
Swaziland Bureau Production Report for JANUARY 1986
TOTAL
PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH:
5O84l0
TOTAL
TOTAL
NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH:
NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH:
16550
BROAD-
CASTS
PRESS
AGENCIES
PUBLI-
CATIONS
I I .
INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE:
5715.0o
11310.00
139.00
(minutes or
issues per week)
min.
min.
issues
III.
OUTPUT FROM ALL SOURCES:
209,390
183,340
115,680
(publishable words per month)
ANGOLA
Luanda Domestic Service in
Portuguese
Luanda ANGOP in
English
Luanda ANGOP in
French
Luanda ANGOP in
Spanish
BOTSWANA
Gaborone Domestic Service in
English
Gaborone BOTSWANA DAILY NEWS in
English
CLANDESTINE
(Clandestine) Voice of Resistance of the
Black Cockerel in
Portuguese to Angola
0
(Clandestine) KUP in
French to Southern and Central
Africa
0
(Clandestine) Radio Truth in
English to Zimbabwe
2490
(Clandestine) Radio Truth in
Ndebele to Zimbabwe
0
(Clandestine) Voice of Truth in
Portuguese to Angola
0
(Clandestine) k::UP in
Portuguese to Southern and Central
Africa
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 - Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100150012-3
(Clandestine) KUP in
English to Southern and Central
Africa
LESOTHO
Maseru Domestic Service in
English
Maseru Domestic Service in
seSotho
Maseru MOCHOCHONONO in
seSotho
Maseru NATION in
English
Maseru THE COMET in
English
MADAGASCAR
Antantanarivo Domestic Service in
French
MALAWI
Blantyre Domestic Service in
English
Blantyre DAILY TIMES in
English
Blantyre MALAWI NEWS in
English
MOZAMBIQUE
Maputo Domestic Service in
Portuguese
Maputo in
English to Southern Africa
Maputo NOTICIAS in
Portuguese
Maputo TEMPO in
Portuguese
Beira DIARIO DE MOCAMBIQUE in
Portuguese
NAMIBIA
Windhoek Domestic Service in
Afrikaans
Windhoek DIE REPUBLIKEIN in
Afrikaans
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
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 - Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100150012-3
BROAD- PRESS P'UBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Windhoek DIE SUIDWESTER in
Afri kaans
Windhoek THE WINDHOEK ADVERTISER in
English
Windhoek WINDHOEK OBSERVER in
English
SENEGAL
Dakar F'ANA in
English
Dakar DANA in
French
SOUTH AFRICA
Johannesburg International Service in
English 625o
Johannesburg Domestic Service in
Afri kaans 100:)
Johannesburg Domestic Service in
English 38100
*Johannesburg Domestic Service in
Zulu 800
Johannesburg Television in
Afrikaans 21820
Johannesburg Television in
English 26130
Umtata Capital Radio in
English 16770
Johannesburg SAPA in
English
Pretoria DIE TRANSVALER in
Afri kaans
*Cape Town CAPE TIMES in
English
Durban ILANGA in
Zulu
Johannesburg BEELD in
Afrikaans
Johannesburg BUSINESS DAY in
English
Johannesburg CITY PRESS in
English
Johannesburg O'SECULO in
Portuguese
Johannesburg RAPPORT in
Afrikaans
Johannesburg SOWETAN in
English
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100150012-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100150012-3
BROAD- PRESS
CASTS AGENCIES
PUBL I -
CATIONS
Johannesburg
English
SUNDAY STAR in
3261.)
Johannesburg
English
SUNDAY TIMES
1640
Johannesburg
English
THE CITIZEN in
0
Johannesburg
English
Johannesburg
English
THE STAR in
WEEKLY MAIL in
RSA Editorial Press Review of
Afrikaans and
English Papers
SWAZILAND
Mbabane Domestic Service in
English 0
Mbabane Domestic Service in
s i Swat i 300
Mbabane Television in
English 1050
Mbabane Television in
siSwati 0
Mbabane THE SWAZI NEWS in
English
Mbabane THE SWAZI OBSERVER in
English
Mbabane THE TIMES OF SWAZILAND in
English
UNITED KINGDOM
London BBC World Service in
English
USSR
Moscow in
Ndebele to Zimbabwe
Moscow in
Zulu to Southern Africa
ZAMBIA
Lusaka Domestic Service in
English 3330
Lusaka Radio Freedom in
English C>
Lusaka Voice of Namibia
English 00
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100150012-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100150012-3
Lusaka SUNDAY TIMES OF ZAMBIA in
English
Lusaka TIMES OF ZAMBIA in
English
Lusaka ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL in
English
ZIMBABWE
Harare Domestic Service in
English
Harare Domestic Service in
English
Harare Voice of Namibia in
English
Harare THE FINANCIAL GAZETTE in
English
Harare THE HERALD in
English
Harare THE SUNDAY MAIL in
English
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
5920
i_>
0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 : CIA-RDP87-01104R000100150012-3