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| Identifier: | 00HARARE2203 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 00HARARE2203 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Harare |
| Created: | 2000-04-24 12:03:00 |
| Classification: | CONFIDENTIAL |
| Tags: | PREL PGOV ZI |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
241203Z Apr 00
CONFIDENTIAL PTO6596
PAGE 01 HARARE 02203 241200Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
VC-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 AC-01 NEA-00
NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 USIE-00 SA-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /007W
------------------4F2B6C 241200Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5824
INFO NSC WASHDC
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
DEPTTREAS WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 002203
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S SUSAN E. RICE, PDAS POWELL, DAS
SCHNEIDMAN, AF/S DIRECTOR RENDER, DESK OFFICER GURNEY,
SA/INS FOR STEVE KRAFT
NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR AFRICA GAYLE SMITH
DEPT ALSO PLEASE PASS AID
E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/24/10
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ZI
SUBJECT: APRIL 24 HARARE UPDATE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02203 241200Z
REF: HARARE 2201
SUBJECT: LATE WEEKEND ZIMBABWE SITUATION
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 (B),
(D)
1. (U) AS OF THE MORNING OF APRIL 24 HARARE IS QUIET.
THE WEEKEND BOMBING IN THE CITY CENTER (REFTEL) RAISED
FEARS AMONG CITY DWELLERS, BUT THE GENERALLY LESSENING
TENSION ON THE FARMS APPEARS TO HAVE MORE THAN OFFSET
THIS AS ZIMBABWE PREPARES TO RETURN TO WORK TOMORROW
AFTER A FOUR-DAY EASTER HOLIDAY. THERE HAS BEEN NO MORE
VIOLENCE IN HARARE SINCE THE BOMBING.
2. (U) THE BOTTOM LINE FROM THE RURAL AREAS IS THAT
THE SITUATION IS GENERALLY CALMER THAN IT WAS LAST WEEK.
THERE ARE, HOWEVER, SIGNIFICANT CAVEATS: NEW FARM
OCCUPATIONS CONTINUE, AT LEAST ONE COMMERCIAL FARMER AT
THE TIME OF THIS WRITING IS BARRICADED IN HIS HOME, AND
BLACK FARM WORKERS ARE SUFFERING SIGNIFICANTLY FROM
BEATINGS AND INTIMIDATION.
3. (U) THE PICTURE WE GET FROM OUR PHONE CONVERSATIONS
WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION IS
GOOD BUT MIXED. CLEARLY DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COUNTRY
ARE REPORTING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF TENSION. THE BEST
NEWS IS THAT THE FARMERS EAST OF HARARE, WHO HAD
EVACUATED THE AREA AFTER THE KILLING OF THE FIRST
COMMERCIAL FARMER, WILL ALL HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR FARMS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 02203 241200Z
BY THE END OF TODAY. ALSO ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THE
POLICE ARE BEGINNING TO PLAY A HELPFUL ROLE, EVEN ON THE
FARMS WHERE THE OCCUPATIONS ARE CONTINUING.
4. (C) THE WORST NEWS IS THAT THE BEATINGS OF FARM
WORKERS CONTINUE. ACCORDING TO ONE OF OUR SOURCES, THE
BEATINGS TAKE PLACE AT NIGHT AND APPEAR POLITICALLY
MOTIVATED. THE VICTIMS ARE BEING TOLD TO TURN IN THEIR
MEMBERSHIP CARDS FOR THE MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE,
THE MAIN POLITICAL OPPOSITION PARTY. THEY ALSO ARE
BEING TOLD THAT THE OWNER OF THE FARM ON WHICH THEY WORK
WILL REFUND TO THEM THEIR MDC MEMBERSHIP FEE. THESE
STORIES SOUND PLAUSIBLE TO US, AS THE ENTIRE FARM
OCCUPATION SCHEME APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A MEANS OF
POLITICAL INTIMIDATION FROM THE BEGINNING.
5. (U) ALSO ON THE BAD NEWS FRONT, ONE OPERATOR OF A
LARGE COMMERCIAL FARM NORTH OF HARARE IS BARRICADED
INSIDE HIS HOME. SOURCES SAY A LARGE CROWD--ESTIMATES
RANGE FROM SEVERAL HUNDRED UPWARDS TO A THOUSAND--
CONVERGED ON HIS ESTATE YESTERDAY. NEGOTIATIONS HAVE
BEEN ONGOING, HOWEVER, AND SOURCES WITH WHOM WE SPOKE
SAY IT APPEARS THE SITUATION WILL BE RESOLVED
PEACEFULLY.
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
>
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