US embassy cable - 00HARARE3616

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 003616 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICAN DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
 
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER 
 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/10 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ZI, US 
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER PROTESTS ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY 
ACT 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD REASONS 1.5 B/D. 
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1.  (C) ON JULY 3 FOREIGN MINISTER STANISLAUS MUDENGE 
GRANTED AMBASSADOR MCDONALD AN AUDIENCE TO REGISTER HIS 
CONCERN ABOUT PASSAGE OF THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY ACT IN 
THE SENATE.  IN THIS CONNECTION, THE MINISTER SAID HE 
WAS UNHAPPY ABOUT THE FLURRY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES 
IN THE UNITED STATES TARGETING ZIMBABWE FOR "SANCTIONS". 
HE SAID THAT HE HAD INSTRUCTED HIS AMBASSADOR IN 
WASHINGTON TO PROTEST THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA'S 
FAILURE TO INVITE ANYONE FROM THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT 
TO TESTIFY AT ITS JUNE 13 HEARING. 
 
2.  (C) "WE ARE A DEVELOPING NATION AND IT IS UNFAIR TO 
JUDGE US BY THE STANDARDS OF YOUR COUNTRY," MUDENGE 
STATED, WAVING AWAY AMBASSADOR MCDONALD'S POINTED 
ASSERTIONS THAT THE SENATE'S BILL WAS A BIPARTISAN 
RESPONSE TO THE TRAGIC EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN 
ZIMBABWE SINCE EARLY THIS YEAR, PARTICULARLY THE 
CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION PERPETRATED BY THE 
RULING ZANU-PF PARTY IN THE RUN-UP TO THE ELECTIONS. 
THE AMBASSADOR URGED THE MINISTER TO TREAT THE SENATE 
BILL AND THE HOUSE HEARING AS A "WAKE-UP CALL" TO THE 
ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE ITS POLICIES.  THE 
MINISTER RESPONDED THAT "WE WILL HAVE TO STUDY THE 
CONSEQUENCES" OF THE BILL IF IT BECOMES LAW.  "THEN 
ZIMBABWE WOULD HAVE TO CRAFT A PROGRAM TO SURVIVE," HE 
ADDED.  AMBASSADOR MCDONALD REJOINED THAT ZIMBABWE COULD 
DO A NUMBER OF THINGS BETWEEN NOW AND THE POTENTIAL 
ENACTMENT OF THE BILL IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN 
ORDER TO BEGIN TO GARNER SOME GOODWILL IN WASHINGTON. 
THE AMBASSADOR CONTINUED, "STOP TALKING ABOUT YOUR 
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NEGATIVE PUBLIC RELATIONS IMAGE AND TAKE CONSTRUCTIVE 
ACTION TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT."  PRESIDENT MUGABE'S 
STATEMENT TO CNN ON SATURDAY, JULY 1, ABOUT CONTINUING 
THE FARM OCCUPATIONS AND NOT FORCING THE REMOVAL OF WAR 
VETERANS, THE AMBASSADOR TOLD THE MINISTER, WERE VERY 
UNHELPFUL IN TONE AND WILL NOT ASSIST IN SOLVING THE 
LAND PROBLEM.  "ZIMBABWEANS WILL BE ZIMBABWEANS," THE 
MINISTER NOTED, AND "WE'LL RESIST ANYONE WHO TRIES TO 
DIRECT US."  "WE'LL FIGHT WITH OUR WORDS," HE CONCLUDED. 
 
3.  (C) COMMENT: THE SENATE LEGISLATION AND IMPLICATIONS 
THAT IT HAS FOR ZIMBABWE IN THE WORLD HAS CAUGHT THE 
ATTENTION OF THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT HERE. 
MUDENGE DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH ON WHAT COURSE OF ACTION 
HIS GOVERNMENT MIGHT TAKE, SHOULD IT FIND ITSELF AN 
ISOLATED STATE, ALTHOUGH WE SPECULATE THAT IT MIGHT 
ACCELERATE THE ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL FARMS FOR RE- 
SETTLEMENT.  THE FOREIGN MINISTER THROUGH ALL HIS 
BLUSTER HAS MADE A POINT: THE ZANU-PF GOVERNMENT WANTS 
OUR MONEY BUT IS NOT WILLING TO CHANGE ITS WAYS.  AS WE 
DISCUSS POTENTIAL USG INVOLVEMENT IN ASSISTING LAND 
REFORM IN THE FUTURE, WE MUST KEEP THIS POINT IN MIND. 
END COMMENT. 
 
MCDONALD 
 
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