US embassy cable - 00HARARE6190

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 006190 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDERRYCK, AND A/AID - RMCCALL 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  06190  01 OF 03  021626Z 
USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL 11/02/10 
TAGS: PHUM, EAGR, PREL, EAID, ZI, Land Reform 
SUBJECT: VIOLENCE ON ZIMBABWE COMMERCIAL FARMS 
INCREASING AS FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM PROGRAM ACCELERATES 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 
(B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE RAINS ON 
OCTOBER 27, VIOLENCE ON COMMERCIAL FARMS HAS INCREASED 
AS THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ) ACCELERATES ITS 
FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM TO BEAT 
THE ONSET OF THE PLANTING SEASON.  THE RESULT HAS BEEN 
DISORDER AND CONFUSION ON OCCUPIED FARMS.  THREE WHITE 
COMMERCIAL FARMERS WERE VIOLENTLY AND SERIOUSLY 
ASSAULTED IN THE LAST TEN DAYS.  A GOZ MINISTER APPEARED 
ON NATIONAL TELEVISION TELLING THE POPULACE THAT THE GOZ 
DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DEMARCATE LAND FOR 
RESETTLEMENT, SO THEY SHOULD DO IT THEMSELVES.  HE ADDED 
THAT THE GOZ WILL FORMALIZE SUCH ACTIONS IN THE FUTURE. 
REPORTS CONTINUE TO REACH THE EMBASSY THAT MILITARY AND 
POLICE VEHICLES ARE BEING USED TO FERRY PEOPLE TO OCCUPY 
FARMS, AND MILITARY AND POLICE OFFICERS ALSO ARE 
CLAIMING LAND FOR THEMSELVES.  ON NOVEMBER 1 THE ZANU-PF 
MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT PASSED AN AMENDMENT TO THE LAND 
ACQUISITION ACT TO CODIFY FORMALLY THE GOZ'S LAND REFORM 
PROGRAM.  MDC MP DAVID COLTART INFORMED ECONOFF THAT 
MUGABE'S INTENTION IS TO DESTROY COMMERCIAL FARMING, 
EVEN IF IT WRECKS THE ZIMBABWE ECONOMY, BECAUSE HE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  06190  01 OF 03  021626Z 
CONSIDERS COMMERCIAL FARMERS TO BE ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL 
FINANCIAL SUPPORT BASES OF THE MDC.  ALL OF THESE 
DEVELOPMENTS POINT TO THE COLLAPSE OF COMMERCIAL 
AGRICULTURE, AND BODE ILL FOR ZIMBABWE'S FUTURE FOOD 
SECURITY.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
VIOLENCE INCREASING AS RAINY SEASON BEGINS 
------------------------------------------ 
 
2. (C) WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE RAINY SEASON ACROSS 
ZIMBABWE ON OCTOBER 27, THE LAND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM 
HAS REACHED A FEVER PITCH.  THERE ARE NUMEROUS CREDIBLE 
REPORTS OF FARM OCCUPIERS PREVENTING COMMERCIAL FARMERS 
FROM PLANTING, STATING THAT THE FARMS NO LONGER BELONG 
TO THEM.  OTHER REPORTS SAY FARM OCCUPIERS ARE UPROOTING 
COMMERCIAL CROPS IN ORDER TO PLANT THEIR OWN MAIZE, OR 
BUILDING SHACKS ON TOP OF FRESHLY PLANTED FIELDS, 
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE COMMERCIAL FARMS HAVE 
BEEN GAZETTED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR ACQUISITION.  TREE 
CUTTING AND POACHING OF BOTH DOMESTIC AND GAME ANIMALS 
IS RAMPANT.  THREATS OF VIOLENCE BY WAR VETERANS ARE 
INCREASING, WITH THE THREATS FOLLOWED UP BY ATTACKS ON 
COMMERCIAL FARMERS.  ONE ASSAULT BY WAR VETERANS ON A 
FARMER LED TO A BROADER VIOLENT ALTERCATION BETWEEN WAR 
VETERANS AND FARM WORKERS WHO CAME TO HIS RESCUE.  A 
GROUP OF 150 UNKNOWN ASSAILANTS ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED A 
GROUP OF TEN RECENTLY RESETTLED PEASANTS IN THEIR SHACKS 
THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 28.  FARM WORKERS ARE ANGRY AT THE 
LOSS OF THEIR MEANS OF SURVIVAL, AND THIS IS LEADING TO 
INCREASING CONFRONTATIONS AND VIOLENCE.  THE COMMERCIAL 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  06190  01 OF 03  021626Z 
FARMERS UNION (CFU) BELIEVES THAT MUGABE'S THREAT TO END 
RECONCILIATION WITH WHITES IN ZIMBABWE HAS EMBOLDENED 
THE WAR VETERANS AND ALSO ADDED TO THE INCREASED 
VIOLENCE. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
THREE COMMERCIAL FARMERS ASSAULTED IN TEN DAYS 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
3. (C) BETWEEN OCTOBER 22 AND OCTOBER 31 THREE WHITE 
COMMERCIAL FARMERS WERE VIOLENTLY ASSAULTED BY WAR 
VETERANS ON THEIR FARMS.  ON OCTOBER 22 A FARMER ON 
DAWMILL FARM IN MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE ASKED 
OCCUPIERS TO MOVE THEIR CATTLE AND SHEEP THAT WERE 
BLOCKING A FARM ROAD.  THEREAFTER, HE WAS SET UPON BY A 
GROUP OF MEN WHO KNOCKED HIM TO THE GROUND AND VIOLENTLY 
KICKED HIM UNTIL HE PASSED OUT.  ON OCTOBER 31 A FARMER 
ON NYAMWANGA FARM, ALSO IN MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE, 
WAS ATTEMPTING TO PROCEED WITH COTTON PLANTING WHEN A 
GROUP OF WAR VETERANS SET UPON HIM WITH AX HANDLES AND 
BEAT HIM UNCONSCIOUS.  WHEN HIS FARM WORKERS CAME TO HIS 
RESCUE A SCUFFLE ENSUED THAT ENDED WITH A SCORE OF FARM 
WORKERS AND WAR VETERANS REQUIRING MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR 
THEIR INJURIES.  ON OCTOBER 26 A FARMER IN MANICALAND 
PROVINCE WAS VIOLENTLY ASSAULTED IN HIS FARMHOUSE, 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4225 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  06190  02 OF 03  021626Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00 
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      FRB-00   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   L-00 
      VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00 
      PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SCT-00   SP-00    STR-00 
      USIE-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-01   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00 
      SAS-00     /010W 
                  ------------------9A0274  021626Z /38 
P 021625Z NOV 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7508 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC 
USDOC WASHDC 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 006190 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDERRYCK, AND A/AID - RMCCALL 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  06190  02 OF 03  021626Z 
USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL 11/02/10 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, EAGR, PREL, EAID, ZI 
SUBJECT: VIOLENCE ON ZIMBABWE COMMERCIAL FARMS 
INCREASING AS FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM PROGRAM ACCELERATES 
 
PURPORTEDLY BY ROBBERS.  (COMMENT: AGAINST THE BACKDROP 
OF THE LAWLESSNESS, CHAOS, AND ANARCHY THAT IS OCCURRING 
ON COMMERCIAL FARMS IN THE NAME OF PRESIDENT MUGABE'S 
FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT, IT IS HARD TO 
BELIEVE THAT THIS ASSAULT IS NOT LINKED TO THE LAND 
ISSUE.  END COMMENT.) 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
A GOZ MINISTER TELLS PEASANTS TO PICK THEIR OWN LAND 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
4. (C) IGNATIUS CHOMBO, THE MINISTER OF LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING, WHO IS 
ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GOZ LAND TASK FORCE, APPEARED 
ON ZBC TELEVISION ADDRESSING A GROUP OF PEASANTS IN THE 
DARWENDALE/TRELAWNEY AREA.  HE TOLD THE ASSEMBLED GROUP 
TO GO AHEAD AND PARCEL OUT FARMS TO THEMSELVES BECAUSE 
OF A SHORTAGE OF GOVERNMENT TECHNICIANS TO DEMARCATE 
PLOTS.  HE STATED "WE WILL HAVE TO ATTEND TO THAT LATER. 
GO AHEAD AND RESETTLE YOURSELVES IN TIME FOR THE RAINS." 
THIS STATEMENT HAS GIVEN A GREEN LIGHT TO LANDLESS 
PEOPLE, AND ANYONE ELSE, TO DESCEND ON COMMERCIAL FARMS, 
WHETHER GAZETTED BY THE GOZ FOR COMPULSORY ACQUISITION 
OR NOT, AND TO DECIDE AMONG THEMSELVES WHO GETS WHAT. 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  06190  02 OF 03  021626Z 
THE FARM WORKERS WHO LIVE AND WORK ON THESE FARMS ARE 
OFTEN NOT WILLING TO STAND ASIDE AND ALLOW THEIR 
LIVELIHOODS TO BE DESTROYED.  THE RESULT IS AN INCREASE 
IN THE NUMBER OF CLASHES BETWEEN FARM INVADERS AND FARM 
WORKERS. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
CLEAR SIGNS OF POLICE AND MILITARY INVOLVEMENT 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
5. (C) THE EMBASSY IS RECEIVING NEW REPORTS THAT 
ZIMBABWE POLICE AND MILITARY VEHICLES ARE BEING USED TO 
FERRY FARM INVADERS TO COMMERCIAL FARMS.  THERE ARE ALSO 
REPORTS THAT POLICE AND MILITARY PERSONNEL (BOTH ARMY 
AND AIR FORCE) ARE INCREASINGLY GOING TO FARMS TO STAKE 
OUT LAND FOR THEMSELVES.  IN ONE REPORT FROM THE CFU, A 
ZIMBABWE AIR FORCE HELICOPTER FLEW OVER A FARM NEAR FORT 
MARTIN TO VERIFY WHETHER THE COMMERCIAL FARMER WAS 
COMPLYING WITH ORDERS NOT TO PLANT. 
 
------------------------------- 
ZANU-PF PUSHES AMENDED LAND ACT 
------------------------------- 
 
6. (C) IN THE MIDST OF THE INCREASING VIOLENCE AND FARM 
OCCUPATIONS, ZANU-PF PUSHED THROUGH PARLIAMENT AN 
AMENDMENT TO THE LAND ACQUISITION ACT CODIFYING 
PRESIDENT MUGABE'S APRIL DECREE UNDER THE PRESIDENTIAL 
POWERS ACT ALTERING THE LAW.  THIS LEGISLATION IS 
INTENDED TO NEGATE THE IMPACT OF THE SUPREME COURT 
DECISION IN A LANDMARK LAWSUIT THAT THE CFU FILED 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  06190  02 OF 03  021626Z 
AGAINST MUGABE FOR TAKING UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTIONS IN 
HIS FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM PLAN UNDER THE PRESIDENTIAL 
POWERS ACT, AMONG OTHER CHARGES.  (COMMENT: THE SUPREME 
COURT IS TO BEGIN HEARING THE CFU CASE ON NOVEMBER 6 AND 
IS WIDELY EXPECTED TO RULE IN FAVOR OF THE PLAINTIFF. 
END COMMENT). 
 
----------------------------- 
MDC MP DAVID COLTART COMMENTS 
----------------------------- 
 
7. (C) MDC MP DAVID COLTART, A LONG-STANDING EMBASSY 
CONTACT TOLD EMBASSY OFFICIALS ON NOVEMBER 1 THAT WHAT 
WAS OCCURRING IN THE NAME OF LAND REFORM AND 
RESETTLEMENT WAS PART OF A MASTER PLAN BY MUGABE.  HE 
SAID THAT WHILE IT WAS NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED IN A 
PARTICULARLY ORGANIZED FASHION, IT WAS BEING PLANNED AND 
LED BY THE GOVERNMENT.  HE BELIEVES THAT THIS IS CLEARLY 
SUBSTANTIATED BY THE ROLE THE WAR VETERANS HAD PLAYED IN 
LEADING THE OCCUPATIONS, AND THE USE OF POLICE AND 
MILITARY VEHICLES TO FERRY OCCUPIERS TO FARMS.  IN SOME 
INSTANCES, HE BELIEVES THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING BROUGHT TO 
OCCUPY FARMS AGAINST THEIR WILL, OR AT LEAST UNDER FALSE 
PRETENSES.  HE SAID THAT MANY FARMERS TELL STORIES OF 
LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE BEING BROUGHT TO THEIR FARMS, 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4227 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  06190  03 OF 03  021627Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00 
      INL-00   DODE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    EUR-00   VC-00 
      FRB-00   H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   L-00 
      VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00 
      PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SCT-00   SP-00    STR-00 
      USIE-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-01   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00 
      SAS-00     /010W 
                  ------------------9A0287  021627Z /38 
P 021625Z NOV 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7509 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC 
USDOC WASHDC 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 006190 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDERRYCK, AND A/AID - RMCCALL 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  06190  03 OF 03  021627Z 
USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL 11/02/10 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, EAGR, PREL, EAID, ZI 
SUBJECT: VIOLENCE ON ZIMBABWE COMMERCIAL FARMS 
INCREASING AS FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM PROGRAM ACCELERATES 
 
AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS MOST DRIFT AWAY.  CFU EXECUTIVES 
HAVE CONFIRMED THIS WITH ECONOFF. 
 
8. (C) COLTART STATED THAT MUGABE'S REAL GOAL IS TO 
DESTROY COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE IN ZIMBABWE IN ORDER TO 
ELIMINATE WHAT THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES TO BE THE MOST 
IMPORTANT BASE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE MDC IN 
ZIMBABWE.  CFU EXECUTIVES ALSO AGREE WITH THIS 
ASSESSMENT.  COLTART WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT 
PRESIDENT MUGABE DOES NOT CARE IF THIS RESULTS IN THE 
UTTER DESTRUCTION OF ZIMBABWE'S ECONOMY.  ACCORDING TO 
COLTART, ONE OF MUGABE'S CLOSEST CONFIDANTS, OBERT 
MPOFU, THE CONTROVERSIAL GOVERNOR OF MATABELELAND NORTH 
PROVINCE (HE HAS PROCLAIMED THAT ONLY ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS 
WILL BE RESETTLED IN HIS PROVINCE) HAS STATED THAT IT 
MATTERS NOT IF THE ECONOMY IS DESTROYED, FOR THE RULING 
PARTY WILL THEN REBUILD IT JUST AS THE JAPANESE REBUILT 
THEIR ECONOMY AFTER WORLD WAR II. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
ZIMBABWE'S FUTURE FOOD SECURITY HANGS IN THE BALANCE 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
9. (C)  ALL OF THE ABOVE BODES VERY ILL FOR ZIMBABWE'S 
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PAGE 03        HARARE  06190  03 OF 03  021627Z 
FUTURE FOOD SECURITY.  THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS OF THE 
GRAIN MARKETING BOARD (GMB) PARASTATAL RESULTED IN ITS 
DELAYED PURCHASE OF LAST YEAR'S BUMPER MAIZE CROP.  ONLY 
IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS HAS THE GMB RECEIVED A LINE OF 
CREDIT FROM THE GOZ ALLOWING IT TO BEGIN PURCHASING 
MAIZE.  ZIMBABWE'S COMMUNAL FARMERS, WHO PRODUCE ROUGHLY 
60% OF THE COUNTRY'S MAIZE, DEPEND ON SALES TO THE GMB 
OF THEIR HARVEST TO SUPPLY THE FUNDS NECESSARY TO BUY 
THE SEED, FERTILIZER, AND OTHER INPUTS NEEDED TO PLANT 
THE FOLLOWING YEAR'S CROP.  WITH THE DELAY IN PURCHASES, 
MANY COMMUNAL FARMERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BEGIN 
PLANTING THIS YEAR'S MAIZE CROP.  THIS SITUATION IS 
WORSENED BY THE DRAMATIC RISE IN THE PRICE OF FERTILIZER 
AND DIESEL FUEL, BOTH CRITICAL INPUTS TO PLANTING MAIZE. 
COLTART STATED THAT THE GMB HAS ONLY PURCHASED 30% OF 
THE HISTORICAL AMOUNT OF GRAIN BAGS THAT IT USES TO BAG 
UP COMMUNAL FARMERS' MAIZE AFTER PURCHASE.  ACCORDING TO 
COLTART, THE MAJORITY OF LAST YEAR'S MAIZE CROP IS JUST 
SITTING OUT IN THE OPEN ON COMMUNAL FARMS, NOW GETTING 
RAINED ON, A FACT THAT WILL RESULT IN ITS BECOMING UNFIT 
FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.  MEANWHILE, ACCORDING TO THE CFU, 
COMMERCIAL FARMERS, WHO NORMALLY ACCOUNT FOR 40% OF THE 
NATION'S MAIZE CROP, ARE GOING TO PLANT 55% LESS MAIZE. 
THIS DECISION IS DUE TO LOW MAIZE PRICES, UNCERTAINTY 
THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HARVEST THEIR CROP AT THE END 
OF THE SEASON, AS WELL AS UNCERTAINTY THAT THE GMB WILL 
BE ABLE TO BUY THEIR CROP.  THESE SIGNS INDICATE THAT 
THE POSSIBILITY IS INCREASING THAT ZIMBABWE WILL FACE A 
MAJOR SHORTFALL IN ITS MAIZE CROP NEXT YEAR, AT A TIME 
WHEN THE GOZ WILL LACK THE NECESSARY FOREIGN EXCHANGE TO 
PAY FOR IMPORTS. 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  06190  03 OF 03  021627Z 
 
10. (C) COMMENT: THE GOZ'S CONTINUING "DAMN THE 
TORPEDOES" ATTITUDE IN PURSUING THE POORLY (IF AT ALL) 
PLANNED FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM, 
REGARDLESS OF THE PREDICTED COST TO COMMERCIAL 
AGRICULTURE, INCLUDING EXPORT CROPS, IS EXTREMELY 
WORRISOME.  IT CALLS INTO QUESTION THE FUTURE VIABILITY 
OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY AND THE AVAILABILITY OF FOOD FOR 
12 MILLION ZIMBABWEANS.  END COMMENT. 
 
MCDONALD 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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