US embassy cable - 00HARARE6282

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 006282 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
A/AID FOR R. MCCALL; AFR/SD FOR D. WELLER, W. WHELAN; AFR/SA FOR 
N. NEWMAN, C. PALMA 
 
STATE FOR AF/S RENDER AND KRAFT 
 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/10 
TAGS: EAGR, PGOV, EAID, ZI, Land Reform 
SUBJECT:  UNDP LAND REFORM INITIATIVE UPDATE 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  06282  01 OF 04  071612Z 
REFS: (A) HARARE 5834, (B) HARARE 5730, (C) HARARE 5608 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 B AND D. 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY: UNDP RESREP VICTOR ANGELO DEBRIEFED DONORS ON 
NOVEMBER 1 ON THE UNDP TEAM'S REPORT ON THE "LAND REFORM PROCESS 
IN ZIMBABWE". THE RESREP OPENED THE MEETING BY STATING THAT THE 
REPORT WAS A DRAFT, WORKING DOCUMENT, COMPLETED BY AN INDEPENDENT 
MISSION, WHICH, THUS REFLECTS THE TEAM'S VIEWS AND NOT THOSE OF 
THE UN.  HE DESCRIBED A SERIES OF MEETINGS UNDP HAS BEEN 
CONDUCTING WITH ALL CONCERNED STAKEHOLDERS OVER RECENT WEEKS.  HE 
CHARACTERIZED THESE MEETINGS AS "POSITIVE", AND AS A PART OF THE 
SYG'S ON-GOING MANDATE TO ATTEMPT TO PROMOTE THE RESUMPTION OF A 
DIALOGUE ON THIS DIFFICULT SUBJECT. 
 
-- THE RESREP THEN PROVIDED AN OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF 
THE GOVERNMENT'S "FAST TRACK" PROGRAM TO DATE, FOLLOWED BY A 
RUNDOWN OF THE AGRICULTURAL SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY.  HE THEN 
INTRODUCED THE DRAFT TEAM REPORT, HIGHLIGHTING THE TEAM'S 
RESTRICTIVE MANDATE ON TECHNICAL ISSUES AND THE FAST TRACK 
APPROACH.  THE TEAM'S MAJOR FINDING IS THAT NO FAST TRACK PLAN 
EXISTS, AND THAT ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN TO DATE ARE "AD HOC", AND 
IMPLEMENTED ACCORDING TO THE INDIVIDUAL LOCAL PLAYERS AND 
CIRCUMSTANCES.  HE LISTED THE TEAM'S ASSESSMENT OF THE MANY 
SERIOUS SHORTCOMINGS OF THE PROGRAM AS CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTED, 
FOCUSSING PRIMARILY ON THE SEVERE CAPACITY AND RESOURCE 
CONSTRAINTS IN VIRTUALLY EVERY PROGRAM ASPECT. 
 
-- GROUP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOCUSSED ON THE SERIOUS 
LIMITATIONS IMPOSED ON THE TEAM/REPORT BY THEIR OVERLY 
RESTRICTIVE MANDATE, ESPECIALLY REGARDING GOVERNMENT'S PROMINENT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  06282  01 OF 04  071612Z 
ROLE IN THE PROGRAM (AS OPPOSED TO ALTERNATIVE, MORE MARKET- 
ORIENTED, PARTICIPATORY AND DECENTRALIZED "COMPLEMENTARY" 
APPROACHES TO PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION), AND THE FUNDAMENTAL 
POLITICAL (RATHER THAN TECHNICAL) NATURE OF THE PROBLEM. 
AMBASSADOR MCDONALD SUBMITTED STRONG COMMENTS THAT THE 
RESTORATION OF THE RULE OF LAW WAS CRITICAL.  HE ALSO STATED THAT 
GOVERNMENT AND DONORS NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROCESS IS A 
TWO-WAY STREET WITH DIALOGUE VERY IMPORTANT.  THE RESREP 
CONCLUDED THAT THE ONLY WAY FORWARD WAS THROUGH A RESUMPTION OF 
DIALOGUE BY ALL CONCERNED PARTIES, WHICH ALL PARTICIPANTS 
STRONGLY ENDORSED.  TOWARDS THIS END, HE INDICATED UN PLANS TO 
CONTINUE THIS INITIATIVE, BOTH IN ZIMBABWE AND NEW YORK, IN AN 
EFFORT TO ACHIEVE A PRODUCTIVE INTERACTION.  DESPITE LOW 
EXPECTATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE PROGRESS, ALL PRESENT WELCOMED THE 
UN'S EFFORTS IN THIS BEHALF.  THE RESREP REQUESTED A FOLLOW-UP 
MEETING NEXT WEEK (THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9) WITH A SMALLER MORE 
LIMITED GROUP OF SERIOUS POTENTIAL DONOR COUNTRIES TO FURTHER 
DISCUSS THE TECHNICAL REPORT.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD, USAID DIRECTOR AND AID TECHNICAL 
OFFICER ATTENDED A UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (UNDP) 
MEETING ON NOVEMBER 1, CHAIRED BY THE NEW UNDP RESIDENT 
REPRESENTATIVE (RESREP) TO ZIMBABWE, J. VICTOR ANGELO, TO REVIEW 
THE EXPERT UNDP TEAM'S REPORT ON THE "LAND REFORM PROCESS IN 
ZIMBABWE" THAT WAS COMPLETED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO FOLLOWING A THREE- 
WEEK MISSION (SEE SEVERAL PRIOR REFTELS ON THIS UNDP INITIATIVE). 
 
3.  (C) THE UNDP RESREP OPENED THE MEETING BY STATING THAT THE 
REPORT WAS A DRAFT WORKING DOCUMENT, COMPLETED BY AN INDEPENDENT 
MISSION; AND THAT IT, THUS, REFLECTS THE VIEWS OF THE TEAM AND 
NOT THOSE OF THE UN.  HE ALSO CAUTIONED THAT IT WAS AN UNEDITED 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  06282  01 OF 04  071612Z 
VERSION, REQUIRING SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL WORK.  HE INDICATED 
THAT, IN THE PRIMARY INTEREST OF PROMOTING THE RESUMPTION OF A 
DIALOGUE ON THIS TOPIC, UN SECRETARY GENERAL (SYG) ANNAN 
REQUESTED THAT THE REPORT BE DISCUSSED WITH CONCERNED ZIMBABWEAN 
STAKEHOLDERS BEFORE IT WAS FINALIZED AND REVIEWED FORMALLY IN NEW 
YORK. 
 
4.  (C) TOWARDS THIS END, THE RESREP REPORTED THAT HE HAS BEEN 
CONDUCTING A SERIES OF MEETINGS OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS WITH 
CONCERNED ZIMBABWEAN STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING SENIOR GOVERNMENT OF 
ZIMBABWE (GOZ) DECISION-MAKERS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL MAJOR 
FARMERS' UNIONS AND VARIOUS OTHER DONOR AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL 
INTERESTS.  WHILE HE CHARACTERIZED THE RESULTS OF THESE MEETINGS 
AS "POSITIVE", HE ALSO INDICATED THAT THE PROTAGONISTS' POSITIONS 
REMAINED FAR APART AND THEY HAD NOT RESUMED ANY MEANINGFUL 
DIALOGUE ON THIS CRITICAL SUBJECT. 
 
5.  (C) THE RESREP PROVIDED A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT 
STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ON-GOING "FAST TRACK 
PROGRAM", BASED ON AVAILABLE GOZ INFORMATION TO DATE: 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ8185 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  06282  02 OF 04  071613Z 
ACTION AID-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  CIAE-00  DODE-00  SRPP-00 
      DS-00    EB-00    VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    VCE-00 
      NSAE-00  DSCC-00  PRM-01   DRL-02   NFAT-00  SAS-00     /003W 
                  ------------------9BFE22  071613Z /38 
P 071612Z NOV 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7578 
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 006282 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
A/AID FOR R. MCCALL; AFR/SD FOR D. WELLER, W. WHELAN; AFR/SA FOR 
N. NEWMAN, C. PALMA 
 
STATE FOR AF/S RENDER AND KRAFT 
 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/10 
TAGS: EAGR, PGOV, EAID, ZI 
SUBJECT:  UNDP LAND REFORM INITIATIVE UPDATE 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  06282  02 OF 04  071613Z 
-- APPROXIMATELY 6,965 BENEFICIARY FAMILIES HAVE BEEN RESETTLED 
ON 333,196 HECTARES OF LAND TO DATE (AS OPPOSED TO FAST TRACK 
PROGRAM "TARGETS" OF 30,000 FAMILIES RESETTLED BY YEAR'S END ON 
ONE MILLION HA. OF LAND, AND 162,000 PEOPLE RESETTLED OVER FOUR 
YEARS ON FIVE MILLION HA. OF LAND).   COMMENT:  GIVEN THE CURRENT 
STATE OF THE ZIMBABWEAN ECONOMY, THE MISSION BELIEVES THESE 
TARGETS ARE TOTALLY UNREALISTIC, AT LEAST OVER THE SHORT-TERM AND 
ESPECIALLY WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE.  END COMMENT. 
 
-- GOVERNMENT IS PROVIDING SUBSIDIZED TILLAGE SERVICES (I.E., Z$ 
4,207/HA.) TO THESE NEWLY RESETTLED FARMERS, WHICH THE SETTLERS 
ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR, IN AN EFFORT TO FACILITATE THEIR 
PREPARATIONS FOR THE IMMINENT PLANTING SEASON.  HOWEVER, ONLY 
2,729 HA. HAS BEEN TILLED UNDER THIS PROGRAM TO DATE, DUE TO 
INSUFFICIENT GOVERNMENT TRACTORS AVAILABLE FOR THIS PURPOSE AND 
THE INABILITY OF MANY OF THE SETTLERS TO PAY FOR EVEN THESE 
MINIMAL SERVICES. 
 
-- GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED Z$ 2.7 BILLION FOR RESETTLEMENT AND 
INFRASTRUCTURE IN ITS 2001 BUDGET (SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED 
WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS). 
 
-- THE ONSET OF THE RAINS THE NOVEMBER 4-5 WEEKEND HAS ADDED AN 
EXTRA URGENCY TO THE ENTIRE LAND REFORM PROCESS.  FOR GOVERNMENT, 
THERE IS EXTRA PRESSURE TO GET MORE SETTLERS IN PLACE.  FOR 
COMMERCIAL FARMERS AND FARM WORKERS, THERE IS INCREASED PRESSURE 
TO GET THIS SEASON'S PLANTING PREPARATIONS COMPLETED.  AND, FOR 
PROSPECTIVE SETTLERS, THERE IS INCREASED PRESSURE TO GET THEIR 
PLOTS AND REQUIRED INPUTS IN TIME FOR THE PLANTING SEASON.  THE 
RESULT HAS BEEN INCREASED OCCUPATIONS AND VIOLENCE ON THE 
COMMERCIAL FARMS OVER THE PAST WEEKS, AS PEOPLE SCRAMBLE FOR LAND 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  06282  02 OF 04  071613Z 
(WITH GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE) AND COMMERCIAL 
FARMERS AND FARM WORKERS ATTEMPT TO 'RESOLVE' THE SITUATION SO 
THEY CAN FINISH THEIR OWN SEASON'S PREPARATIONS ON TIME.  CURRENT 
"WORKING FIGURES" ARE THAT BETWEEN 1,500 AND 1,600 COMMERCIAL 
FARMS ARE OCCUPIED THROUGHOUT ZIMBABWE BY 10,000 TO 15,000 
PEOPLE. 
 
6.  (C) THE RESREP ALSO REPORTED THAT TO DATE GENERAL 
AGRICULTURAL PLANTINGS WERE DOWN AN ESTIMATED 15% NATIONWIDE, 
WITH MAIZE PLANTINGS REDUCED BY 50 TO 65%, AND A FORECASTED 20% 
DROP IN THIS SEASON'S WHEAT HARVEST.  SIMILARLY, HORTICULTURAL 
CROP EXPORTS AND TOURISM WERE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.  FOR CATTLE, HE 
NOTED THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF BEEF CURRENTLY ON 
THE MARKET, WHICH POINTED TO DE-STOCKING, PRINCIPALLY WITHIN THE 
COMMERCIAL FARMING SECTOR.  ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, HE NOTED THAT 
THE AREA PLANTED TO SOYBEANS AND COTTON HAD INCREASED 
APPROXIMATELY 20% FROM FARMERS SWITCHING CROPS ACCORDING TO 
MARKET SIGNALS.  COMMENT:  WHILE IT IS CLEAR THAT THE CURRENT 
SITUATION HAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THIS SEASON'S 
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, GIVEN ALL OF THE DISTRACTIONS AND 
DELAYS, MORE TIME WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROPERLY ASSESS THIS 
SEASON'S ACTUAL PLANTINGS AND PRODUCTION IMPACT.  END COMMENT. 
 
7.  (C) DURING A BRIEF QUESTION AND ANSWER (Q&A) SESSION 
FOLLOWING THIS INTRODUCTION, THE RESREP NOTED THAT THE UN WAS NOT 
ATTEMPTING TO MEDIATE OR NEGOTIATE ANYTHING; BUT, RATHER, THAT 
THEIR MANDATE FROM THE SYG IS TO PROMOTE A DIALOGUE ON THIS 
SUBJECT.  THE SPANISH AMBASSADOR NOTED HIS RHETORICAL CONCERN 
REGARDING THE DISPLACED FARM WORKERS ("IS THERE REALLY ANY NET 
GAIN THROUGH THIS PROGRAM?") 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  06282  02 OF 04  071613Z 
8.  (C) IN INTRODUCING THE UNDP TEAM'S REPORT, THE RESREP NOTED 
THAT IT WAS SIGNIFICANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALLOWED 
DISCUSSION OF THE 1998 DONOR CONFERENCE PRINCIPLES WITHIN THE 
REPORT; AND, INDEED, THAT IT HAD PERMITTED THE MISSION/REPORT 
ITSELF.  HE THEN RECOUNTED THE DRAFT REPORT'S MAJOR FINDINGS AS 
FOLLOWS: 
 
-- THE TEAM'S MANDATE WAS LIMITED TO TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS 
ONLY; HENCE, THE REPORT DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THE 
ACKNOWLEDGED FUNDAMENTAL POLITICAL ISSUES SURROUNDING THIS 
SUBJECT. 
 
-- THERE IS NO FAST TRACK LAND REFORM PLAN, AS SUCH, AT PRESENT 
(ONLY A 10-PAGE DESCRIPTIVE DOCUMENT).  WHAT IS PRESENTLY 
OCCURRING IS "AD HOC" AND HIGHLY VARIABLE WITHIN DIFFERENT 
REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY, DEPENDING UPON THE SPECIFIC CAPACITIES 
AND INCLINATIONS OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS AND THEIR STAFF. 
THE RESREP CHARACTERIZED THE SITUATION TO DATE AS "AD HOCISM, 
DEPENDING ON THE INSPIRATION OF THE MAIN PLAYERS." 
 
-- THE TEAM TRIED TO REMAIN WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE FAST 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ8189 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  06282  03 OF 04  071613Z 
ACTION AID-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  CIAE-00  DODE-00  SRPP-00 
      DS-00    EB-00    VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    VCE-00 
      NSAE-00  DSCC-00  PRM-01   DRL-02   NFAT-00  SAS-00     /003W 
                  ------------------9BFE3A  071613Z /38 
P 071612Z NOV 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7579 
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 006282 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
A/AID FOR R. MCCALL; AFR/SD FOR D. WELLER, W. WHELAN; AFR/SA FOR 
N. NEWMAN, C. PALMA 
 
STATE FOR AF/S RENDER AND KRAFT 
 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/10 
TAGS: EAGR, PGOV, EAID, ZI 
SUBJECT:  UNDP LAND REFORM INITIATIVE UPDATE 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  06282  03 OF 04  071613Z 
TRACK PROGRAM BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT GOVERNMENT MANDATED. 
 
-- AVAILABLE ADMINISTRATIVE AND INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY IS 
TOTALLY INADEQUATE FOR THE SCALE AND PACE OF THE ACCELERATED 
PROGRAM. 
 
-- OTHER MAJOR IMPEDIMENTS CITED INCLUDE: PROBLEMS WITH SELECTION 
OF BENEFICIARIES; LACK OF RESOURCES; CONFUSING INSTITUTIONAL 
ARRANGEMENTS; COURT RULINGS AGAINST THE GOZ TO DATE, INCLUDING 
THE PROBABILITY THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL RULE AGAINST THE 
GOVERNMENT ON CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS IN THE COMING WEEKS. 
COMMENT:  FOLLOWING THIS LISTING OF MAJOR IMPEDIMENTS, ONE IS 
LEFT WITH THE OBVIOUS QUESTION OF WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS IN THE 
CURRENT FAST TRACK PROGRAM?  END COMMENT. 
 
9.  (C) THE RESREP'S CONCLUSION WAS THAT THE ONLY WAY FORWARD IS 
THROUGH CONSENSUS AND DIALOGUE.  THE ONLY OTHER OPTION IS TO DO 
NOTHING, AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR ALL.  COMMENT: THERE IS NO 
DISAGREEMENT ON THIS POINT, EVEN IF EXPECTATIONS ARE LOW AT THIS 
TIME.  IN FACT, THAT HAS BEEN THE AGREED DONOR STRATEGY ALL ALONG 
-- KEEP TALKING -- EVEN IF NOT SUCCESSFUL, WHILE CONTINUING TO 
PURSUE ALTERNATIVE OR COMPLEMENTARY APPROACHES (LOCAL 
INITIATIVES) AND SCHEMES IF PERMITTED TO DO SO BY THE GOZ.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
10.  (C) A SERIES OF Q&AS FOLLOWED THIS PRESENTATION.  THE MOST 
IMPORTANT THEME WAS "WE WELCOME DIALOGUE AND THE UN ROLE IN 
ATTEMPTING TO FACILITATE THIS." 
 
11.  (C) THE EU REPRESENTATIVE BEST ARTICULATED THE CURRENT 
GENERAL DONOR POSITIONS ON THIS SUBJECT: (1) THE TEAM'S PREMISE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  06282  03 OF 04  071613Z 
OF RETAINING THE GOZ AS THE LEAD PLAYER IN LAND REFORM WAS 
UNFORTUNATE, AS THERE ARE MANY OTHER "COMPLEMENTARY" MARKET- 
ORIENTED, BOTTOM UP APPROACHES THAT WOULD RESULT IN MORE 
EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE AND TIMELY LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT (AS 
NOTED IN THE TEAM'S REPORT REGARDING THE KAROI INITIATIVE); (2) 
THAT THE TEAM'S TECHNICAL MANDATE WAS ANOTHER "FATAL FLAW", AS WE 
ALREADY IDENTIFIED THE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS IN 1998 
WHICH COULD READILY BE REVISED TO THE PRESENT CONTEXT. THE MOST 
SERIOUS ISSUES ARE POLITICAL; AND, THEREFORE, BY AVOIDING THIS 
ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM, THE TEAM'S RECOMMENDATIONS WERE DOOMED TO 
"MISS THE BOAT"; AND (3) THE SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY IS NOT 
STATIC AND, BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUING LAWLESSNESS, MANY DONOR 
HEADQUARTERS ARE REVIEWING ENTIRE ASSISTANCE PACKAGE TO ZIMBABWE. 
COMMENT:  THE RAPIDLY DETERIORATING ECONOMIC SITUATION FIGURES 
PROMINENTLY IN THESE DELIBERATIONS AS WELL.  END COMMENT. 
REPRESENTATIVES OF GERMANY, JAPAN AND CANADA ALSO OFFERED SIMILAR 
COMMENTS. 
 
12.  (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD SUBMITTED PARTICULARLY STRONG 
COMMENTS REGARDING THE NEED FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE RULE OF 
LAW AND ORDER, AND THE NEED FOR GOVERNMENT AND DONORS TO 
RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE A TWO-WAY STREET WITH 
DIALOGUE CRITICAL.  IN RESPONSE, THE RESREP ACKNOWLEDGED THESE 
SERIOUS CONCERNS, AND REFERRED TO THE TEAM'S RECOMMENDED LAND 
REFORM TRUST FUND PROPOSAL, AS AN INDICATION OF GOVERNMENT'S 
WILLINGNESS TO RE-ENGAGE DONORS ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM AS 
PREVIOUSLY ACCOMPLISHED AT THE 1998 DONOR'S CONFERENCE. 
ACCORDING TO THE RESREP, ALL OF THE "PRINCIPLES" AGREED TO AT THE 
CONFERENCE WERE NOW BACK ON THE TABLE. 
 
13.  (C) THE MEETING CONCLUDED WITH A DISTRIBUTION OF COPIES OF 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  06282  03 OF 04  071613Z 
THE TEAM'S DRAFT REPORT AND THE RESREP'S REQUEST TO MEET 
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, WITH A SMALLER MORE LIMITED GROUP OF 
SERIOUS POTENTIAL DONOR COUNTRIES, POSSIBLY RESTRICTED TO THE 
DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION OR AMBASSADORIAL LEVEL, TO FURTHER 
DISCUSS THE TECHNICAL REPORT (AS A MORE MANAGEABLE AND EFFECTIVE 
SIZE GROUP FOR ON-GOING DISCUSSIONS ON THIS SUBJECT). 
 
14.  (C) POST IS REVIEWING THE TECHNICAL REPORT AND DISCUSSING IT 
WITH OTHER KEY DONORS.  WE WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL COMMENTS 
SEPTEL. 
 
15.  (C) COMMENT: ASIDE FROM THE UPDATED INFORMATION ON FAST 
TRACK IMPLEMENTATION AND AGRICULTURE, IN GENERAL, THE BRIEFING 
DID NOT REALLY BREAK MUCH NEW GROUND.  A SUBSEQUENT REVIEW OF THE 
DRAFT REPORT SUPPORTS THE VARIOUS HIGHLIGHTS OUTLINED ABOVE (AND 
IN PRIOR BRIEFINGS ON THIS SUBJECT - SEE REFTELS).  GIVEN THE 
TEAM'S RESTRICTED MANDATE, CENTERED ON TRYING TO FIX THE 
UNFIXABLE (FAST TRACK PROGRAM), WE EXPECT THE REPORT ITSELF WILL 
MEET WITH LITTLE, IF ANY, SUCCESS.  MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY, 
HOWEVER, WILL BE IF THE UNDP CAN USE THE REPORT/INITIATIVE TO 
RESUSCITATE A MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE GOZ AND ALL KEY 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ8190 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  06282  04 OF 04  071613Z 
ACTION AID-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  CIAE-00  DODE-00  SRPP-00 
      DS-00    EB-00    VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    VCE-00 
      NSAE-00  DSCC-00  PRM-01   DRL-02   NFAT-00  SAS-00     /003W 
                  ------------------9BFE3C  071613Z /38 
P 071612Z NOV 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7580 
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 006282 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
A/AID FOR R. MCCALL; AFR/SD FOR D. WELLER, W. WHELAN; AFR/SA FOR 
N. NEWMAN, C. PALMA 
 
STATE FOR AF/S RENDER AND KRAFT 
 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/10 
TAGS: EAGR, PGOV, EAID, ZI 
SUBJECT:  UNDP LAND REFORM INITIATIVE UPDATE 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  06282  04 OF 04  071613Z 
STAKEHOLDERS ON THIS CRITICAL SUBJECT.  WHILE EXPECTATIONS REMAIN 
LOW FOR SERIOUS PROGRESS AT THIS TIME, WE REMAIN MOST SUPPORTIVE 
OF THE UN'S EFFORTS TO TRY.  END COMMENT. 
 
MCDONALD 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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