US embassy cable - 00HARARE6283

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 006283 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AND AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
NNEWMAN 
 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
PASS USTR - ROSA WHITAKER 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  06283  01 OF 02  071644Z 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/10 
TAGS: PGOV, EAGR, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT: THE AMBASSADOR CALLS ON A MUGABE LOYALIST 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD.  REASONS 1.5 (B) 
AND (D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: AMBASSADOR MCDONALD, ACCOMPANIED BY 
LABOFF, PAID A CALL NOVEMBER 6 ON OLIVIA MUCHENA, 
MINISTER OF STATE FOR VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH MSIKA, A 
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, AND A MEMBER OF THE ZANU-PF 
CENTRAL COMMITTEE.  THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT WAS TO 
GAUGE THE WILLINGNESS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE 
(GOZ) TO ENTER INTO DIALOGUE WITH THE OPPOSITION 
POLITICAL PARTY MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC), AS 
WELL AS OTHER CIVIL SOCIETY STAKEHOLDERS.  WHILE THE 
VISIT WAS GENERALLY CORDIAL, THE MINISTER DISPLAYED 
COMPLETE INTRANSIGENCE ON THE POSSIBILITY OF THE GOZ 
ENTERING INTO DIALOGUE WITH THE OPPOSITION.  PERHAPS OF 
EVEN GREATER CONCERN, SHE MADE CLEAR THAT THE GOZ WAS 
MOVING FORWARD WITH ITS FAST TRACK LAND REFORM AND 
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM COME HELL-OR-HIGH-WATER, AND THAT 
SHE EXPECTED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO ANTE UP AT 
THE END OF THE PROCESS TO MAKE IT ALL WORK.  A PINPOINT 
OF HOPE WAS HER RECOGNITION THAT COMBATING THE HIV/AIDS 
PANDEMIC IS AN ISSUE THAT REQUIRES COOPERATION BETWEEN 
ALL SIDES. END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD PAID A VISIT TO OLIVIA 
MUCHENA, THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  06283  01 OF 02  071644Z 
WHO HAS ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LAND 
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM.  MUCHENA IS ALSO A MEMBER OF 
PARLIAMENT, A MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF ZANU- 
PF, AND A TWENTY-YEAR SUPPORTER OF PRESIDENT MUGABE. 
 
----------------------------------- 
NO REASON FOR DIALOGUE WITH THE MDC 
----------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) AFTER EXCHANGING PLEASANTRIES, THE AMBASSADOR 
EXPLAINED THAT HE WANTED TO USE HIS OFFICE TO HELP 
BRIDGE THE GULF THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS BETWEEN THE GOZ 
AND ZANU-PF ON ONE SIDE, AND THE OPPOSITION MDC ON THE 
OTHER.  THE AMBASSADOR REVEALED HIS CONCERN THAT 
PRESSURE WAS INCREASING IN ZIMBABWE, AND THAT FOOD RIOTS 
TWO WEEKS AGO MAY BE JUST THE FIRST INDICATION OF MORE 
DISTURBANCES TO COME.  WHAT WAS NEEDED IS TO GET THE TWO 
SIDES TALKING, AND THE AMBASSADOR WISHED TO BE A 
CATALYST.  HE ASKED MINISTER MUCHENA WHAT WAS NEEDED TO 
GET THE GOZ AND ZANU-PF TO SIT DOWN WITH THE MDC TO 
START TALKING.  MINISTER MUCHENA STATED THERE WAS 
NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT WITH THE MDC.  WHEN THE MDC MADE 
THE MOTION TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT MUGABE, IT CLEARLY 
INDICATED THERE WAS TO BE NO DIALOGUE.  THIS STEP, 
COMBINED WITH REPEATED CALLS BY THE MDC LEADERSHIP FOR 
PRESIDENT MUGABE'S RESIGNATION BY DECEMBER, HAD SLAMMED 
THE DOOR SHUT ON THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY TALKS BETWEEN 
THE TWO SIDES.  SHE STATED THERE COULD BE NO TALKS UNTIL 
THE MDC WITHDREW ITS MOTION FOR IMPEACHMENT AND 
RENOUNCED ITS CALLS FOR MUGABE TO RESIGN. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  06283  01 OF 02  071644Z 
----------------------------------- 
NO REASON FOR DIALOGUE WITH THE CFU 
----------------------------------- 
 
4. (C)  THE AMBASSADOR THEN EXPRESSED HIS CONCERNS ABOUT 
THE ONGOING FAST TRACK LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT 
PROGRAM, AND ITS MOVEMENT FORWARD WITHOUT THE 
COOPERATION OF THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU) OR THE 
INTERNATIONAL DONOR COMMUNITY.  HE ASKED IF IT WOULDN'T 
BE USEFUL FOR THE GOZ TO TAKE A PAUSE IN THE PROGRAM, 
SIT DOWN WITH THE CFU AND COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON A 
PROGRAM THAT BOTH COULD SUPPORT, AND THEN PRESENT IT TO 
THE DONORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT.  AT THIS POINT MINISTER 
MUCHENA EMBARKED ON A VITRIOLIC DIATRIBE AGAINST THE 
CFU.  SHE STATED THAT WHEN SHE HAD TRIED TO TALK WITH 
THE CFU THEY HAD MOCKED HER AS A PERSON OF NO 
CONSEQUENCE.  IN HER OPINION THE CFU HAD CONSISTENTLY 
SABOTAGED EVERY REASONABLE ATTEMPT AT LAND REFORM OVER 
THE LAST TWENTY YEARS, AND YET THEY ARE THE DARLINGS OF 
THE INTERNATIONAL DONOR COMMUNITY.  THE AMBASSADOR 
RESPONDED BY INDICATING THAT THE CFU WAS PART OF THE 
PROBLEM, BUT THAT THEIR COOPERATION WAS STILL ESSENTIAL 
TO STRIKING ANY DEAL. 
 
AMBASSADOR MCDONALD THEN CHANGED TACK AT THIS POINT AND 
INDICATED THAT A SPECIFIC CONCERN OF HIS WERE THE FARM 
WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ON THE COMMERCIAL FARMS WHO 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ8379 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  06283  02 OF 02  071644Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   ACQ-00   CIAE-00  COME-00 
      INL-00   DINT-00  DODE-00  DOTE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EUR-00 
      FAAE-00  FBIE-00  VC-00    H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   L-00 
      VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00  OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00 
      PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    IRM-00   STR-00   TRSE-00 
      USIE-00  R-00     PMB-00   DSCC-00  DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00 
      SAS-00     /006W 
                  ------------------9C037C  071649Z /38 
P 071643Z NOV 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7582 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 006283 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AND AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
NNEWMAN 
 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
PASS USTR - ROSA WHITAKER 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  06283  02 OF 02  071644Z 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/10 
TAGS: PGOV, EAGR, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT: THE AMBASSADOR CALLS ON A MUGABE LOYALIST 
 
HAD BEEN THREATENED AND AT TIMES ASSAULTED SINCE 
FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, AND WERE NOT BEING PLANNED FOR AS 
FAR AS HE COULD TELL IN THE GOZ'S RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM. 
RATHER THAN RESPOND TO THIS ISSUE, MINISTER MUCHENA 
LAUNCHED INTO ANOTHER DIATRIBE ON HOW BLACK ZIMBABWEANS 
HAD BEEN UPROOTED IN THE 1952 - 1965 PERIOD, WITH THEIR 
LAND AND ANIMALS STOLEN, FORCED TO BURN THEIR OWN HOUSES 
AND POSSESSIONS.  SHE SAID THERE COULD BE NO DIALOGUE ON 
LAND REFORM.  THE PEOPLE SUPPORT THE PROGRAM, AND THEY 
WANT THE GOZ TO COMPLETE IT BY THE END OF NOVEMBER SO 
THAT THE GOZ CAN GET ON TO OTHER BUSINESS. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL SAVE THE DAY 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
5. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD RETURNED TO THE GENERAL THEME 
OF HIS CONCERN THAT TENSIONS WERE DANGEROUSLY INCREASING 
IN ZIMBABWE AND THERE WAS A NEED FOR THE GOZ TO BEGIN 
DIALOGUE WITH THE OPPOSITION.  HE STATED HE WAS 
CONCERNED WITH THE ANGER OF THE YOUTH IN THE HIGH- 
DENSITY SUBURBS OF HARARE AND OTHER URBAN AREAS.  ANGER 
OVER RISING FOOD PRICES, FUEL COSTS, AND ESPECIALLY THE 
LACK OF JOBS, THE AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED, COMPOUNDED BY 
THE POSSIBILITY THAT ZIMBABWE MAY FACE FOOD SHORTAGES IN 
THE FUTURE DUE TO THE CURRENT RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM. 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  06283  02 OF 02  071644Z 
LANDLESS PEOPLE ARE JUST BEING TAKEN OUT TO COMMERCIAL 
FARMS AND DROPPED OFF, WITHOUT THE GOZ BEING ABLE TO 
PROVIDE THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND INPUTS SUCH AS 
SEEDS, FERTILIZER, AND TRACTORS THEY WILL NEED TO BE 
SUCCESSFUL FARMERS, AND THIS SITUATION WOULD INEVITABLY 
LEAD TO PROBLEMS FOR ZIMBABWE.  MINISTER MUCHENA 
RESPONDED THAT HER VISITS TO THE HIGH-DENSITY SUBURBS 
HAD REVEALED THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE SUPPORTED THE GOZ AND 
ZANU-PF AND THEY NOW REALIZE THEY HAD BEEN MISLED BY THE 
MDC.  ON THE ISSUE OF PEOPLE BEING DUMPED ON FARMS 
WITHOUT THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE, INPUTS, AND 
SUPPORT, SHE LOOKED RIGHT AT THE AMBASSADOR AND STATED, 
"YOUR GOVERNMENT CAN EASILY PROVIDE THESE THINGS." 
 
------------------------------------- 
AN ISSUE TO UNITE ZANU-PF AND THE MDC 
------------------------------------- 
 
6. (C) IN A CLOSING EFFORT TO ELICIT SOME SLIVER OF 
COMPROMISE FROM THE MINISTER, THE AMBASSADOR RAISED THE 
AIDS EPIDEMIC RAVAGING ZIMBABWE.  HE POINTED OUT THAT 
THIS DISEASE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE PARTY AFFILIATION, BUT IS 
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY KILLER OF BOTH ZANU-PF AND MDC 
MEMBERS.  THIS ISSUE APPEARED TO STRIKE A CHORD WITH THE 
MINISTER AND SHE LET HER GUARD DOWN SOMEWHAT, AGREEING 
THAT ALL ZIMBABWEANS NEEDED TO WORK TOGETHER ON IT. 
IGNORING THE PARTY ISSUE, SHE WENT TO HER DESK AND 
HANDED THE AMBASSADOR A PAMPHLET ON A PROGRAM SHE HAD 
DEVISED TO DEVELOP SPORTS LEAGUES FOR YOUTH IN RURAL 
AREAS AND TO USE SPORTING EVENTS TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE 
ABOUT HIV/AIDS AND ITS PREVENTION. 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  06283  02 OF 02  071644Z 
 
7. (C) COMMENT: MINISTER MUCHENA'S HARDLINE ATTITUDE IS 
REFLECTIVE OF THE FORTRESS MENTALITY THAT HAS TAKEN HOLD 
OF PRESIDENT MUGABE AND HIS SUPPORTERS IN THE GOZ AND 
ZANU-PF.  HER DENIAL OF THE LOSS OF SUPPORT AND NON- 
RECOGNITION THAT PRESSURE IS BUILDING FOR CHANGE, 
NECESSITATING DIALOGUE WITH THE OPPOSITION, REFLECTS 
ACCURATELY HOW OUT OF TOUCH THE HARDLINERS ARE.  MOST 
WORRISOME, THOUGH, WAS HER STATEMENT THAT THE GOZ WOULD 
PUSH AHEAD WITH AND COMPLETE BY THE END OF NOVEMBER THE 
FAST TRACK LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM, 
IGNORING CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY AGRICULTURAL EXPERTS, 
DOMESTIC PUBLIC OPINION, AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 
THAT IT WILL BE DISASTROUS FOR ZIMBABWE.  END COMMENT. 
 
MCDONALD 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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