US embassy cable - 00HARARE6661

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 006661 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
PASS USAID FOR A/AID R.MCCALL AND AFR/SA FOR C.PALMA AND 
M.WILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2010 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EAGR, ZI 
SUBJECT: MFA PERMANENT SECRETARY ASKS FOR USG GESTURE 
ON LAND TO COINCIDE WITH MALLOCH-BROWN VISIT 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 
(B) AND (D). 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  06661  01 OF 02  281642Z 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: DURING AN HOUR AND A HALF MEETING 
NOVEMBER 28 MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMANENT 
SECRETARY WILLARD CHIWEWE SOUGHT AMBASSADOR MCDONALD'S 
 
SIPDIS 
PRACTICAL ADVICE ON HOW TO ENSURE THAT UNDP 
ADMINISTRATOR MARK MALLOCH-BROWN'S VISIT TO ZIMBABWE WAS 
A SUCCESS.  THE PERMANENT SECRETARY SAID HE WAS LOOKING 
FOR WAYS TO BUILD PRESIDENT MUGABE'S CONFIDENCE IN ORDER 
TO ACCEPT CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT INTERNATIONAL 
COMMUNITY WILL HAVE WITH RESPECT ZIMBABWE'S LAND REFORM 
PROGRAM, AND SOUGHT A SIGNAL FROM THE USG TO BOLSTER THE 
ADMINISTRATOR'S MISSION.  THE AMBASSADOR SAID HE WOULD 
HAVE TO CONSULT WITH WASHINGTON REGARDING HIS REQUEST, 
BUT ADVISED THE PRESIDENT NOT TO BE DEFENSIVE AND 
READILY AGREE TO RESTORE THE RULE OF LAW WITH RESPECT TO 
THE COMMERCIAL FARM OCCUPATIONS.  CHIWEWE TOLD THE 
AMBASSADOR THAT MUGABE WANTED TO SPEND SOME SUBSTANTIAL 
TIME WITH MALLOCH-BROWN AND WOULD GIVE THOSE KINDS OF 
ASSURANCES.  WHEN THE AMBASSADOR SUGGESTED THAT THE 
CLEAREST SIGNAL PRESIDENT MUGABE COULD SEND TO THE WEST 
DEMONSTRATING HIS SERIOUSNESS WOULD BE TO CALL ON THE 
WAR VETERANS TO LEAVE THE FARMS, THE PERMANENT SECRETARY 
SAID THAT THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE UNDER THE 
CIRCUMSTANCES.  INSTEAD, HE SUGGESTED AN ACCELERATED 
ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT PROCESS.  WE BELIEVE THAT 
CHIWEWE HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO ENGAGE IN SERIOUS 
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNDP AND GENUINELY WANTS USG 
INPUT.  IF WE COULD REPACKAGE THE UNDERSTANDINGS REACHED 
IN THE 1998 DONORS CONFERENCE AND SECURE ADDITIONAL 
PLEDGES, WE MIGHT HAVE A WIN-WIN PROPOSITION ON OUR 
HANDS.  CHIWEWE SEEMED TO TAKE OUR POINTS ON BOARD AND 
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PAGE 03        HARARE  06661  01 OF 02  281642Z 
THE ATMOSPHERICS WERE EXCELLENT.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C) DURING A ONE AND A HALF-HOUR MEETING NOVEMBER 28 
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMANENT SECRETARY WILLARD 
CHIWEWE INFORMED AMBASSADOR MCDONALD THAT HE HAD BEEN 
BUSY MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE NOVEMBER 30 VISIT OF 
UNDP ADMINISTRATOR MARK MALLOCH-BROWN.  ON NOVEMBER 27 
HE HAD CONSULTED UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE VICTOR 
ANGELO AND ZIMBABWEAN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE 
UNITED NATIONS TICHAONA JOKONYA, AND THOUGHT HE SHOULD 
TOUCH BASE WITH THE "CHIEF GLOBAL PLAYER," SO HE ASKED 
THE AMBASSADOR TO COME OVER FOR A PRACTICAL DISCUSSION 
ABOUT HOW TO GET SOMETHING DONE. CHIWEWE CAME STRAIGHT 
TO HIS POINT: HE ASKED WHETHER THE USG COULD "GIVE A 
SIGNAL" TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE THAT MALLOCH-BROWN 
IS SERIOUS AND THAT THE DONOR COMMUNITY SUPPORTS HIM. 
THE PERMANENT SECRETARY HAD ASKED ANGELO WHETHER THE 
UNDP COULD CONTRIBUTE A SYMBOLIC AMOUNT TO THE FUND FOR 
LAND REFORM, BUT THE LATTER UNDERSTANDABLY MADE NO 
COMMITMENT. 
 
3.  (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD REPLIED THAT HE WOULD HAVE 
TO CONSULT WITH WASHINGTON REGARDING HIS REQUEST.  THAT 
SAID, THE AMBASSADOR UNDERSCORED THE FACT THAT THIS WAS 
A "CRITICAL, CRITICAL" MEETING, BECAUSE ZIMBABWE WAS AT 
A FORK IN THE ROAD.  HE TOLD CHIWEWE THAT PRESIDENT 
MUGABE SHOULD EMBRACE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD. 
THE PERMANENT SECRETARY THEN ASKED THE AMBASSADOR, "WHAT 
DO YOU WANT THE PRESIDENT TO DO?"  CHIWEWE UNDERSCORED 
THAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR CANDID ADVICE.  THE AMBASSADOR 
REPLIED THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD SAY TO MALLOCH-BROWN 
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THAT HE NEEDS SUPPORT FOR HIS LAND REFORM PROGRAM AND 
SHOULD NOT ACT DEFENSIVELY. THE SENIOR ZIMBABWEAN 
DIPLOMAT REPORTED THAT, AS A SIGN OF THE IMPORTANCE 
PRESIDENT MUGABE ATTACHED TO THE VISIT, HE HAD SAID THAT 
HE WANTED "SOME REAL TIME WITH MR. BROWN."   CHIWEWE 
CONTINUED THAT HE WAS TRYING TO GET ALLIES TO BUILD 
CONFIDENCE SO THE PRESIDENT WOULD NOT FIND HIMSELF 
"BENDING TO AN UNBENDING ENVIRONMENT."  THE AMBASSADOR 
RESPONDED THAT THE MOST IMPRESSIVE THING MUGABE COULD DO 
TO SEND A CLEAR SIGNAL TO THE WEST WOULD BE FOR HIM TO 
GO TO HIS PORTICO AND CALL FOR THE WAR VETERANS TO LEAVE 
THE FARMS IMMEDIATELY.  IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN 90 
PERCENT OF THEM WOULD DO SO, THE AMBASSADOR STATED. 
 
4. (C) WHILE CHIWEWE APPRECIATED THE SUGGESTION, HE 
NOTED THAT MUGABE COULD NOT DO THAT, BECAUSE WHEN IT HAD 
BEEN TRIED IN THE PAST, WAR VETERANS LEFT THE PREMISES 
OF A FARM, BUT CAMPED BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ONLY TO 
RETURN LATER.  IF WE HAD A CLEAR 5 MILLION AVAILABLE 
HECTARES, THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR THE PRESIDENT TO 
SAY ANYTHING, THE PERMANENT SECRETARY SAID.  INSTEAD, 
CHIWEWE THOUGHT THE WAY TO PROCEED WOULD BE TO QUICKEN 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ6797 
 
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ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   A-00     ACQ-00 
      CIAE-00  DODE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    VC-00    TEDE-00 
      INR-00   VCE-00   M-00     NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   SSO-00 
      SS-00    DSCC-00  DRL-02   NFAT-00  SAS-00     /004W 
                  ------------------A4AEE7  281642Z /38 
O 281637Z NOV 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7728 
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI IMMEDIATE 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 006661 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
PASS USAID FOR A/AID R.MCCALL AND AFR/SA FOR C.PALMA AND 
M.WILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2010 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EAGR, UNDP, ZI 
SUBJECT: MFA PERMANENT SECRETARY ASKS FOR USG GESTURE 
ON LAND TO COINCIDE WITH MALLOCH-BROWN VISIT 
 
THE PACE THROUGH WHICH THE GOVERNMENT LEGALLY ACQUIRED 
FARMS AND MOVED PEOPLE ONTO THOSE FARMS.  "IT HAS TO BE 
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PAGE 02        HARARE  06661  02 OF 02  281642Z 
ACQUISITION, REMOVAL, ACQUISITION, REMOVAL, IN ORDER TO 
KEEP THE SITUATION CONTROLLED," HE ARGUED.  IF THE 
GOVERNMENT WERE TO PROVOKE POLITICAL DISCONTENT WE COULD 
ASSUME THAT "MISCHIEF BEGINS AMONG SUCH PEOPLE."  THE 
AMBASSADOR CAUTIONED THE PERMANENT SECRETARY THAT THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WOULD NOT PAY FOR LAND THAT 
WOULD GO TO CRIMINALS. 
 
5.  (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD THEN SUGGESTED THAT THE 
PRESIDENT MIGHT WISH TO MEET MALLOCH-BROWN FOR AN 
EXTENDED PERIOD ON THURSDAY AFTER HIS ARRIVAL AND THEN 
BEGIN DRAFTING A CLEAR STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIVE 
PRINCIPLES, AFTER WHICH THE TWO WOULD MEET TO ANNOUNCE 
IT.  CHIWEWE AGREED WITH THE CONCEPT, BUT SUGGESTED THE 
FOREIGN MINISTER AND MALLOCH-BROWN DO IT, AS THEY ARE ON 
THE SAME LEVEL. THE AMBASSADOR SUGGESTED THAT THE UNDP 
ADMINISTRATOR NEEDED TO LEAVE ZIMBABWE BEING ABLE TO SAY 
THAT HE MET PRESIDENT MUGABE AND THAT THE PRESIDENT 
WANTS THE RULE OF LAW TO PREVAIL ON THE COMMERCIAL 
FARMS.  HE WILL NEED THAT GUARANTEE FROM THE PRESIDENT, 
THE AMBASSADOR STRESSED.  "AND HE WILL GET IT," THE 
PERMANENT SECRETARY CONCLUDED. 
 
6.  (C) COMMENT: IN HIS OWN BLUNT AND PECULIAR MANNER, 
CHIWEWE IS ATTEMPTING TO BUILD BRIDGES FROM HIS 
GOVERNMENT TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.  HE MUST HAVE 
THE PRESIDENT'S NOD TO ENGAGE IN THESE PRACTICAL 
NEGOTIATIONS.  THE WORK HE HAS PUT IN PREPARING FOR THE 
MALLOCH-BROWN VISIT IS INDICATIVE OF THE IMPORTANCE HIS 
GOVERNMENT ATTACHES TO IT.  WE HAVE NOT SEEN THOROUGH 
PREPARATION LIKE THIS BEFORE ANY OTHER SUCH GATHERING. 
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THE WAY WE SEE IT, THE GOVERNMENT EITHER WILL TAKE THE 
OPPORTUNITY GIVEN BY THE VISIT TO DEFUSE TENSIONS AND 
BEGIN A SANE LAND REFORM PROGRAM, OR STEP UP THE PACE 
AND VIOLENCE OF THE CURRENT LAND GRAB.  WE NEED TO THINK 
CREATIVELY OF WAYS WE CAN ENCOURAGE THE GOZ IN THE RIGHT 
DIRECTION. 
 
7.  (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: WE CAN SUGGEST ONE WAY: TAKE 
THE LAND AND REFORM RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM THAT THE GOZ 
AND THE DONORS HAD AGREED TO IN 1998; THROW IN SOME NEW 
PLEDGES (FROM DONORS AND THE CFU) TO GET THE GOZ UP TO 
THE 5 MILLION HECTARES IT IS LOOKING FOR; "REPACKAGE" IT 
COMPLETE WITH A CLEVER NEW NAME THAT SINGS "LAND TO THE 
PEOPLE" TO ZIMBABWEANS AND "RULE OF LAW" TO CIVIL 
SOCIETY AND THE DONOR COMMUNITY; LET MUGABE DECLARE 
VICTORY AND CALL THE WAR VETERANS OFF THE FARMS; AND GET 
THE LAND PROGRAM BACK "ON-TRACK" AND THIS ECONOMIC AND 
POLITICAL TRANSITION OFF THE DIME.  WITH THE RIGHT 
NEGOTIATING SKILLS, THIS COULD BE PULLED OFF IN AN 
ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE NEEDS A WIN.  END COMMENT. 
 
MCDONALD 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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