US embassy cable - 01HARARE573

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000573 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ILAB FOR RSHEPHARD 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL 01/30/11 
TAGS: ELAB, PREL, EAGR, PGOV, PREL, EAID, ZI 
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE LABOR FEDERATION LEADER SEEKS TO SEVER 
LABOR'S TIES TO THE OPPOSITION MDC 
 
REF: 00 HARARE 3680 
 
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D' AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR 
REASONS 1.5 (B/D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: THE ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS 
(ZCTU) WILL HOLD ITS FIVE-YEAR CONGRESS IN FEBRUARY. 
THE CONGRESS WILL FOCUS ON ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES, AND 
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL TOPICS.  THE ISSUE OF ZCTU TIES TO 
THE OPPOSITION MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) WILL 
NOT BE A FORMAL AGENDA ITEM, BUT WILL BE INDIRECTLY 
RAISED VIA THE PROPOSAL THAT LEADERS OF POLITICAL 
PARTIES CANNOT ALSO BE MEMBERS OF THE ZCTU EXECUTIVE 
COUNCIL.  WE BELIEVE THAT IF THE ACTING SECRETARY- 
GENERAL OF THE ZCTU, WHO IS WIDELY CONSIDERED TO BE PRO- 
ZANU-PF, IS ELECTED AS SECRETARY-GENERAL, HE WILL SEEK 
TO SEVER ALL TIES BETWEEN THE ZCTU AND THE MDC.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2. (U) ON JANUARY 10, LABOFF MET WITH THE ACTING 
SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE ZCTU, ISIDORE ZINDOGA, TO 
 
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DISCUSS THE UPCOMING CONGRESS TO BE HELD FEBRUARY 23-25 
IN MASVINGO.  THE ZCTU IS AN UMBRELLA LABOR ORGANIZATION 
COMPRISING 31 AFFILIATED UNIONS.  THE OPPOSITION MDC HAD 
ITS ROOTS IN THE ZCTU, AND MUCH OF THE MDC LEADERSHIP 
STILL FORMALLY HOLDS POSITIONS IN THE ZCTU. 
 
3. (SBU) LABOFF DURING THE MEETING QUERIED ZINDOGA ON 
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PAGE 03        HARARE  00573  01 OF 02  300741Z 
THE AGENDA OF THE CONGRESS, AND SPECIFICALLY IF THE 
CONGRESS WOULD DISCUSS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ZCTU 
AND THE MDC.  ZINDOGA STATED THAT THE CONGRESS WAS GOING 
TO DEAL PRINCIPALLY WITH UNION ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES, AS 
WELL AS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICY ISSUES.  HE TOLD US 
THERE WILL BE FOUR PRINCIPAL AGENDA ITEMS: 
 
A) ELECTING THE EXECUTIVE AND GENERAL COUNCILS OF THE 
ZCTU FOR THE NEXT FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.  THE EXECUTIVE 
COUNCIL CONSISTS OF A SECRETARY-GENERAL, TWO ASSISTANT 
SECRETARY-GENERALS, FOUR PRESIDENTS, AND A TREASURER. 
 
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THE GENERAL COUNCIL INCLUDES THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND 
TEN OTHER MEMBERS FROM INDIVIDUAL UNIONS.  THE GENERAL 
COUNCIL IS CONVENED IN LIEU OF A CONGRESS WHENEVER THERE 
ARE ACTIONS TO BE VOTED ON THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 
PROPOSES TAKING; 
 
B) REVIEWING THE ZCTU'S FINANCIAL BASE WITH THE GOAL OF 
ENSURING THAT THE ORGANIZATION WILL HAVE A SOUND 
FINANCIAL FOOTING FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS; 
 
C) DETERMINING THE ZCTU'S POSITIONS ON ECONOMIC AND 
SOCIAL POLICIES, IN ORDER TO PROTECT AND FURTHER WORKERS 
INTERESTS; 
 
D) FINDING WAYS TO STRENGTHEN THE ZCTU AND ITS 
AFFILIATED UNIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF ZIMBABWE'S SEVERE 
ECONOMIC DECLINE. 
 
4. (SBU) ZINDOGA STATED THAT ONLY UNDER THE LAST AGENDA 
ITEM WOULD THE ZCTU'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MDC COME UP. 
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PAGE 04        HARARE  00573  01 OF 02  300741Z 
HE WAS EMPHATIC THAT THERE IS NO LINKAGE BETWEEN THE 
ZCTU AND THE MDC, DESPITE THE CENTRAL ROLE THAT THE ZCTU 
HAD IN THE FORMATION OF THE MDC.  ACCORDING TO ZINDOGA, 
A GROUP OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS WAS RESPONSIBLE 
FOR THE FORMATION OF THE MDC.  HE STATED THAT SOME 
MEMBERS OF THE ZCTU, INDEPENDENT OF THEIR AFFILIATION 
WITH THE ORGANIZATION, BECAME HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE 
MDC.  ZINDOGA ADDED THAT THE CONGRESS WILL ADDRESS THIS 
PERCEPTION OF A ZCTU CONNECTION TO THE MDC BY DISCUSSING 
HOW THE ZCTU CAN BEST STRENGTHEN ITSELF AS AN 
INDEPENDENT LABOR ORGANIZATION.  ZINDOGA'S OWN VIEW IS 
THAT UNION MEMBERS SUPPORT DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES, 
THEREFORE, THE ZCTU MUST KEEP ITSELF ABOVE THE POLITICAL 
FRAY BY REMAINING INDEPENDENT OF ANY LINKAGE, OR 
PERCEPTION OF A LINKAGE, WITH ANY SPECIFIC POLITICAL 
PARTY. 
 
5. (SBU) ZINDOGA STATED WHEN THE CONGRESS CONSIDERS THE 
ELECTION OF THE NEXT EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, IT WILL ALSO 
ADDRESS WHETHER A POLITICAL PARTY LEADER OR EXECUTIVE 
CAN BE A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AT THE SAME 
TIME.  HIS OPINION IS THAT THE CONGRESS SHOULD DISALLOW 
THIS FOR TWO REASONS: THE ZCTU WISHES TO REMAIN AN 
ORGANIZATION INDEPENDENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND THEIR 
INFLUENCE, AND BEING A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 
IS A FULL-TIME RESPONSIBILITY THAT REQUIRES MEMBERS TO 
 
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                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ9241 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  00573  02 OF 02  300741Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   ACQ-00   CEA-01   CIAE-00 
      COME-00  CTME-00  DODE-00  WHA-00   SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00 
      EUR-00   EXIM-01  E-00     VC-00    FRB-00   H-01     TEDE-00 
      INR-00   IO-00    ITC-01   LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01 
      NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00 
      PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    SSO-00   STR-00   TRSE-00 
      USIE-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-01   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00 
      SAS-00     /013W 
                  ------------------BD79EB  300741Z /38 
R 300738Z JAN 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8124 
INFO DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 000573 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ILAB FOR RSHEPHARD 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL 01/30/11 
TAGS: ELAB, EAGR, PGOV, PHUM, PREL, EAID, ZI 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  00573  02 OF 02  300741Z 
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE LABOR FEDERATION LEADER SEEKS TO SEVER 
LABOR'S TIES TO THE OPPOSITION MDC 
 
DEVOTE ALL THEIR ENERGIES TO ZCTU BUSINESS.  ZINDOGA 
TOLD LABOFF THAT HE WILL BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION 
OF SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE ZCTU.  IF ELECTED, HE STATED 
HE WOULD WORK FOR A SOCIAL CONTRACT BETWEEN THE 
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ), LABOR AND BUSINESS IN 
ORDER TO STABILIZE PRICES AND WAGES, AND TO AID IN 
NATIONAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY WHILE ALSO DEVELOPING 
NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT AND HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS. 
 
6. (C) ZINDOGA HAS LEGITIMATE UNION CREDENTIALS HAVING 
BEEN INVOLVED IN UNION ORGANIZING AND MANAGEMENT HIS 
ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL LIFE.  IN ADDITION TO BEING ACTING 
SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE ZCTU, HE IS SECRETARY-GENERAL 
 
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OF THE ZIMBABWE LEATHER WORKERS UNION.  HE TOLD LABOFF 
THAT HE IS NOT PARTICULARLY CONCERNED WHETHER HE WILL BE 
ELECTED SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ZCTU, DUE TO HIS 
POSITION WITH THE LEATHER WORKERS UNION.  GEBRE 
GEBREMARIAM, THE AMCIT REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 
AFL-CIO SOLIDARITY CENTER HERE IN HARARE, TOLD LABOFF HE 
BELIEVES THAT ZINDOGA IS CLEARLY PRO-ZANU-PF, BUT THAT 
HE ALSO HAS THE ZCTU'S AND AFFILIATED UNIONS' INTERESTS 
AT HEART. 
 
6. (C) COMMENT: ALTHOUGH ALLEGATIONS HAVE BEEN 
REPEATEDLY RAISED THAT ZINDOGA IS PRO-ZANU-PF OR A 
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION (CIO) PLANT (DISCUSSED 
REFTEL), HE PRESENTS A CONVINCING IMAGE AS A CONCERNED 
TRADE UNIONIST AND DOES NOT COME ACROSS AS A RULING 
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PAGE 03        HARARE  00573  02 OF 02  300741Z 
PARTY HACK.  HOWEVER, ZINDOGA'S INSISTENCE THAT THERE IS 
NO LINKAGE OF ANY KIND BETWEEN ZCTU AND THE MDC IS 
HARDLY TENABLE, AS THE OPPOSITION PARTY DEFINITELY HAD 
ITS ROOTS IN THE ZCTU, AND COUNTS ON THE LABOR 
FEDERATIONS STRUCTURES AND THE SUPPORT OF ITS MOSTLY- 
URBAN, FORMALLY-EMPLOYED MEMBERSHIP. 
 
7. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED:  THE CONGRESS AGENDA ITEM 
STATING THAT MEMBERS OF THE ZCTU EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 
CANNOT BE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES 
IS CLEARLY AIMED AT REMOVING MDC LEADERS SUCH AS MORGAN 
TSVANGIRAI (PRESIDENT OF THE MDC WHO IS ON PAID LEAVE AS 
 
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THE ZCTU SECRETARY-GENERAL) AND ISAAC MATONGO (NATIONAL 
CHAIRMAN OF THE MDC AND AN ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE ZCTU) 
FROM THE ZCTU LEADERSHIP.  WE STRONGLY SUSPECT THAT 
ZINDOGA MAY BE DOING THE BIDDING OF ZANU-PF IN HIS 
CURRENT POSITION, WHICH WOULD BE GLAD TO SEE THE TIES 
BETWEEN THE ZCTU AND THE MDC SEVERED.  IF ZINDOGA IS 
ELECTED SECRETARY-GENERAL AND SUCCEEDS AT SEVERING THE 
TIES, IT WOULD BE A SEVERE BLOW TO THE MDC'S 
ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTH, AND ITS ABILITY TO MOUNT A 
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN IN THE 2002 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. 
END COMMENT. 
 
IRVING 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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