US embassy cable - 01HARARE815

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000815 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDICKSON-HORTON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/11 
TAGS: EAGR, PGOV, PHUM, EAID, ZI 
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE'S COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION TO HOLD 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  00815  01 OF 03  231109Z 
SPECIAL CONGRESS OVER LAND REFORM AND ITS FUTURE PATH 
 
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D' AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR 
REASONS 1.5 (B/C/D). 
 
REF: HARARE 743 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (C) ZIMBABWE'S COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU) 
ANNOUNCED FEBRUARY 15 THAT IT WILL HOLD A SPECIAL 
CONGRESS ON MARCH 21 TO EXAMINE WAYS TO RE-ENGAGE THE 
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ) ON THE LAND ISSUE.  AN 
INDEPENDENT APPROACH TO THE GOZ ON THE LAND ISSUE BY A 
FORMER CFU PRESIDENT WAS SLAPPED BACK WITH HARDLY 
MEASURED DISDAIN.  THE GOZ RESPONSE IN THE PRESS IS THAT 
IT WOULD ONLY TALK TO INDIVIDUAL COMMERCIAL FARMERS, NOT 
THE CFU, WHOSE ONLY GOAL IS TO FRUSTRATE THE "FAST- 
TRACK" LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM.  THE 
MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL RESETTLEMENT, 
JOSEPH MADE, RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT THE GOZ HAD 
GAZETTED ANOTHER 33 COMMERCIAL FARMS FOR COMPULSORY 
ACQUISITION, AND THAT THE 5 MILLION HECTARES OF LAND 
PREVIOUSLY TARGETED UNDER "FAST-TRACK" IS ONLY A 
"MINIMUM" QUANTITY NEEDED FOR THE PROGRAM, ALTHOUGH NO 
NEW TARGET HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED.  MEANWHILE, TENSIONS 
CONTINUE TO SIMMER ON ZIMBABWE'S OCCUPIED COMMERCIAL 
FARMS, WITH TWO INCIDENTS IN THE LAST WEEK INVOLVING THE 
SHOOTING OF OCCUPIERS BY FARM GUARDS.  END SUMMARY. 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  00815  01 OF 03  231109Z 
 
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CFU TO CONVENE SPECIAL CONGRESS 
------------------------------- 
 
2. (U) THE PRESIDENT OF ZIMBABWE'S COMMERCIAL FARMERS 
UNION (CFU), TIM HENWOOD, ANNOUNCED ON FEBRUARY 15 THAT 
THE CFU WOULD HOLD A SPECIAL CONGRESS ON MARCH 21 TO TRY 
AND FIND A WAY TO RE-ENGAGE THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE 
(GOZ) ON LAND REFORM.  THE CONGRESS WILL ALSO DECIDE ON 
POSSIBLE CHANGES IN THE CFU'S NATIONAL LEADERSHIP.  THIS 
ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWED A CONTENTIOUS MEETING OF THE CFU'S 
25-MEMBER COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 13, AT WHICH DIVISIONS 
EMERGED REGARDING A CONSENSUS APPROACH TO THE GOZ'S 
"FAST-TRACK" RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM.  THE GOZ-CONTROLLED 
"THE HERALD" NEWSPAPER REPORTED ON FEBRUARY 17 THAT SOME 
COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE CFU, 
BLAMED THE CURRENT CFU NATIONAL LEADERSHIP FOR THE 
BREAKDOWN IN DIALOGUE WITH THE GOZ.  THESE COUNCIL 
MEMBERS REPORTEDLY WANT THE CFU TO ENDORSE THE "FAST- 
TRACK" PROGRAM AND WORK WITH THE GOZ TO SEE THAT THE 
PROGRAM SUCCEEDS. 
 
3. (C) ON FEBRUARY 21, ECONOFF SPOKE WITH RICHARD AMYOT, 
CFU DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR COMMODITIES, REGARDING THE 
UPCOMING SPECIAL CONGRESS.  AMYOT SAID THAT THE GOZ- 
CONTROLLED PRESS ACCOUNT OF A STORMY CFU COUNCIL MEETING 
WAS AN EXAGGERATION.  ACCORDING TO AMYOT, THERE WAS NO 
"BLOOD ON THE WALLS" AFTERWARDS.  AMYOT SAID THE COUNCIL 
MEETING WAS TRIGGERED BY BEHIND-THE-SCENES PRESSURE FROM 
GOZ MINISTERS INVOLVED IN "FAST-TRACK" (MINISTER OF 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  00815  01 OF 03  231109Z 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING, 
IGNATIUS CHOMBO, MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE AND 
RURAL RESETTLEMENT, JOSEPH MADE, AND MINISTER OF RURAL 
RESOURCES AND WATER DEVELOPMENT, JOYCE MUJURU), AND 
PRESIDENT MUGABE HIMSELF, TO REMOVE CFU PRESIDENT TIM 
HENWOOD, AND DIRECTOR DAVID HASLUCK.  AMYOT WAS ADAMANT 
THAT THE CFU WOULD NOT BE COWED BY THE GOZ, AND MADE 
CLEAR THAT THE CFU ELECTS ITS OWN LEADERSHIP IN A 
DEMOCRATIC FASHION.  THE SPECIAL CONGRESS, ACCORDING TO 
AMYOT, WILL CONSIDER WAYS TO RE-ENGAGE THE GOZ ON THE 
LAND ISSUE, AND WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO CHANGE ITS 
CURRENT NATIONAL LEADERSHIP.  HE ADDED THAT HE IS NOT 
SURE OF THE BENEFITS OF A SPECIAL CONGRESS, SINCE THE 
GOZ AND ZANU-PF ARE TREATING LAND AS A POLITICAL ISSUE 
AND DO NOT APPEAR INTERESTED IN ACHIEVING A 
COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION THROUGH A REASONED DIALOGUE AMONG 
ALL STAKEHOLDERS. 
 
------------------------------------- 
THE GOZ REJECTS DIALOGUE WITH THE CFU 
------------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) THE GOZ CONTINUES TO REJECT PUBLICLY ANY DIALOGUE 
WITH THE CFU.  MINISTER CHOMBO, WHO CHAIRS THE INTER- 
MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON LAND ACQUISITION, TOLD 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ2768 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  00815  02 OF 03  231109Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  COME-00 
      DODE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    EUR-00   VC-00    FRB-00 
      H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    L-00     VCE-00   AC-01 
      NSAE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00 
      ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00  BBG-00 
      PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-01   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00 
        /009W 
                  ------------------C95CC7  231110Z /38 
R 231107Z FEB 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8281 
INFO NSC WASHDC 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 000815 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDICKSON-HORTON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/11 
TAGS: EAGR, PGOV, PHUM, EAID, ZI 
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE'S COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION TO HOLD 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  00815  02 OF 03  231109Z 
SPECIAL CONGRESS OVER LAND REFORM AND ITS FUTURE PATH 
 
JOURNALISTS ON FEBRUARY 19 THAT THE GOZ "WILL HAVE 
DIALOGUE WITH THE FARMERS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO 
HAVE THE LAND AND NOT THE CFU.  THE CFU HAS BEEN USING 
FOREIGN FUNDING TO FIGHT GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAM, INCLUDING 
LAND REFORM.  HOW THEN ARE WE EXPECTED TO ENTER INTO 
DIALOGUE WITH THE UNION?"  HE ADDED THAT "IT WAS CLEAR 
THAT THE CFU WAS NO LONGER SPEAKING FOR FARMERS BUT HAD 
TURNED INTO A POLITICAL GROUP AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS 
CONSIDERING DE-REGISTERING THE UNION FOR ITS NEFARIOUS 
ACTIVITIES."  (COMMENT: THIS APPEARS TO BE A CLASSIC 
EXAMPLE OF ZANU-PF USING THEIR "DIVIDE AND CONQUER" 
STRATEGY BY ENCOURAGING DISSENT AMONG THE COMMECIAL 
FARMERS.)  MINISTER CHOMBO ALSO DISMISSED A PRIVATE 
SECTOR INITIATIVE UNDERTAKEN BY VARIOUS ZIMBABWEAN 
BUSINESS PEOPLE AND COMMERCIAL FARMERS AS AN ALTERNATIVE 
TO THE COMPULSORY ACQUISITION MODEL OF "FAST-TRACK" 
(REFTEL).  REGARDING THE PEOPLE BEHIND THIS INITIATIVE, 
CHOMBO SAID, "THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR 
BUSINESS.  WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN ALL THESE YEARS?" 
 
5. (C) POST OBTAINED FROM CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES THREE 
DOCUMENTS RELATED TO COMMERCIAL FARMERS' EFFORTS TO 
ENGAGE THE GOZ ANEW ON LAND REFORM.  THE FIRST IS A 
LETTER, DATED FEBRUARY 9, LABELED "SECRET" BY THE 
WRITER, FROM NICK SWANEPOEL, A FORMER CFU PRESIDENT, TO 
MINISTER CHOMBO, OFFERING TO MAKE CHANGES AT THE CFU IN 
ORDER TO BREAK THE IMPASSE ON LAND.  THIS OFFER 
INCLUDES: 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  00815  02 OF 03  231109Z 
=  1. CHANGING THE NAME AND LEADERSHIP OF THE CFU 
 
=  2. ASSURING THAT THE CFU WOULD BE STRICTLY APOLITICAL 
 
=  3. ACCEPTING THE GOZ REQUIREMENT OF 5 MILLION 
      HECTARES OF COMMERCIAL FARMLAND FOR RESETTLEMENT 
 
=  4. DROPPING ALL LAWSUITS AGAINST THE GOZ OVER 
      "FAST-TRACK" 
 
=  5. ASSURING COOPERATION OF COMMERCIAL FARMERS IN 
      ASSISTING RESETTLED PEOPLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS 
      FARMERS, AND 
 
=  6. LOBBYING DONORS TO RELEASE FUNDS TO SUPPORT 
      "FAST-TRACK" 
 
6.  (C) THE SECOND DOCUMENT IS A LETTER FROM MINISTER 
CHOMBO, DATED FEBRUARY 13, TO VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA 
REGARDING THE SWANEPOEL LETTER, IN WHICH CHOMBO STATES 
THAT HE VIEWS THE SWANEPOEL OFFER AS LIKELY BEING JUST 
ANOTHER DIVERSIONARY TACTIC OF THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS. 
THE THIRD DOCUMENT IS A LETTER FROM MSIKA TO CHOMBO, 
DATED FEBRUARY 19, IN WHICH MSIKA AGREES THAT THE 
SWANEPOEL OFFER COULD BE A DIVERSIONARY TACTIC, BUT THAT 
CHOMBO SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE LETTER AND INDICATE THAT 
BEFORE THE GOZ WILL SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE OFFER THEY 
EXPECT CONCRETE ACTION ON THE FIRST, FOURTH, AND SIXTH 
ITEMS OF THE PROPOSAL.  WE BELIEVE THAT THE "SECRET" 
LETTER FROM SWANEPOEL TO CHOMBO IS WHAT LED TO THE CFU 
FULL COUNCIL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 13, AND THE SUBSEQUENT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  00815  02 OF 03  231109Z 
DECISION BY HENWOOD TO CALL A CFU SPECIAL CONGRESS FOR 
MARCH 21. 
 
7. (U) HENWOOD REITERATED IN HIS FEBRUARY 15 PRESS 
RELEASE ANNOUNCING THE UPCOMING SPECIAL CONGRESS THAT, 
"THE CFU IS A POLITICALLY NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION WITH 
A MANDATE TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF ITS MEMBERS AND 
TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY."  AMYOT CLAIMED 
TO US THAT THE CFU RECEIVES NO FOREIGN FUNDING OF ANY 
KIND.  HE SAID THE CFU'S FUNDING IS DERIVED FROM FARMERS 
MEMBERSHIP FEES AND COMMODITY ASSOCIATION LEVIES ON 
FARMERS SALES OF PRODUCE.  AMYOT ADDED THAT WHILE THE 
SPECIAL CONGRESS WOULD EXAMINE HOW TO RE-ENGAGE 
CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH THE GOZ, THE CFU WAS ALSO URGING 
INDIVIDUAL FARMERS TO MAKE THE SAME EFFORTS IN THEIR 
DISTRICTS AND PROVINCES. 
 
--------------------------- 
THE GOZ GAZETTES MORE FARMS 
--------------------------- 
 
8. (C) THE GOZ CONTINUES TO GAZETTE FARMS FOR COMPULSORY 
ACQUISITION, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS ALREADY GAZETTED FARMS 
WITH A TOTAL HECTARAGE IN EXCESS OF FIVE MILLION 
HECTARES, THE AMOUNT IT PREVIOUSLY INDICATED WAS NEEDED 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ2770 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  00815  03 OF 03  231110Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  COME-00 
      DODE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    EUR-00   VC-00    FRB-00 
      H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    L-00     VCE-00   AC-01 
      NSAE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00 
      ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00  BBG-00 
      PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-01   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00 
        /009W 
                  ------------------C95CD6  231110Z /38 
R 231107Z FEB 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8282 
INFO NSC WASHDC 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 000815 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDICKSON-HORTON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/11 
TAGS: EAGR, PGOV, PHUM, EAID, ZI 
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE'S COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION TO HOLD 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  00815  03 OF 03  231110Z 
SPECIAL CONGRESS OVER LAND REFORM AND ITS FUTURE PATH 
 
FOR RESETTLEMENT.   LANDS, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL 
RESOURCES MINISTER JOSEPH MADE ANNOUNCED RECENTLY THAT 
THE GOZ HAD GAZETTED ANOTHER 33 COMMERCIAL FARMS, 
BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER GAZETTED TO MORE THAN 2700. 
ACCORDING TO MADE, DUE TO THE "INCREASING DEMAND" OF 
ZIMBABWEANS FOR LAND UNDER PHASE II OF "FAST-TRACK", 
"THE ACQUISITION OF FIVE MILLION HECTARES IS A MINIMUM 
THAT WE (THE GOZ) SET AS A REQUIREMENT.  NOW THAT WE 
HAVE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE FURTHER INDICATING THAT THEY 
REQUIRE LAND, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE ACQUIRING MORE 
UNDERUTILIZED LAND WHICH WE THINK IS IN EXCESS OF FIVE 
MILLION HECTARES."  (COMMENT: MADE'S STATEMENT THAT 5 
MILLION HECTARES IS NOW ONLY THE MINIMUM AMOUNT THAT THE 
GOZ REQUIRES FOR RESETTLEMENT TRACKS WITH OTHER SOURCES 
CLAIMS THAT THE 5 MILLION HECTARE TARGET HAS BEEN 
INCREASED.  WE BELIEVE THIS PROVIDES FURTHER 
CONFIRMATION THAT THE GOZ INTENDS TO USE PHASE II OF 
"FAST-TRACK" FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.  THE SCENARIO IS 
THAT THE GOZ WILL PROMISE LAND FOR COMMERCIAL FARMING TO 
THE ZIMBABWE MASSES IN RETURN FOR THEIR VOTES FOR MUGABE 
IN THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.  AFTER THE 
ELECTION, WE EXPECT THE GOZ TO CONVENIENTLY DETERMINE 
THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO APPLIED UNDER PHASE II WILL NOT 
QUALIFY FOR LAND.  END COMMENT) 
 
----------------------------------- 
TENSIONS CONTINUE ON OCCUPIED FARMS 
----------------------------------- 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  00815  03 OF 03  231110Z 
9. (U) TENSIONS CONTINUE TO SIMMER ON OCCUPIED 
COMMERCIAL FARMS, AS REVEALED BY TWO RECENT INCIDENTS IN 
MASVINGO PROVINCE.  ON FEBRUARY 13, FARM GUARDS OPENED 
FIRE ON A GROUP OF SQUATTERS, WOUNDING SEVEN.  TWO DAYS 
LATER, FARM GUARDS ON A DIFFERENT FARM OPENED FIRE ON 
SQUATTERS, WOUNDING THREE.  ECONOFF ASKED AMYOT, OF THE 
CFU, WHETHER HE THOUGHT THAT THESE WERE ISOLATED EVENTS 
OR INDICATED A TREND.  HE REPLIED THAT TENSIONS WERE 
HIGH ON OCCUPIED FARMS, AND THAT FARM OCCUPIERS IN 
MASVINGO PROVINCE, ESPECIALLY THE "WAR VETS", HAVE BEEN 
PARTICULARLY AGGRESSIVE BECAUSE OF THE ENCOURAGEMENT 
THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR JOSIAH 
HUNGWE.  ACCORDING TO AMYOT, THE FARM GUARDS HAD 
PROBABLY JUST REACHED THE BREAKING POINT AND DECIDED TO 
RESPOND TO THE UNENDING INTIMIDATION WITH FORCE. 
 
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COMMENT 
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10. (C) AT FIRST GLANCE, A CHANGE IN CFU LEADERSHIP AND 
DIRECTION WOULD APPEAR TO PROVIDE THE GOZ WITH SOME ROOM 
TO MANEUVER OUT OF THE CORNER IT HAS PLACED ITSELF IN 
WITH THE "FAST-TRACK" PROGRAM.  HOWEVER, WE ARE 
SKEPTICAL THAT A CHANGE IN THE CFU NATIONAL LEADERSHIP, 
OR AN OFFER BY THE CFU TO WORK WITH THE GOZ TO MAKE 
"FAST-TRACK" SUCCESSFUL, WILL END THE CURRENT IMPASSE. 
IT IS CLEAR THAT THE GOZ AND ZANU-PF ARE MANIPULATING 
THE LAND ISSUE FOR POLITICAL ENDS, AND ARE NOT SERIOUSLY 
INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING THE INEQUITABLE OWNERSHIP OF 
LAND IN ZIMBABWE.  THE EXCHANGE OF LETTERS BETWEEN 
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CHOMBO AND MSIKA SUGGEST THAT THE GOZ IS DETERMINED TO 
CONTINUE WITH THE "FAST-TRACK" PROGRAM, REGARDLESS OF 
ITS OBVIOUS SHORTFALLS, IN THE BELIEF THAT IT WILL 
RESONATE WITH ZIMBABWE'S POOR MASSES AND INCREASE THE 
CHANCES OF VICTORY IN THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION.  THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CFU AS A VIABLE 
ORGANIZATION AS A RESULT OF "FAST-TRACK" WOULD BE AN 
ADDED BENEFIT, AND THUS WE NOW SEE THE GOZ AND ZANU-PF 
USING THEIR "DIVIDE AND CONQUER" STRATEGY TO TRY TO 
BREAK UP THE CFU.  END COMMENT 
 
IRVING 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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