US embassy cable - 01HARARE1470

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001470 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
 
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY 
 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/11 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE CABINET MINISTER KILLED IN CAR 
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ACCIDENT LEAVES GAPING HOLE IN RULING PARTY 
 
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EARL IRVING FOR REASONS: 
1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
1.  (U) YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, GENDER AND EMPLOYMENT 
CREATION MINISTER BORDER GEZI WAS KILLED IN AN APRIL 28 
CAR ACCIDENT ON THE HARARE-MASVINGO ROAD.  GEZI'S DRIVER 
WAS ALSO KILLED, AND HIS AIDE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.  A 
TIRE BLOWOUT APPARENTLY CAUSED GEZI'S OFFICIAL MERCEDES 
TO SWERVE OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A LARGE TREE.  THE 
APRIL 29 EDITION OF THE GOVERNMENT-INFLUENCED "SUNDAY 
MAIL" SHOWED GEZI'S CAR AS A BADLY CRUMPLED WRECK, WITH 
THE LEFT HALF OF THE CAR, WHERE GEZI WAS SEATED, MOSTLY 
SHEARED AWAY.  GEZI HAD BEEN ON HIS WAY TO MASVINGO 
TOWN, WHERE HE WAS DUE TO PRESENT ZIM$1.6 MILLION 
(US$16,000) TO LOCAL OFFICIALS FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS 
(NOTE: A MAYORAL ELECTION IS SCHEDULED IN MASVINGO FOR 
MAY 12-13.  END NOTE.)  PRESIDENT MUGABE SAID A FULL 
POLICE INVESTIGATION WOULD BE CARRIED OUT.  THE APRIL 30 
EDITION OF THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED "THE HERALD" SAID 
THE ZANU-PF POLITBURO WOULD MEET TODAY (APRIL 30) TO 
DECIDE WHETHER GEZI WOULD BE GRANTED NATIONAL HERO 
STATUS AND BURIED IN HEROES' ACRE. 
 
2.  (C) THE SUDDEN DEATH OF GEZI CREATES A GAPING HOLE, 
NOT ONLY IN CABINET, BUT ALSO IN THE RULING ZANU-PF 
STRUCTURE.  GEZI WAS A POLITBURO MEMBER AND ZANU-PF'S 
NATIONAL POLITICAL COMMISSAR, AND AS SUCH, WAS 
RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING PARTY ELECTIONS AND HAD LED 
THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE PARTY'S PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVES. 
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THE 36-YEAR-OLD MINISTER WAS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE PARTY'S 
MOST ENERGETIC PROMOTERS, AND HAS BEEN CREDITED WITH 
REJUVENATING THE PARTY AFTER ITS ELECTORAL SETBACKS LAST 
YEAR.  IN HIS PREVIOUS POST AS GOVERNOR OF MASHONALAND 
CENTRAL PROVINCE, GEZI LED THE CAMPAIGN OF TERROR 
AGAINST OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS IN HIS PROVINCE IN THE 
RUN-UP TO THE JUNE 2000 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. 
 
3.  (C) GEZI'S DEATH WILL ALSO RESULT IN A BY-ELECTION 
FOR HIS BINDURA PARLIAMENTARY SEAT.  THE CONSTITUENCY 
NORTH OF HARARE IN MASHONALAND CENTRAL WAS ONE OF THE 
MOST BRUTALIZED CONSTITUENCIES IN LAST YEAR'S ELECTION, 
AND OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS ARE STILL ROUTINELY HARASSED 
AND BEATEN THERE.  DESPITE THE VIOLENCE, GEZI WAS 
ELECTED BY A MARGIN OF ONLY 2,000 VOTES, THE ONLY 
MASHONALAND CENTRAL ELECTION WHERE THE MDC CAME EVEN 
REMOTELY CLOSE TO WINNING.  THE BY-ELECTION, WHENEVER IT 
IS HELD, WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE A VIOLENT AND BLOODY ONE. 
 
4.  (C) COMMENT: ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT CLEAR WHO WILL FILL 
GEZI'S SHOES, MT. DARWIN SOUTH MP SAVIOR "TYSON" 
KASUKUWERE APPEARS WELL-POSITIONED FOR THE JOB. 
KASUKUWERE WAS APPOINTED TO THE 30-MEMBER POLITBURO IN 
FEBRUARY THIS YEAR AND GIVEN THE PARTY'S PORTFOLIO OF 
DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS.  THE YOUTHFUL 
KASUKUWERE HAS A REPUTATION FOR ZEALOUSLY ATTACKING 
PARTY OPPONENTS -- BOTH FIGURATIVELY AND LITERALLY -- 
AND IS JUST THE SORT OF PERSON MUGABE WOULD PROBABLY 
LIKE TO HAVE AS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MINISTER.  GEZI IS 
BELIEVED TO HAVE USED MINISTRY RESOURCES FOR 
ESTABLISHING "TRAINING CENTERS" FOR ZANU-PF YOUTH AND 
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OTHER PARTY SUPPORTERS.  ALTHOUGH GEZI'S DEATH IS A BLOW 
TO THE ZANU-PF ESTABLISHMENT, THERE ARE OTHER YOUNG 
TOUGHS IN THE PARTY READY TO TAKE HIS PLACE.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
IRVING 
 
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