US embassy cable - 01HARARE1492

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 001492 
 
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: 05/02/11 
TAGS: EAGR, PGOV, PHUM, EAID, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT: AN UPDATE ON ZIMBABEWE'S "FAST-TRACK" LAND 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  01492  01 OF 04  031833Z 
PROGRAM 
 
REF: HARARE 1276 
 
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D' AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR 
REASONS 1.5 (B/D). 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (C) THE QUIET ATTEMPT BY THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION 
(CFU) TO RE-ENGAGE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ) 
ON LAND REFORM (REFTEL) HAS REACHED AN IMPASSE.  THE GOZ 
IS INSISTING AS A PRECONDITION FOR FURTHER TALKS THAT 
THE CFU WITHDRAW ITS LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE 
CONSTITUTIONALITY OF "FAST-TRACK", EVEN THOUGH THE 
SUPREME COURT HAS ALREADY RULED IN FAVOR OF THE CFU.  AT 
THE SAME TIME, THE GOZ, WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE AIR 
FORCE, ARMY, POLICE AND THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE 
ORGANIZATION (CIO), HAS BEGUN A NEW PUSH TO QUICKLY GET 
ADDITIONAL SQUATTERS ONTO COMMERCIAL FARMS NATIONWIDE. 
ON APRIL 25, THE GOZ-CONTROLLED "THE HERALD" NEWSPAPER 
REPORTED THAT THE GOZ PLANS TO SUBMIT A BILL TO 
PARLIAMENT THAT WILL LEGALIZE THE STATUS OF FARM 
INVADERS AND PREVENT THEIR EVICTION UNTIL THE GOZ IS 
ABLE TO RESETTLE THEM.  LARGE-SCALE WHITE COMMERCIAL 
FARMERS, WHO GROW MORE THAN 80 PERCENT OF ZIMBABWE'S 
WHEAT CROP, HAVE NOT RECEIVED GUARANTEES FROM THE GOZ 
THAT THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO HARVEST IF THEY PLANT AND 
THEREFORE HAVE DELAYED PLANTING A CROP.  CONTRARY TO 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  01492  01 OF 04  031833Z 
PUBLIC STATEMENTS BY THE GOZ THAT IT HAS BEGUN PAYING 
FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LAND ON ACQUIRED FARMS, THE CFU 
AND INDIVIDUAL FARMERS WE HAVE SPOKEN TO INSIST THAT TO 
DATE THEY HAVE RECEIVED NO PAYMENTS.  A VISIT TO TWO 
FARMS IN A DISTRICT SOUTHWEST OF HARARE INDICATES THAT 
THE GOZ IS PROVIDING LITTLE OR NO ASSISTANCE TO THE 
RESETTLED FARMERS.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
CFU - GOZ QUIET TALKS ON LAND REFORM DEADLOCKED 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
2. (C) ON APRIL 27, ECONOFF SPOKE WITH TIM HENWOOD 
(PROTECT), PRESIDENT OF THE CFU, AT THE ZIMBABWE 
INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR IN BULAWAYO.  HENWOOD SAID THAT 
THE QUIET TALKS INITIATED BY THE CFU WITH THE GOZ TO TRY 
AND FIND A WAY FORWARD ON LAND REFORM HAVE REACHED AN 
IMPASSE.  THE GOZ IS INSISTING THAT THE CFU MUST 
WITHDRAW ITS LITIGATION AGAINST THE GOZ OVER THE "FAST- 
TRACK" RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM BEFORE THE GOZ WILL TALK 
FURTHER WITH THE CFU.  THE CFU NEGOTIATING TEAM WAS TOLD 
BY GOZ OFFICIALS THAT THE LAWSUIT, AND THE SUPREME COURT 
JUDGEMENT IN THE CFU'S FAVOR ON THE SUIT, IS VERY 
EMBARRASSING TO PRESIDENT MUGABE.  HOWEVER, HENWOOD SAID 
THAT THE CFU CANNOT WITHDRAW A LAWSUIT UPON WHICH A 
COURT HAS ALREADY RENDERED JUDGEMENT. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
A NEW GOZ PUSH TO GET MORE SQUATTERS ON FARMS 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  01492  01 OF 04  031833Z 
3. (C) ON APRIL 12 ECONOFF SPOKE WITH TIM EVANS 
(PROTECT), THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CFU MWENEZI DISTRICT 
FARMERS ASSOCIATION.  (NOTE: MWENEZI IS LOCATED IN 
SOUTHERN ZIMBABWE NEAR THE BORDER WITH SOUTH AFRICA. 
END NOTE.)  EVANS STATED THAT THREE TEAMS FROM THE GOZ 
NATIONAL LAND TASK FORCE (NLTF) HAD RECENTLY VISITED 
OCCUPIED FARMS IN MWENEZI AND TWO NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS. 
THE MWENEZI DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR (DA), WHO IS ON 
FRIENDLY TERMS WITH THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS, TOLD EVANS 
THAT THE THREE TEAMS WERE HEADED UP BY ZIMBABWE AIR 
FORCE VICE MARSHALL MUCHENA, ZIMBABWE NATIONAL ARMY 
MAJOR GENERAL NYAMBUZA, AND ZIMBABWE REPUBLIC POLICE 
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF CRIME MUTANGA.  CENTRAL 
INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION AGENTS WERE ALSO TEAM MEMBERS. 
ACCORDING TO THE DA, THE PURPOSE OF THE NLTF TEAMS 
VISITS WAS TO GO TO OCCUPIED FARMS AND TELL THE INVADERS 
THAT THEY HAD TO STAY ON THE FARMS, AND THAT THEY NEEDED 
TO FIND ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO INVADE FARMS.  ACCORDING TO 
THE DA, THIS IS PART OF THE GOZ'S EFFORT TO GET ANOTHER 
2,500 INVADERS ONTO COMMERCIAL FARMS IN EACH OF 
ZIMBABWE'S TEN PROVINCES -- FOR A TOTAL OF 25,000 NEW 
INVADERS NATIONWIDE -- BY JUNE.  EVANS STATED THAT THE 
MAJORITY OF THE OCCUPIED FARMS IN MWENENZI AND THE TWO 
NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS HAVE NOT BEEN LISTED FOR 
COMPULSORY ACQUISITION BY THE GOZ.  HE ADDED THAT IT WAS 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ2896 
 
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INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00 
      COME-00  DINT-00  DODE-00  DOTE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00 
      EUR-00   FAAE-00  FBIE-00  VC-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  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-01   DRL-02 
      G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /009W 
                  ------------------E66A11  021425Z /38 
R 021432Z MAY 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8769 
INFO NSC WASHDC 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 001492 
 
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: 05/02/11 
TAGS: EAGR, PGOV, PHUM, EAID, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT: AN UPDATE ON ZIMBABEWE'S "FAST-TRACK" LAND 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  01492  02 OF 04  021425Z 
PROGRAM 
 
COMPLETELY ILLOGICAL THAT THE GOZ WAS ENCOURAGING FARM 
INVASIONS AND RESETTLEMENT IN THIS REGION, SINCE MWENEZI 
AND THE OTHER TWO DISTRICTS ARE LOCATED IN AN EXTREMELY 
DROUGHT-PRONE REGION IN WHICH THE MAJORITY OF COMMERCIAL 
FARMERS ARE LARGE-SCALE CATTLE RANCHERS OR INVOLVED IN 
WILDLIFE RANCHING AND GAME PARK OPERATIONS.  TIM HENWOOD 
TOLD ECONOFF THAT SIMILAR NLTF TEAMS HAVE BEEN VISITING 
FARMS IN ALL TEN OF ZIMBABWE'S PROVINCES OVER THE LAST 
FEW WEEKS. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
A GOZ BILL TO LEGALIZE THE FARM INVADERS 
---------------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) ON APRIL 25, THE GOZ-CONTROLLED "THE HERALD" 
NEWSPAPER REPORTED THAT THE GOZ IS GOING TO SUBMIT A 
BILL TO PARLIAMENT THAT WILL LEGALIZE THE STATUS OF 
ILLEGAL OCCUPIERS ON COMMERCIAL FARMS.  THE BILL WILL 
NULLIFY SUPREME COURT AND HIGH COURT RULINGS REQUIRING 
THAT ILLEGAL OCCUPIERS BE IMMEDIATELY EVICTED FROM 
COMMERCIAL FARMS AND OTHER OCCUPIED LANDS.  THE BILL 
INCLUDES SPECIFIC PROVISIONS REGARDING WHEN INDIVIDUALS 
MUST HAVE OCCUPIED FARMS, AND ENTITLES THEM TO LEGAL 
PROTECTION FROM EVICTION FOR SPECIFIC PERIODS UNTIL THE 
GOZ IS ABLE TO RESETTLE THEM.  THE BILL GIVES PRESIDENT 
MUGABE, ALL CABINET MINISTERS, AND ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS 
DESIGNATED BY THE PRESIDENT, AUTHORITY TO CERTIFY ANY 
FARM INVADERS AS "PROTECTED PERSONS" WHO CANNOT BE 
EVICTED FROM THE FARMS THEY OCCUPY.  (COMMENT: RECENT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  01492  02 OF 04  021425Z 
GOZ PRACTICE INDICATES THAT THE RULING PARTY WILL FAST- 
TRACK THE BILL THROUGH PARLIAMENT, WITH LITTLE OR NO 
DEBATE AND NO AMENDMENTS, AND ITS LEGAL PROVISIONS WILL 
THEN BE INTERPRETED LIBERALLY BY THE GOZ.  END COMMENT.) 
 
------------------------------------- 
COMMERCIAL FARMERS NOT PLANTING WHEAT 
------------------------------------- 
 
5. (C) AS OF APRIL 27, COMMERCIAL FARMERS WHO NORMALLY 
GROW OVER EIGHTY PERCENT OF ZIMBABWE'S WHEAT AND PLANT 
AT THE END OF APRIL, HAD NOT BEGUN PLANTING THIS YEAR'S 
CROP.  CFU PRESIDENT HENWOOD TOLD ECONOFF THAT THE 
FARMERS HAD STILL NOT RECEIVED ANY GUARANTEE FROM THE 
GOZ THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HARVEST A WHEAT CROP IF 
PLANTED.  WITHOUT SUCH A GUARANTEE, ZIMBABWE'S BANKS 
WILL NOT LOAN MONEY FOR WHEAT PLANTING, AND THE FARMERS 
THEMSELVES WILL NOT RISK THEIR PERSONAL CAPITAL ON 
PLANTING A CROP THEY MAY NOT BE ALLOWED TO HARVEST AND 
SELL.  IN ADDITION, HENWOOD SAID THAT MOST OF ZIMBABWE'S 
LARGEST WHEAT GROWERS ARE IN THE THREE MASHONALAND 
PROVINCES, WHERE WAR VETS HAVE RECENTLY BECOME MORE 
AGGRESSIVE IN INTERFERING WITH FARM OPERATIONS. 
ZIMBABWE ONLY HAS AN ESTIMATED TWO-MONTH SUPPLY OF WHEAT 
REMAINING, AND IF THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS ARE NOT ALLOWED 
TO PLANT WHEAT IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, ZIMBABWE WILL BE 
REQUIRED TO IMPORT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL TONS 
OF WHEAT OVER ITS NORMAL IMPORT REQUIREMENTS AT A TIME 
WHEN THE GOZ HAS NO HARD CURRENCY.  WHEAT IS AN 
IRRIGATED CROP IN ZIMBABWE, AND THE MAJORITY OF COMMUNAL 
FARMERS DO NOT HAVE THE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS REQUIRED FOR 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  01492  02 OF 04  021425Z 
GROWING WHEAT AND THUS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FILL THE VOID 
LEFT IF COMMERCIAL FARMERS DO NOT PLANT. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
GOZ NOT PAYING FARMERS FOR FARMS ALREADY ACQUIRED 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
6. (C) CONTRARY TO ITS STATEMENTS IN THE PRESS, THE GOZ 
HAS YET TO PAY COMMERCIAL FARMERS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO 
THE LAND FOR FARMS THAT HAVE BEEN TURNED OVER TO THE 
GOZ.  A NUMBER OF FARMS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE GOZ BY 
INDIVIDUAL FARMERS FOR RESETTLEMENT SINCE "FAST-TRACK" 
BEGAN LAST JUNE.  THIS SITUATION HAS LEFT THESE FARMERS, 
WHO IN GOOD FAITH CEDED THEIR FARMS TO THE GOZ, 
FINANCIALLY HIGH-AND-DRY.  IN ONE EXAMPLE, A CHEGUTU 
CATTLE RANCHER, WHO OWNED FOUR PIECES OF LAND THAT 
TOGETHER MADE UP HIS RANCH, OFFERED THE TWO OUTLYING 
PIECES OF LAND TO THE GOZ LAST JULY.  HE STILL HAS NOT 
RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THE GOZ REGARDING THESE TWO 
PIECES OF LAND, LET ALONE PAYMENT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO 
THE LAND, WHEN ECONOFF VISITED HIM ON APRIL 10.  IN 
ADDITION, THE MAIN PIECE OF LAND THAT IS THE HEART OF 
HIS RANCH, AND ON WHICH HIS HOUSE IS LOCATED, WAS 
INVADED BY ALLEGED WAR VETS AND OTHER PEOPLE IN 
SEPTEMBER.  AS A RESULT OF AGGRESSIVE POACHING BY THE 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ2898 
 
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ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00 
      COME-00  DINT-00  DODE-00  DOTE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00 
      EUR-00   FAAE-00  FBIE-00  VC-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  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-01   DRL-02 
      G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /009W 
                  ------------------E66A22  021426Z /38 
R 021432Z MAY 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8770 
INFO NSC WASHDC 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 001492 
 
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: 05/02/11 
TAGS: EAGR, PGOV, PHUM, EAID, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT: AN UPDATE ON ZIMBABEWE'S "FAST-TRACK" LAND 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  01492  03 OF 04  021426Z 
PROGRAM 
 
INVADERS, HE WAS FORCED TO SELL OFF HIS CATTLE AND HAS 
BEEN LEFT WITHOUT A FARMING INCOME.  MANY OTHERS ARE IN 
SIMILAR DIRE STRAITS. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
RESETTLED ZIMBABWEANS ARE LEFT BLOWING IN THE WIND 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
7. (C) ON APRIL 10, ECONOFF TOURED CHEGUTU DISTRICT 
SOUTHWEST OF HARARE WITH ED GUNDRY (PROTECT), THE 
CHAIRMAN OF THE CFU MASHONALAND WEST - SOUTH REGION 
(WITHIN WHICH CHEGUTU DISTRICT FALLS), AND BEN FREETH 
(PROTECT), THE REGIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THIS SAME 
DISTRICT.  IN ADDITION TO VISITING TWO COMMERCIAL FARMS 
WHERE TOBACCO IS THE PRINCIPAL CROP AND CATTLE RANCHING 
IS A SIDE VENTURE, ECONOFF VISITED TWO FARMS IN CHEGUTU 
THAT HAVE BEEN "RESETTLED" BY THE GOZ -- ONE DURING 
1998, AND THE OTHER SINCE "FAST-TRACK" BEGAN IN JUNE OF 
LAST YEAR.  BOTH OF THESE FARMS WERE FORMERLY LARGE- 
SCALE TOBACCO AND CATTLE RANCHING OPERATIONS.  THE SOIL 
ON THESE FARMS IS VERY SANDY, MAKING IT IDEAL FOR 
GROWING TOBACCO, AND SUITABLE FOR CATTLE RANCHING GIVEN 
SUFFICIENT GRAZING AREA.  THIS SOIL IS NOT WELL SUITED 
FOR GROWING MAIZE OR OTHER CROPS WITHOUT EXTENSIVE USE 
OF FERTILIZER AS WELL AS CROP ROTATION. 
 
8. (C) THE FARM THAT WAS RESETTLED IN JUNE LAST YEAR WAS 
NEARLY DESERTED.  ACCORDING TO FREETH, A YEAR EARLIER IT 
HAD BEEN A THRIVING TOBACCO FARM WITH A LARGE CATTLE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  01492  03 OF 04  021426Z 
HERD.  NOW VISIBLE WERE OCCASIONAL THATCH-ROOFED MUD 
HUTS, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH APPEARED UNOCCUPIED. 
ACCORDING TO FREETH, MOST OF THOSE RESETTLED LEFT 
SHORTLY AFTER BUILDING THE HUTS WHEN THEY REALIZED HOW 
POOR THE SOIL WAS FOR GROWING MAIZE AND THAT THEY WERE 
NOT GOING TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOZ.  IN EVIDENCE 
WERE A FEW SMALL PATCHES OF STUNTED MAIZE CROPS, NONE OF 
WHICH WERE GOING TO PRODUCE EDIBLE MAIZE.  WEEDS WERE 
GROWING IN THE FORMER TOBACCO FIELDS AND THE GRAZING 
AREAS WERE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING OVERTAKEN BY SCRUB. 
 
9. (C) THE FARM RESETTLED IN 1998 WAS MARGINALLY 
DIFFERENT IN CONDITION FROM THE ONE RESETTLED AFTER 
"FAST-TRACK" LAST JUNE.  THIS PROPERTY HAD MORE FAMILIES 
VISIBLY LIVING ON SITE IN THEIR MUD HUTS, WITH MORE 
PLOTS OF STUNTED MAIZE, AS WELL AS COTTON, MOST OF WHICH 
HAD NOT FLOWERED TO PRODUCE A CROP.  THERE WAS ALSO THE 
OCCASIONAL COW VISIBLE.  THE FORMER TOBACCO FIELDS, 
EXCEPT FOR THE SCATTERED PLOTS OF STUNTED MAIZE AND 
COTTON, WERE COMPLETELY OVERGROWN WITH WEEDS.  THERE WAS 
NO INDICATION THAT THE GOZ HAD PROVIDED ANY 
INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS DAMS, IRRIGATION 
SYSTEMS OR BUILDINGS IN THE MORE THAN TWO YEARS SINCE 
RESETTLEMENT.  WHILE THE GOZ MAY HAVE PROVIDED SEED 
PACKS AND FERTILIZER TO THOSE RESETTLED, THIS WAS 
CLEARLY NOT SUFFICIENT ASSISTANCE EVEN TO MAKE THEM 
SUCCESSFUL SUBSISTENCE FARMERS. 
 
10. (C) GUNDRY, THE CFU CHAIRMAN FOR THIS DISTRICT, SAID 
THAT THIS PATTERN WAS REPLICATED ACROSS THE DISTRICT 
WHERE THE GOZ HAD "RESETTLED" PEOPLE WITHOUT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  01492  03 OF 04  021426Z 
INTERNATIONAL DONOR ASSISTANCE.  ON THE WAY BACK TO THE 
REGIONAL CFU OFFICE, WE DROVE BY ANOTHER PIECE OF LAND 
THAT WAS OVERGROWN WITH WEEDS AND BRUSH AND APPEARED 
ABANDONED.  GUNDRY STATED THAT THIS FARM HAD ALSO BEEN 
"RESETTLED" IN 1998 BY THE GOZ.  HOWEVER, A FEW MONTHS 
LATER, ACCORDING TO GUNDRY, AN INDIVIDUAL WITH 
CONNECTIONS TO ZANU-PF DROVE DOWN TO CHEGUTU FROM 
HARARE, AND TOLD THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ALL HAD TO LEAVE 
THE LAND BECAUSE IT WAS NOW HIS PROPERTY.  AS A RESULT, 
THE PEOPLE LEFT THE LAND, MOST LIKELY, ACCORDING TO 
GUNDRY, TO HEAD BACK TO THE COMMUNAL LANDS FROM WHICH 
THEY CAME. 
 
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COMMENT 
------- 
 
11. (C) ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE GOZ IS GOING TO 
CONTINUE MOVING AHEAD WITH ITS "FAST-TRACK" RESETTLEMENT 
PROGRAM REGARDLESS OF THE COSTS TO ZIMBABWE IN TERMS OF 
DRAMATICALLY DECREASED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND THE 
COUNTRY BECOMING A PARIAH STATE FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT. 
THE FACT THAT "FAST-TRACK" IS NOT LAND REFORM BUT AN 
ILL-CONCEIVED POLITICAL PATRONAGE PLAN TO INCREASE 
SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT MUGABE IN THE UPCOMING 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ2899 
 
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INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00 
      COME-00  DINT-00  DODE-00  DOTE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00 
      EUR-00   OIGO-00  FAAE-00  FBIE-00  VC-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  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-01 
      DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /009W 
                  ------------------E66A27  021426Z /38 
R 021432Z MAY 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8771 
INFO NSC WASHDC 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 001492 
 
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: 05/02/11 
TAGS: EAGR, PGOV, PHUM, EAID, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT: AN UPDATE ON ZIMBABEWE'S "FAST-TRACK" LAND 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  01492  04 OF 04  021426Z 
PROGRAM 
 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS PAINFULLY OBVIOUS TO NEARLY 
ALL, BUT IRRELEVANT TO THE GOZ.  IN THE SHORT-RUN AND 
LONG-RUN IT IS GOING TO BE THE ZIMBABWEAN PEOPLE WHO 
SUFFER THE COSTS OF THIS FOLLY.  THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE 
OF THE PEOPLE BEING "RESETTLED", WHO ARE LITERALLY 
DUMPED ONTO LAND, GIVEN NO TITLE DEED TO THE LAND, AND 
PROVIDED WITH NONE OF THE TRAINING, INPUTS OR 
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ARE NEEDED TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL 
FARMERS.  COMPOUNDING THIS PROBLEM IS THE FACT THAT 
RESETTLEMENT IS ALSO BEING CARRIED OUT IN AREAS NOT 
SUITABLE FOR SMALL-SCALE OR EVEN SUBSISTENCE MAIZE 
FARMING.  THE RESULT IS A TRAGEDY IN THE MAKING, OF A 
MAGNITUDE THAT SHOULD NOT SHOCK WHEN IT FINALLY ARRIVES. 
END COMMENT. 
 
IRVING 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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