US embassy cable - 01HARARE1836

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001836 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/11 
TAGS: EAGR, PGOV, PHUM, PINR, EAID, ZI 
SUBJECT: MORE ON ZIMBABWE COMMERCIAL FARMERS' PROPOSAL 
TO RESOLVE LAND DISPUTE 
 
 
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REF: A) HARARE 1749, B) HARARE 1276, C) HARARE 1102 
 
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR 
REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
1.  (C) MALCOLM VOWLES, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE 
COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION (CFU), ELABORATED TO POLOFF ON 
JUNE 6 ON THE CFU'S NEW PROPOSAL TO THE GOVERNMENT OF 
ZIMBABWE (GOZ) TO RESOLVE THEIR LONG-SIMMERING IMPASSE 
ON LAND REFORM (SEE REF A FOR DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL). 
VOWLES STATED THAT BOTH THE CFU AND GOZ ARE INCREASINGLY 
WEARY OF THE LAND IMPASSE, AND BOTH ARE FEELING OUT A 
MODERATE APPROACH TO RESOLVE TENSIONS.  THE CFU'S 
SPECIAL CONGRESS IN MARCH (REF C) MANDATED THAT A 
SOLUTION BE FOUND, AND THIS LATEST PROPOSAL IS THE BEST 
ATTEMPT SO FAR.  THE OFFER AIMS TO MAKE THE GOZ'S "FAST- 
TRACK" EXERCISE A SUCCESS BY PROVIDING SOFT LOANS 
(FUNDED BY DONORS) AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT (PROVIDED BY 
THE COMMERCIAL FARMING COMMUNITY) TO RESETTLED FAMILIES 
IN EXCHANGE FOR AN END TO THE HARASSMENT OF COMMERCIAL 
FARMERS AND THE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF THEIR FARMS, 
VOWLES CONTINUED.  HE SAID THAT THE GOZ HAD THIS WEEK 
ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT OF THE CFU'S PROPOSAL, AND THAT IT 
HAD BEEN SENT TO A "COMPETENT," INTER-MINISTERIAL 
TECHNICAL TEAM FOR REVIEW.  THE TEAM'S FINDINGS ARE DUE 
TO BE SENT TO THE CABINET THE WEEK OF JUNE 11, THE CFU 
OFFICIAL REPORTED. 
 
2.  (C) AT A LARGE SOCIAL EVENT HELD JUNE 7 AND ATTENDED 
BY OVER 200 COMMERCIAL FARMERS, ECONOFF WAS TOLD BY 
THOSE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN MOVING THE PROPOSAL FORWARD 
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THAT THE TWO PARTIES HAD GONE BEYOND THE POSING STAGE, 
AND THAT SOME SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS WERE NOW UNDER WAY. 
INFORMED SOURCES TOLD THE USAID DIRECTOR THAT VICE- 
PRESIDENT MSIKA, AMONG OTHER CABINET MEMBERS, RECENTLY 
UPBRAIDED LANDS, AGRICULTURE AND RESETTLEMENT MINISTER 
JOSEPH MADE FOR MAKING STATEMENTS CONTRARY TO HIS OWN ON 
THE FARMERS' PROPOSAL.  THE AGRICULTURE MINISTER 
PUBLICLY REJECTED THE OFFER OUT OF HAND WHILE THE VICE- 
PRESIDENT HAD ANNOUNCED WITH CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT WAS STUDYING IT. 
 
3.  (C) COMMENT: THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS' READOUT IS ONE 
WE HAVE HEARD BEFORE, BUT EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF 
MOVEMENT IS BETTER THAN THE CURRENT IMPASSE.  EVEN IF 
THE GOZ TECHNICAL TEAM SMILES ON THE CFU'S PROPOSAL, THE 
FARMERS ARE PROBABLY OVEROPTIMISTIC ON ITS CHANCES IN 
THE GOZ CABINET.  VOWLES' COMMENTS LIKELY REFLECT 
HOPEFUL THINKING AMONG THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS THAT THE 
GOZ TRULY WANTS TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE LAND REFORM 
IMPASSE.  END COMMENT. 
 
IRVING 
 
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