US embassy cable - 01HARARE2787

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 002787 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER 
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/11 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT:  FM MUDENGE LECTURES THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY CDA RICHARD ROTH FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND 
(D). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: IN AN EXCRUCIATING TWO- 
HOUR LECTURE TO THE FULL DIPLOMATIC CORPS SEPTEMBER 20 
ZIMBABWE FOREIGN MINISTER MUDENGE EXTOLLED THE GREAT 
SUCCESS OF THE ABUJA AGREEMENT BECAUSE "EVERYONE 
AGREED ON THE CENTRALITY OF THE LAND ISSUE", PRAISED 
THE SADC HEADS OF STATE MEETING (SEPTEMBER 10-11) 
BECAUSE THEY AFFIRMED THE ABUJA AGREEMENT ON LAND 
REFORM, AND LAID DOWN A MARKER ON THE NEED FOR FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENTS TO "HONOR AND RESPECT" ZIMBABWE'S LAW 
PROHIBITING THE FOREIGN FINANCING OF POLITICAL 
PARTIES.  HE ALSO DEVOTED A PORTION OF HIS 
PRESENTATION ON THE RECENT KIGALI POLITICAL COMMITTEE 
MEETING ON THE DRC (SEE SEPTEL).  WHILE TRYING TO 
REMAIN WITHIN HIS ROLE AS FOREIGN MINISTER MUDENGE 
FREQUENTLY DONNED HIS FAR MORE PARTISAN HAT AS A ZANU- 
PF MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT (MP), CONVENIENTLY SWEEPING 
ASIDE THE OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ASPECTS OF THE ABUJA AND 
SADC MEETINGS ON RULE OF LAW, CESSATION OF 
INTIMIDATION AND GOVERNMENT-CONDONED VIOLENCE.  IT 
WILL BE VERY HARD TO LEVEL THIS PLAYING FIELD IF 
MUDENGE ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE POLICY INTENTIONS OF 
MUGABE AND HIS INNER CIRCLE, WHICH WE BELIEVE HE DOES. 
END SUMMARY AND COMMENT. 
 
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ABUJA:  LAND, LAND, LAND 
------------------------ 
 
2.  (C) IN DESCRIBING THE SEPTEMBER 6 ABUJA MEETING, 
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PAGE 03        HARARE  02787  01 OF 02  211042Z 
MUDENGE SAID THAT INITIALLY IT WAS HEADED FOR A 
DISASTER BECAUSE OF THE TOTALLY INCOMPATIBLE 
PERSPECTIVES OF THE GOZ WITH THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS. 
IN HIS VIEW, IT WAS THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF NIGERIAN 
PRESIDENT OBASANJO THAT THE MEETING WAS "SAVED" 
BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO "DOWNPLAY" THE OTHER 
"EXTRANEOUS" ISSUES THAT THE OTHER DELEGATES WANTED TO 
DISCUSS AND PLACE THE FOCUS ON THE LAND REFORM 
QUESTION.  MUDENGE CLAIMED THAT THE OTHER DELEGATES 
AGREED IN THE END TO THE "CENTRALITY" OF THE LAND 
ISSUE, BUT EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT HOW IT WAS 
BEING IMPLEMENTED.  HE MENTIONED RULE OF LAW, VIOLENCE 
AND THE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY AS BEING THE PRINCIPLE 
CONCERNS OF THE OTHER DELEGATES.  IN THE END THE 
COMPROMISE WAS ACCEPTED OUTLINING THE PRINCIPLES OF 
WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A "PACKAGE DEAL" WITH THE 
COMMITMENTS OF EACH PARTY CLEARLY DEFINED. 
 
3.  (C) MUDENGE ASSERTED THAT THE GOZ INTENDS TO HONOR 
THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER OF THE ABUJA AGREEMENT, BUT 
WILL DO SO IN A VERY DELIBERATE FASHION.  HE 
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONDUCTED A 12- 
HOUR INTERNAL MEETING OF THE POLITBURO TO DISCUSS THE 
IMPLICATIONS OF ABUJA AND HOW TO IMPLEMENT IT.  HE 
CLAIMED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS ACCUSED BY SOME 
POLITBURO MEMBERS OF SELLING OUT.  NEVERTHELESS, THE 
GOZ WILL PUT IN PLACE A MECHANISM TO IMPLEMENT THE 
ABUJA AGREEMENT NEXT WEEK.  HE FRANKLY ACKNOWLEDGED 
THAT THERE HAVE BEEN INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE UP UNTIL 
NOW, BUT ASCRIBED THIS TO THE FACT THAT THERE HAD NOT 
BEEN AN IMPLEMENTING MECHANISM IN PLACE.  HE STATED 
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PAGE 04        HARARE  02787  01 OF 02  211042Z 
FLATLY THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND ZANU-PF WILL GREATLY 
REDUCE VIOLENT INCIDENTS AND BRING ABOUT A RETURN TO 
NORMALCY.  HE ALSO SAID THAT THE GOZ WILL STOP ANY NEW 
OCCUPATIONS. 
 
4.  (C) MUDENGE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD 
NOT YET HAD A SERIOUS MEETING WITH THE COMMERCIAL 
FARMERS, SOME OF WHOM BELIEVE THERE WILL BE "FULL 
COMPENSATION" FOR THEIR LAND.  BUT, HE CLAIMED, MANY 
WILL NOT TAKE COMFORT FROM THIS BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS 
NOT MONEY, BUT LAND, AND MANY COMMERCIAL FARMERS WILL 
TRY TO ENSURE THAT ABUJA WILL NOT SUCCEED.  "WE INTEND 
TO FULFILL OUR COMMITMENTS AND WE HOPE THAT THE UK, 
AUSTRALIA AND CANADA WILL FULFILL THEIRS".  HE ALSO 
EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT OTHERS WOULD ASSOCIATE 
THEMSELVES WITH THIS COMMITMENT, I.E. BE PREPARED TO 
CONTRIBUTE MONEY FOR LAND REFORM. 
 
--------------------------------- 
SADC:  WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER 
--------------------------------- 
 
5.  (C) MUDENGE'S DESCRIPTION OF THE SADC MEETING ALSO 
EXCLUDED VIRTUALLY EVERY SUBSTANTIVE ISSUE EXCEPT 
LAND.  HE ATTEMPTED TO SPIN THE MEETING AS ONE IN 
 
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                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ3686 
 
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INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    ACQ-00   CIAE-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    LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00 
      AC-01    NSAE-00  OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00 
      ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    IRM-00   SSO-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00 
      R-00     PMB-00   DSCC-00  DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00 
        /007W 
                  ------------------22B247  211042Z /38 
O 211022Z SEP 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9787 
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 002787 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER 
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/11 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT:  FM MUDENGE LECTURES THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS 
 
WHICH "EVERYONE" HAD AGREED THAT LAND WAS THE CENTRAL 
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PAGE 02        HARARE  02787  02 OF 02  211042Z 
ISSUE.  HE ALSO TRIED TO MAKE THE CASE THAT ZIMBABWE'S 
ECONOMIC WELFARE AFFECTED THE WELFARE OF THE REST OF 
THE REGION AND THAT WAS EXACTLY WHY SANCTIONS WOULD 
HAVE VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR ZIMBABWE'S SADC 
NEIGHBORS.  "VILIFYING AND DEMONIZING ZIMBABWE HAS A 
NEGATIVE ON THE WHOLE REGION AND DISCOURAGES ECONOMIC 
ACTIVITY".  MUDENGE THEN DRONED ON ABOUT ZIMBABWE'S 
INTER-DEPENDENT ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH SOUTH AFRICA, 
BOTSWANA AND MOZAMBIQUE.  ONLY TOWARD THE END DID HE 
ACKNOWLEDGE SADC'S CONCERN ABOUT THE "PERCEPTION OF 
VIOLENCE AND RANDOM INTIMIDATION", BUT TRIED TO 
DISMISS THIS AS "MANUFACTURED PROPAGANDA". 
 
------------------------ 
STAY OUT OF OUR POLITICS 
------------------------ 
 
6.  (C) AFTER AN IMPASSIONED PLEA FOR UN SECURITY 
COUNCIL PERM-5 MEMBERS TO URGE THEIR CAPITOLS TO 
SUPPORT AN INSERTION OF A LARGE UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE 
IN THE DRC TO REPLACE THE SMALL UN OBSERVER FORCE, 
MUDENGE ADDED AN UNANNOUNCED ITEM TO HIS AGENDA. 
TELLING THE ASSEMBLED DIP CORPS THAT HE WAS APPEALING 
TO THEM AS A MINISTER AND NOT AS A ZANU-PF MP, HE 
LAUNCHED INTO A NONE TOO THINLY VEILED WARNING THAT 
THEIR GOVERNMENTS MUST "HONOR AND RESPECT" THE 
RECENTLY PASSED GOZ LAW PROHIBITING THE FOREIGN 
FINANCING OF POLITICAL PARTIES.  HE SAID BLUNTLY THAT 
THIS WOULD MEAN THAT DIRECT FOREIGN SUPPORT OF THE MDC 
IS FORBIDDEN.  AS FOREIGN MINISTER HE HOPED THAT 
ACCREDITED GOVERNMENTS WOULD SEE ADHERENCE TO THIS LAW 
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PAGE 03        HARARE  02787  02 OF 02  211042Z 
IN THE CONTEXT OF GOOD RELATIONS.  TO STRENGTHEN HIS 
POINT MUDENGE CLAIMED THAT THE GOZ HAD "COPIED FROM 
SOME OF YOUR LAWS" IN WRITING ITS OWN SIMILAR 
LEGISLATION.  "THIS LAW IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR 
SOVEREIGNTY, INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-RESPECT.  LET US 
MAKE OUR OWN MISTAKES ACCORDING TO OUR NATIONAL 
CHARACTER.  WE HAVE OUR OWN POLITICAL CULTURE, PLEASE 
LET US FOLLOW IT ON OUR OWN." 
 
7.  (C) SHEDDING HIS MINISTERIAL CLOAK, MUDENGE 
INFORMED THE AUDIENCE THAT ZANU-PF INTENDS TO FIGHT 
VERY STRONGLY AGAINST EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE.  AS 
FOREIGN MINISTER HE HOPED THAT HE WOULD NOT HAVE TO 
CALL IN ANY OF THE AMBASSADORS OR CHARGES TO CONFRONT 
THEM WITH VIOLATIONS BY THEIR GOVERNMENTS OF 
ZIMBABWE'S LAWS.  HOWEVER, HE ADDED, HE WOULD NOT 
HESITATE TO DO SO IF THE GOZ'S INFORMATION WAS 
SUFFICIENT TO "PROVE" THAT FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS WERE 
BREAKING THE GOZ'S LAWS. 
 
------------------- 
ADDITIONAL COMMENT: 
------------------- 
 
8.  (C) AS ONE OF THE HARDLINERS WITHIN THE GOZ AND 
ZANU-PF, MUDENGE GAVE A VERY FRANK OUTLINE OF THE 
GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGY: PORTRAY RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AS 
SUPPORTING THE GOZ'S POLICIES ON LAND REFORM, DOWNPLAY 
ANY EFFORTS TO FOCUS ON RULE OF LAW, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND 
INTIMIDATION ISSUES, AND CAST THE UPCOMING ELECTION AS 
A "VICTORY" FOR ZANU-PF IN FINALLY GETTING BACK THE 
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PAGE 04        HARARE  02787  02 OF 02  211042Z 
LAND FOR THE MAJORITY OF ZIMBABWE'S CITIZENS.  A 
BACKGROUND THEME WILL BE TO BLAME ANY LACK OF SUCCESS 
ON EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE AND TO TRY AND LIMIT ANY 
SUPPORT TO THE MDC TO THE BAREST MINIMUM.  IN THE 
CONTEXT OF THIS MEETING THERE WASN'T EVEN A HINT AT 
THE POSSIBILITY OF ELECTION MONITORS/OBSERVERS OR 
PARTICIPATION BY EXTERNAL ACTORS.  GIVEN MUDENGE'S 
MARKER ON ASSISTANCE TO POLITICAL PARTIES, WE STRONGLY 
BELIEVE THAT GETTING INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL PROGRAMS IN 
HERE WILL BE A VERY TOUGH CHALLENGE AND HIGHLY 
UNWELCOMED BY THE MUGABE GOVERNMENT. 
 
ROTH 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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