US embassy cable - 01HARARE3131

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 003131 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL. 10/19/11 
TAGS: PREL, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT MUGABE AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS TERRORISM, LAND, 
AND ELECTION OBSERVERS 
 
CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF MATT HARRINGTON.  REASONS: 
1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  (C) IN AN HOUR-LONG MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN ON 
OCTOBER 18, PRESIDENT MUGABE THANKED THE U.S. FOR ITS ROLE IN 
SUPPORTING ZIMBABWEAN INDEPENDENCE AND FOR ITS SIGNIFICANT 
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SINCE 1980.  HE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE 
SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS IN NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON AND PROMISED 
ZIMBABWE'S COOPERATION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM.  MUGABE 
DELIVERED A 40-MINUTE HISTORY LESSON ON THE LAND QUESTION, IN 
WHICH THE BRITISH WERE THE PRIMARY VILLAINS.  HE REJECTED 
CRITICISM THAT ZIMBABWE IS PLAGUED BY LAWLESSNESS, BLAMING THAT 
PERCEPTION ON BRITISH PROPAGANDA, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THE OCCURRENCE 
OF "ISOLATED INCIDENTS." 
 
2.  (C) THE ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT RECALLED THAT ELECTION OBSERVERS 
HAD BEEN WELCOMED IN EVERY ELECTION SINCE INDEPENDENCE, BUT HE WAS 
SUSPICIOUS THAT SOME IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SEEMED "TOO 
EAGER" TO OBSERVE THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL VOTE.  HE SAID THE GOZ 
WOULD ALSO WELCOME OBSERVERS THIS TIME, BUT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE 
IMPARTIAL, AND SAID THE ELECTION WOULD BE HELD ON TIME, BEFORE THE 
END OF MARCH 2002.  AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN PRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF 
NON-VIOLENCE IN LAND REFORM AND THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, AND 
EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF PERMITTING THE PARTICIPATION OF 
INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVERS.  HE DESCRIBED THE BONA FIDES OF 
THE U.S.-BASED INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ELECTION SYSTEMS 
(IFES), AND ADVOCATED THAT ITS ADMISSION TO ZIMBABWE WELL IN 
ADVANCE OF THE ELECTION WOULD DEMONSTRATE THE GOZ'S COMMITMENT TO 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03131  01 OF 04  191134Z 
CONDUCTING A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION.  PRESIDENT MUGABE CLEARLY 
MADE AN EFFORT TO BE FRIENDLY, POSITIVE, SEPARATE US FROM THE 
BRITISH, AND OPEN CHANNELS OF DIALOGUE.  END SUMMARY. 
 
3.  (U) AFTER PRESENTING HIS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT MUGABE ON 
OCTOBER 18, AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN MET WITH THE ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT 
FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR.  THE PRESIDENT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY FOREIGN 
MINISTER MUDENGE, MFA DIRECTOR OF PROTOCOL NGONI CHIDEYA, AND MFA 
AMERICAS DESK OFFICER RICHARD CHIBUWE.  THE AMBASSADOR WAS JOINED 
BY THE DCM, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, DATT, ACTING USAID DIRECTOR, 
AND POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF. 
 
U.S. - ZIMBABWE RELATIONSHIP 
---------------------------- 
 
4.  (C) PRESIDENT MUGABE WELCOMED AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN TO ZIMBABWE 
AND CONGRATULATED HIM ON HIS APPOINTMENT.  HE PRAISED THE UNITED 
STATES' ROLE IN HELPING FOSTER ZIMBABWEAN INDEPENDENCE, AND 
EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR U.S. SUPPORT SINCE 1980.  AMBASSADOR 
SULLIVAN AGREED THAT THE UNITED STATES AND ZIMBABWE HAVE ENJOYED 
GOOD RELATIONS OVER THE YEARS.  WE HAD OPPOSED THE IAN SMITH 
REGIME, HE RECALLED, AND HAVE PROVIDED MORE THAN $700 MILLION IN 
ASSISTANCE TO ZIMBABWE SINCE INDEPENDENCE.  THE USG, HE CONTINUED, 
WAS CURRENTLY WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE GOZ IN THE AREAS OF 
INFECTIOUS DISEASES, DEMINING, AND PARLIAMENTARY STRENGTHENING. 
 
WAR AGAINST TERRORISM 
--------------------- 
 
5.  (C) MUGABE EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN OVER THE SEPTEMBER 11 
TERRORIST ATTACKS.  THE GOZ, HE SAID, HAD WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03131  01 OF 04  191134Z 
EMBASSY TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY AFTER THE 1998 ATTACKS ON EMBASSIES 
NAIROBI AND DAR ES SALAAM, AND STILL HAS THE SAME INCLINATION TO 
COOPERATE.  MUGABE ACKNOWLEDGED THE PRESENCE IN ZIMBABWE OF SOME 
INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT WANT TO ENGAGE IN UNSAVORY ACTIVITIES, BUT 
HE URGED THAT "WE WATCH THEM CLOSELY TOGETHER."  HE EXPRESSED 
WORRY ABOUT THE GROWING ANTHRAX THREAT, NOTING THAT SEVERAL 
MEMBERS OF HIS OWN FAMILY HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN INFECTED WITH THE 
DISEASE.  AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN THANKED MUGABE FOR THE OUTSTANDING 
SUPPORT THE EMBASSY HAS RECEIVED FROM THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE 
ORGANIZATION (CIO) AND THE ZIMBABWE REPUBLIC POLICE (ZRP)IN HELPING 
US FEEL MORE SECURE IN OUR FACILITIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE AFTERMATH OF 
 
SEPTEMBER 11.  HE URGED THE GOZ TO TAKE OTHER CONCRETE STEPS IN 
THE BROADER WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, SUCH AS RATIFYING THE REMAINING 
NINE UN COUNTERTERRORISM CONVENTIONS IT HAS NOT YET RATIFIED. 
MUGABE WAS NONCOMMITTAL, NOTING THAT RATIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL 
CONVENTIONS REQUIRED A PROTRACTED AND TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS. 
 
LAND 
---- 
 
6.  (C) MUGABE BEGAN WITH HIS DETAILED PERSPECTIVE ON THE HISTORY 
OF ZIMBABWE'S LAND QUESTION.  HE NOTED THAT "WE WEREN'T QUITE 
HAPPY" WITH THE LANCASTER HOUSE CONSTITUTION FOR SEVERAL REASONS, 
INCLUDING ITS PROVISIONS ON LAND.  FOR INSTANCE, IT REQUIRED THAT 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTO1931 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  03131  02 OF 04  191134Z 
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                  ------------------31BD14  191134Z /38 
P 191101Z OCT 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0073 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 003131 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL. 10/19/11 
TAGS: PREL, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT MUGABE AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS TERRORISM, LAND, 
AND ELECTION OBSERVERS 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03131  02 OF 04  191134Z 
THE ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR THE PURPOSES OF RESETTLEMENT BE 
IMPLEMENTED ON A "WILLING SELLER, WILLING BUYER" BASIS, WHICH 
PLACED SERIOUS CONSTRAINTS ON THE GOVERNMENT'S CAPACITY TO 
IMPLEMENT LAND REFORM.  THE UNITED STATES, MUGABE SAID, HAD HELPED 
BREAK THE DEADLOCK IN NEGOTIATIONS BY PROMISING TO SUPPLEMENT 
BRITISH ASSISTANCE FOR LAND REFORM AND TO ENCOURAGE OTHER DONORS 
TO CONTRIBUTE.  IN THE EARLY 1990'S, GOVERNMENT PASSED THE LAND 
ACQUISITION ACT, WHICH ALLOWED THE GOVERNMENT TO ACQUIRE LAND SO 
LONG AS IT WAS IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST.  IT DID NOT "TAMPER" WITH 
THE REQUIREMENT FOR COMPENSATION, AS GOVERNMENT EXPECTED THE 
UNITED KINGDOM TO HONOR ITS LANCASTER HOUSE COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE 
THE NECESSARY FUNDS. 
 
7. (C) ACCORDING TO MUGABE, MARGARET THATCHER DID HER BEST TO 
HONOR THE BRITISH COMMITMENT BY PROVIDING SOME ASSISTANCE, BUT 
THOSE FUNDS SOON RAN OUT.  ZIMBABWE WAS THEN FACED WITH HAVING TO 
COMPENSATE FARMOWNERS WHO HAD NEVER BOUGHT THEIR LAND IN THE FIRST 
PLACE.  OUR VIEW, MUGABE EMPHASIZED, WAS AND REMAINS THAT 
PROVIDING SUCH COMPENSATION IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BRITISH. 
FORMER BRITISH PM JOHN MAJOR RECOGNIZED THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND 
WAS WORKING ON A GOOD ASSISTANCE PACKAGE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF 
ZIMBABWE WHEN HE WAS DEFEATED FOR REELECTION.  HIS SUCCESSOR TONY 
BLAIR REFUSED TO HONOR THE COMMITMENTS OF HIS CONSERVATIVE PARTY 
PREDECESSORS.  IN A FURTHER SLAP TO THE GOZ, BLAIR'S DEVELOPMENT 
MINISTER CLARE SHORT DISMISSED THE IDEA THAT BRITAIN WAS OBLIGATED 
TO PAY COMPENSATION, POINTING OUT THAT, AS AN IRISHWOMAN, SHE HAD 
HAD HER OWN EXPERIENCES WITH COLONIALISM. 
 
8.  (C) AT THAT POINT, MUGABE EXPLAINED, THE GOZ DECIDED TO 
PROCEED ON ITS OWN TERMS.  IT WOULD PROVIDE COMPENSATION ONLY FOR 
IMPROVEMENTS TO ACQUIRED LAND AND WOULD APPROPRIATE THE FARMS ONLY 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03131  02 OF 04  191134Z 
OF THOSE OWNERS POSSESSING MULTIPLE PROPERTIES.  IN MOST CASES, 
NEITHER OWNERS OF SINGLE FARMS NOR OF AGRO-INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS 
WOULD BE AFFECTED.  IN RARE CIRCUMSTANCES, SINGLE FARM-OWNERS 
MIGHT HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR PROPERTY IF IT IS ADJACENT TO A 
COMMUNAL AREA, BUT THOSE WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN THIS SITUATION 
WOULD BE GIVEN ANOTHER FARM ELSEWHERE.  NO FARMER, MUGABE 
INSISTED, WOULD BE LEFT WITHOUT ANY PROPERTY. 
 
9.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR CONVEYED THE USG'S STRONG BELIEF IN THE 
NEED TO ADDRESS THE HISTORICAL INEQUITIES IN LAND OWNERSHIP, AND 
SAID WE WOULD LIKE TO BE SUPPORTIVE.  THE USG, HOWEVER, COULD ONLY 
SUPPORT A NON-VIOLENT LAND REFORM PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED WITHIN A 
LEGAL FRAMEWORK SUCH AS THE ABUJA AGREEMENT. 
 
RULE OF LAW 
----------- 
 
10.  (C) PRESIDENT MUGABE HAD HOSTILE WORDS FOR THE BRITISH 
GOVERNMENT AND TONY BLAIR IN PARTICULAR, WHOM HE CALLED THAT 
"MADMAN AT NUMBER 10 DOWNING STREET."  BLAIR, HE SAID, DESCRIBES 
ZIMBABWE AS A VIOLATOR OF THE RULE OF LAW AND OF HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT 
THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER SHOULD "READ OUR HISTORY." DURING THE 
IAN SMITH REGIME, MUGABE RECALLED, HE HAD SPENT ELEVEN YEARS IN 
PRISON, AND HIS MOTHER NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE REASON WHY.  THERE WAS 
NO RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS THEN, BUT THE BRITISH DID NOT SEEM 
CONCERNED.  "DO YOU THINK I CAN LISTEN TO SUCH CRITICISM FROM TONY 
BLAIR," THE PRESIDENT ASKED, "WHEN I KNOW THE HISTORY OF BRITAIN 
IN THIS COUNTRY?"  BLAIR AND HIS ADVISORS, MUGABE SAID 
DISMISSIVELY, WERE IN SCHOOL WHEN HE WAS FIGHTING FOR 
INDEPENDENCE, AND "NOW THEY THINK THEY ARE OUR MASTERS." 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03131  02 OF 04  191134Z 
11.  (C) MUGABE SAID HE WANTED DEMOCRACY FOR EVERY ZIMBABWEAN.  HE 
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE MIGHT BE ISOLATED INCIDENTS OF LAWLESSNESS 
"HERE AND THERE" AND THAT HE DISAPPROVED OF THEM.  THE PEOPLE 
RESPONSIBLE WOULD BE PROSECUTED WHENEVER POSSIBLE.  IT WAS A 
MISTAKE, HOWEVER, TO CHARACTERIZE ISOLATED INCIDENTS AS 
GENERALIZED LAWLESSNESS.  ZIMBABWE, HE SAID, FELT UNFAIRLY TREATED 
BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.  ZIMBABWE'S DIFFICULTIES WERE 
RELATED TO LAND, PURE AND SIMPLE.  HE SAID HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND 
WHY THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE PERSUADED TO TAKE THE SIDE OF THE 
UNITED KINGDOM WITHOUT DOING ITS OWN ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION 
ON THE GROUND.  THERE WAS STILL TIME TO DO SUCH AN ASSESSMENT, HE 
DECLARED.  HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE MIGHT BE TIMES WHEN THE GOZ 
NEEDS TO "ADJUST" ITS ACTIONS. 
 
ELECTION OBSERVATION 
-------------------- 
 
12.  (C) TURNING TO THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, MUGABE 
SAID SOME IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ARE PUSHING TO 
"SUPERVISE" IT.  THE GOZ FEELS INSULTED BY THIS, BECAUSE ZIMBABWE 
HAS HELD ELECTIONS REGULARLY SINCE INDEPENDENCE.  WHY, HE ASKED, 
WOULD WE SUDDENLY TURN UNDEMOCRATIC SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE IS AN 
OPPOSITION PARTY, WHEN THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OPPOSITION PARTIES 
IN ZIMBABWE.  MUGABE INSISTED THAT THE GOZ HAD NEVER CHEATED IN 
ITS ELECTIONS -- THERE IS NO HISTORY OF THAT. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ7804 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  03131  03 OF 04  191135Z 
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                  ------------------31BD34  191135Z /38 
P 191101Z OCT 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0074 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 003131 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL. 10/19/11 
TAGS: PREL, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT MUGABE AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS TERRORISM, LAND, 
AND ELECTION OBSERVERS 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03131  03 OF 04  191135Z 
 
13.  (C) THE USG IS NOT INTERESTED IN LECTURING ZIMBABWE ABOUT HOW 
TO RUN ITS ELECTIONS, THE AMBASSADOR REPLIED.  HE INFORMED 
PRESIDENT MUGABE THAT THE UNITED STATES WELCOMES OBSERVERS FOR 
MOST OF OUR NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ELECTIONS, AS DO ALMOST ALL 
SADC COUNTRIES.  INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS, HE CONTINUED, CAN PLAY 
AN EXTREMELY POSITIVE ROLE, INCLUDING IN HELPING DISCOURAGE 
VIOLENCE ON ALL SIDES.  THE WESTMINSTER FOUNDATION IN LONDON, 
MUGABE RETORTED, IS GIVING FUNDS TO THE OPPOSITION MDC, WHILE THE 
BRITISH GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGES OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS 
IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DO THE SAME.  HOW, THEN, CAN THE 
GOZ ALLOW THE BRITISH TO OBSERVE ZIMBABWE'S ELECTION?  THE GOZ 
WILL WELCOME OBSERVERS, HE SAID, BUT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE IMPARTIAL. 
 
14.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED THAT THE U.S. NGO INTERESTED IN 
OBSERVING ZIMBABWE'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION -- THE INTERNATIONAL 
FOUNDATION FOR ELECTION SYSTEMS (IFES) -- IS NON-PARTISAN AND IS 
WELL-KNOWN FOR ITS EXPERTISE IN ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.  IT 
TYPICALLY HAS EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS 
IN MANY COUNTRIES, AND HAD RECENTLY INVITED ZIMBABWE'S REGISTRAR- 
GENERAL TO OBSERVE THE UPCOMING STATE-WIDE ELECTIONS IN VIRGINIA. 
THE AMBASSADOR EXPRESSED HIS HOPE THAT THE GOZ WOULD BE RECEPTIVE 
TO THE PARTICIPATION OF IFES IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.   IF IT WAS 
THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO HOLD A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION 
WITHOUT VIOLENCE, AND IT HAD NOTHING TO HIDE, IT COULD DEMONSTRATE 
THIS IN A POWERFUL WAY BY WELCOMING THE PARTICIPATION OF GROUPS 
SUCH AS IFES. 
 
15.  (C) FOREIGN MINISTER MUDENGE INTERJECTED THAT ZIMBABWE HAS 
ALWAYS WELCOMED INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS.  WHY HAS THIS BECOME SUCH 
AN IMPORTANT CONCERN FOR THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION, HE ASKED?  YES, 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03131  03 OF 04  191135Z 
MUGABE AGREED, CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS SEEM "TOO EAGER" TO SEND 
OBSERVERS THIS TIME.  WHY IS THIS ELECTION SO SPECIAL, HE 
WONDERED?  THE MDC, HE SAID, WON A NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE 
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS LAST YEAR, BUT ARE CHALLENGING 37 SEATS 
THEY LOST ON "SMALL TECHNICALITIES."  THE OPPOSITION PARTY, HE 
INSISTED, IS PURSUING THAT APPROACH PURELY AS A POLITICAL GIMMICK 
TO CONVEY THE IMPRESSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT THE 
JUNE 2000 ELECTIONS WERE NOT FREE AND FAIR.  WE HAVE NOTHING TO 
HIDE, THE PRESIDENT ASSERTED.  WE KNOW THE "DIRTY TRICKS" THE MDC 
PLAYED TO WIN AS MANY PARLIAMENTARY SEATS AS THEY DID, SUCH AS 
WORKING CLANDESTINELY THROUGH NGOS AND BRIBING TRADITIONAL CHIEFS 
TO ENSURE THAT THEIR SUBJECTS VOTED FOR THE OPPOSITION PARTY. 
MUGABE DISMISSED THE MDC AS A PARTY IN DISARRAY. 
 
16.  (C) PRESIDENT MUGABE STRESSED THAT THE GOZ HAS NEVER 
POSTPONED ELECTIONS, AND NOTED THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE MUST BE 
HELD IN 2002 PRIOR TO THE END OF MARCH.  HE SAID THE RULING PARTY 
WOULD WALK "CLEAR, TRANSPARENT STEPS" IN THE ELECTION SO LONG AS 
THE OTHER SIDE DOES THE SAME. 
 
DRC 
--- 
 
17.  (C) ON THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC), MUGABE SAID HE 
WAS BAFFLED BY THE CRITICISM ZIMBABWE HAS ENDURED BECAUSE OF ITS 
INVOLVEMENT IN THAT CONFLICT.  HE FELT STRONGLY AS THOUGH ZIMBABWE 
HAD DONE THE RIGHT THING BY GOING TO THE AID OF A FELLOW SADC 
GOVERNMENT UNDER THREAT.  THE AMBASSADOR REPLIED THAT THE UNITED 
STATES IS WORKING WITH ALL INVOLVED PARTIES, INCLUDING JOSEPH 
KABILA'S GOVERNMENT, TO HELP FORGE A LASTING PEACE IN THE DRC. 
THE INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE APPEARED TO BE MOVING IN THE RIGHT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03131  03 OF 04  191135Z 
DIRECTION.  ANOTHER CRITICAL ELEMENT IN THE SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION 
IS THE DISARMING AND DEMOBILIZATION OF THE EX-FAR/INTERAHAMWE, AND 
THE AMBASSADOR URGED THE GOZ TO COOPERATE ON THIS ISSUE AND TO 
PRESS PRESIDENT KABILA TO DO THE SAME. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
18.  (C) PRESIDENT MUGABE CLEARLY MADE AN EFFORT TO BE FRIENDLY, 
POSITIVE, SEPARATE US FROM THE BRITISH, AND OPEN CHANNELS AS HE 
WOULD PUT IT "TO CORRECT THE DISTORTED VIEWS OF ZIMBABWE WHICH THE 
BRITS ARE SELLING TO THE WORLD."  HIS MIND REMAINS AS SHARP AS 
EVER AND HIS MEMORY UNFAILINGLY SELECTIVE.  HE IS MUCH MORE 
INTERESTED WHEN HE IS TALKING HIMSELF THAN WHEN HE IS LISTENING, 
BUT DID FOCUS IN WHENEVER THE CONVERSATION TURNED TO LAND OR 
ELECTIONS.  HE APPEARED PHYSICALLY VIGOROUS AS WELL, PARTICULARLY 
IMPRESSIVE GIVEN THAT HE HAD BEEN CONDUCTING CREDENTIALING 
CEREMONIES WITHOUT A BREAK SINCE EARLY MORNING (WE COMPLETED OUR 
MEETING IN MID-AFTERNOON, AND I WAS THE SEVENTH OF EIGHT 
AMBASSADORS TO PRESENT CREDENTIALS THAT DAY.) 
 
19.  (C) MUGABE'S COMMENTS ON LAND WERE NOTHING NEW.  I WAS 
ENCOURAGED BY HIS PROMISE OF COOPERATION ON TERRORISM, AND WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO PRESS THE GOZ TO IMPLEMENT CONCRETE STEPS IN THIS 
REGARD.  MUGABE'S COMMENTS ON ELECTION OBSERVATION WERE LESS 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ7805 
 
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                  ------------------31BD3E  191135Z /38 
P 191101Z OCT 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0075 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 003131 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL. 10/19/11 
TAGS: PREL, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT MUGABE AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS TERRORISM, LAND, 
AND ELECTION OBSERVERS 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03131  04 OF 04  191135Z 
ENCOURAGING AND REVEALED A PARANOIA, SHARED BY MOST SENIOR 
OFFICIALS IN THIS GOVERNMENT, THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS 
OUT TO GET THEM AND IS ONLY INTERESTED IN OBSERVING THIS ELECTION 
BECAUSE IT WANTS THE MDC TO WIN. 
 
SULLIVAN 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
>