US embassy cable - 01HARARE3427

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 003427 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF, AF/S, AND AF/EPS 
USAID FOR AAA/AFR - KBROWN, AFR/SD - MWILLIAMS, 
OTI - MSCOTT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/11 
TAGS: KDEM, EAID, PGOV, ZI 
SUBJECT: ACTIVITIES RELATED TO 2002 PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTIONS 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR JOSEPH G. SULLIVAN FOR REASONS 
1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) THE FOLLOWING ELECTION RELATED ACTIVITIES IN 
ZIMBABWE ARE NOW IN THE PLANNING STAGES OR UNDERWAY. 
THE GOZ HAS NOT BEEN CONSULTED ON THESE ACTIVITIES, 
WHICH HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN BY NGOS AND/OR CIVIL SOCIETY, 
BUT IT WILL PROBABLY BE NECESSARY TO INFORM THE GOZ OF 
CERTAIN ASPECTS OF SOME OF THE PROPOSED ESF-FUNDED 
ACTIVITIES. 
 
ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUNDS - ZIMBABWE WAS THE LARGEST 
RECIPIENT OF ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUNDS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 
IN FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2001; $3 MILLION WAS PROVIDED AND AN 
ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION WAS CARRIED OVER TO FY 2002.  THERE 
IS A CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION ISSUE CONCERNING THE 
ROLL-OVER FUNDS; HOWEVER, USAID IS PREPARING PRE-OBLIGATION 
DOCUMENTS FOR THESE ACTIVITIES IN ANTICIPATION OF ITS 
RESOLUTION.  THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN APPROVED: 
 
-- CIVIL SOCIETY SUPPORT - THE COUNTRY TEAM REVIEWED TWO 
UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS AND IRI WAS UNANIMOUSLY SELECTED TO 
IMPLEMENT THIS ACTIVITY.  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING 
WILL BE OFFERED TO A BROAD RANGE OF CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS 
INCLUDING POLITICAL PARTIES. ($1.0 MILLION) 
 
-- INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS - IFES WAS SELECTED BY THE CEPPS 
PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT THIS ACTIVITY.  THE SCOPE OF WORKS 
CALLS FOR SMALL TEAMS TO MAKE SHORT, PERIODIC VISITS TO 
DOCUMENT THE ELECTORAL ENVIRONMENT.  DURING THE ACTUAL 
POLLING DAYS, A LARGER OBSERVER MISSION WILL BE IN COUNTRY. 
BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTIES WITH ZIMBABWEAN AUTHORITIES, IFES 
HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE ALL THE PLANNED VISITS. 
REPROGRAMMING OR CHANGES IN THE SCOPES OF WORK MAY BE 
NECESSARY.  ($800,000) 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03427  01 OF 03  160922Z 
-- REGIONAL MONITORS - FUNDS WOULD SUPPORT POSSIBLE TRAVEL 
AND OTHER RELATED COSTS OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM TO 
OBSERVE THE PRE-ELECTION PERIOD AND THE VOTING DAYS.  THE 
CEPPS MECHANISM IS LIKELY TO BE USED TO COMMIT FUNDS. 
($100,000) 
 
-- DOMESTIC MONITORS AND POLLING AGENTS - FUNDS WILL BE 
USED TO SUPPORT A COMBINATION OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING 
PER DIEM AND TRAVEL COSTS FOR DOMESTIC MONITORS AND 
TRAINING COSTS FOR DOMESTIC MONITORS AND PARTY POLLING 
AGENTS.  A COMBINATION OF THE CEPPS MECHANISM AND DIRECT 
GRANTS TO LOCAL NGOS IS LIKELY TO BE USED TO COMMIT 
FUNDS.  ($400,000) 
 
-- ELECTION SUPPORT NETWORK "DESK" - BASED ON A SUCCESSFUL 
ACTIVITY IN THE 2000 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, FUNDS WILL 
BE USED TO ESTABLISH A SUPPORT DESK FOR THE MORE THAN 
30-MEMBER NGO NETWORK -- THE ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS SUPPORT 
NETWORK (ZESN).  THE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE A SPACE LARGE 
ENOUGH FROM WHICH ALL MEMBERS CAN COORDINATE THEIR 
MONITORING ACTIVITIES DURING THE POLLING PERIOD.  IF 
FUNDING PERMITS, SMALLER SUPPORT DESKS WILL BE SET UP IN 
PROVINCIAL CAPITALS.  ($75,000) 
 
-- VOTER EDUCATION MATERIALS - VOTER EDUCATION MATERIALS, 
INCLUDING PAMPHLETS, COMICS, POSTERS, PRINT ADVERTISEMENTS, 
WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR NATIONWIDE DISSEMINATION.  THIS 
ACTIVITY WILL ALSO INCLUDE PREPARATION OF A BROCHURE 
CONTAINING ABBREVIATED MATERIAL FROM THE SADC NORMS AND 
STANDARDS FOR ELECTIONS IN BOTH SHONA AND SINDEBELE.  A 
LOCAL NGO THAT CONDUCTED A CREDIBLE VOTER EDUCATION 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03427  01 OF 03  160922Z 
CAMPAIGN IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS PERIOD IS LIKELY 
TO BE USED TO COMMIT FUNDS.  ($100,000) 
 
-- VOTERS ROLLS - THIS ACTIVITY WILL FUND PURCHASE, 
REPRODUCTION AND DISSEMINATION OF THE VOTERS ROLLS.  A 
PROPOSAL HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM ZESN FOR THIS ACTIVITY. 
($20,000) 
 
-- GOZ ELECTORAL ADMINISTRATION - THERE ARE SEVERAL 
POSSIBLE OPTIONS; HOWEVER, PROCEEDING WITH ANY ACTIVITY 
WILL DEPEND ON THE WILLINGNESS OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL 
TO ACCEPT USG ASSISTANCE.  OPTIONS INCLUDE: TRANSLUCENT 
BALLOT BOXES AND SUPPORT TO THE ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY 
COMMISSION.  ($150,000) 
 
-- CRISIS IN ZIMBABWE SECRETARIAT - THIS ACTIVITY WILL 
BOLSTER THE CAPACITY OF MORE THAN 250 CIVIL SOCIETY 
ORGANIZATIONS TO PRESS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIONS 
INTENDED TO LEVEL THE ELECTORAL PLAYING FIELD.  AN 
IMPLEMENTING TASK FORCE IS STAFFED BY A SMALL 
SECRETARIAT.  FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR ONE FULL-TIME 
 
SIPDIS 
STAFF MEMBER, PUBLIC SEMINARS TO ESTABLISH CONSENSUS 
ON ELECTION STANDARDS AND FOR TRAVEL TO LIAISE WITH 
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION.  ($55,000) 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ1077 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  03427  02 OF 03  160923Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  USNW-00  DODE-00 
      SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    OIGO-00  VC-00    H-01     TEDE-00 
      INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00 
      NSCE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PC-01    PM-00 
      PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    SSO-00   STR-00   TRSE-00 
      USIE-00  R-00     EPAE-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02 
      G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /010W 
                  ------------------3F2592  160923Z /38 
O 160812Z NOV 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0296 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 003427 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF, AF/S, AND AF/EPS 
USAID FOR AAA/AFR - KBROWN, AFR/SD - MWILLIAMS, 
OTI - MSCOTT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/11 
TAGS:  KDEM, EAID, PGOV, ZI 
SUBJECT: ACTIVITIES RELATED TO 2002 PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTIONS 
 
-- PUBLIC OPINION POLLING - THIS ACTIVITY IS 
IMPLEMENTED THROUGH A GRANT TO THE MASS PUBLIC OPINION 
INSTITUTE (MPOI).  THE INSTITUTE PLANS TO CONDUCT A 
NUMBER OF SURVEYS (E.G., VOTER APATHY, PRE AND POST 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03427  02 OF 03  160923Z 
PRESIDENTIAL POLL, LAND, RULE OF LAW, RACE AND 
ETHNICITY).  IT IS ALREADY HOLDING PUBLIC SEMINARS ON 
ELECTION TOPICS.  ($300,000) 
 
-- VICTIMS OF TORTURE - THIS ACTIVITY IS IMPLEMENTED 
THROUGH A GRANT TO AMANI TRUST FOR SUPPORT TO VICTIMS 
OF TORTURE.  THIS INCLUDES TREATMENT SERVICES, SAFE 
HOUSES FOR VICTIMS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE, WITNESS 
PROTECTION FOR THOSE WHO TESTIFIED IN THE ELECTORAL 
CHALLENGES CASES, ADVOCACY EFFORTS AND PUBLICATION 
OF REPORTS ON ORGANIZED VIOLENCE AND TORTURE. 
($75,000 IN ESF PLUS $500,000 IN DA FUNDS) 
 
-- CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM - OTI HAS SUPPORTED THE 
NCA SINCE 1999, INCLUDING THE FIRST ALL STAKEHOLDERS 
CONFERENCE IN MARCH 2000.  FUNDS HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE 
IN A GRANT AGREEMENT THAT CAN BE USED FOR THE SECOND 
ALL STAKEHOLDERS CONFERENCE, SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 
2001.  GIVEN THE BROAD BASED NATURE OF THE NCA 
CONSTITUENCY, THE CENTRALITY OF A DEMOCRATIC AND 
PEOPLE DRIVEN CONSTITUTION TO THE RESOLUTION OF 
ISSUES OF DEMOCRACY, GOOD GOVERNANCE, AND THE RULE 
OF LAW THIS IS A KEY ISSUE IN THE RUN-UP TO THE 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.  ($200,000 IS OBLIGATED, 
BUT NOT COMMITTED) 
 
-- STUDY TOURS AND JOURNALIST TRAINING - THIS 
ACTIVITY INCLUDES TRAINING FOR KEY MEMBERS OF THE 
MEDIA, ACADEMIA, AND CIVIL SOCIETY, AS WELL AS, 
STUDY TOURS FOR EMINENT ZIMBABWEANS AND 
AMERICANS.  THIS PURPOSE IS TO STRENGTHEN THE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03427  02 OF 03  160923Z 
CAPACITY OF THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA TO REPORT ON 
ELECTORAL ISSUES AND ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF CIVIL 
SOCIETY TO EXPRESS ALTERNATIVE VIEWS.  ($175,000) 
 
-- ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT - APPROXIMATELY $30,000 
IS BEING USED TO PURCHASE 15 SATELLITE PHONES THAT 
WILL ALLOW USG EMPLOYEES WHO OBSERVE THE ELECTION 
TO BE WITHIN PHONE REACH AT ALL TIMES.   THE 
BALANCE OF FUNDS IS BEING HELD IN RESERVE TO ALLOW 
HIRE OF ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF OR MEET OTHER USAID 
SUPPORT NEEDS.  ($50,000) 
 
OTI SUPPORTED ACTIVITIES 
 
-- SHORT WAVE RADIO - ALL ELECTRONIC MEDIA IS CONTROLLED 
BY THE GOZ.  AN OFF-SHORE RADIO WITH THE PURPOSE OF 
PROVIDING ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY TO RURAL 
AREAS, IS BEING SUPPORTED.  START-UP FOR BROADCASTING IS 
SCHEDULED FOR MID-DECEMBER.  (APPROX $1.1 MILLION) 
 
-- COURT CASES - COSTS FOR A VARIETY OF COURT CASES ARE 
BEING FINANCED THROUGH A WELL RESPECT LOCAL NGO, 
INCLUDING THE CHALLENGES TO ELECTORAL OUTCOMES THAT HAVE 
BROUGHT PROMINENCE TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND 
VIOLENCE THAT OCCURRED DURING THE 2000 PARLIAMENTARY 
ELECTIONS.  ADDITIONAL FUNDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO 
CHALLENGE OTHER POSSIBLE OR CURRENT LAWS, SUCH AS THE 
FARM OCCUPIERS ACT, PROHIBITIONS ON FOREIGN FUNDING OF 
NGOS, INFORMATION AND MEDIA LAWS, OR PROHIBITION ON NGO 
SPONSORSHIP OF ELECTION MONITORS.  ($250,000) 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03427  02 OF 03  160923Z 
-- ZESN MEDIA CAMPAIGN - A GRANT IS BEING CONSIDERED TO 
ALLOW THE ELECTIONS NETWORK TO SPONSOR CIVIC AND VOTER 
EDUCATION THROUGH THE MEDIA.  THIS IS A COMPANION 
ACTIVITY TO THE PURCHASE OF VOTER ROLLS FOR ZESN.  (TBD) 
 
-- NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY (NCA) MEDIA 
CAMPAIGN - A POSSIBLE MEDIA ACTIVITY WITH THE NCA IS 
BEING EXPLORED.  (APPROX $40,000) 
 
-- ELECTION MONITOR TRAINING VIDEO - A GRANT HAS BEEN 
PROVIDED TO PREPARE A TRAINING VIDEO FOR ELECTIONS 
MONITORS FOR USE BY ZESN AND ITS MEMBERS. ($23,000 TO 
DATE; ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS BEING CONSIDERED.) 
 
-- ELECTION SUPPLEMENTS - FUNDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO 
SEVERAL INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS TO ALLOW PREPARATION AND 
PRINTING OF SUPPLEMENTS THAT PROVIDE NON-PARTISAN 
INFORMATION ON THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS.  (FUNDS DIFFICULT 
TO DISAGGREGATE AS THIS IS AN ON-GOING ACTIVITY RUNNING 
SINCE THE PARLIAMENTARY PRE-ELECTION PERIOD.) 
 
-- NEWSPRINT DISSEMINATION - THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL 
ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN PROVIDED A GRANT TO DISSEMINATE 
OVERRUN COPIES OF INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS IN RURAL AREAS. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ1079 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  03427  03 OF 03  160923Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  USNW-00  DODE-00 
      SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    OIGO-00  VC-00    H-01     TEDE-00 
      INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00 
      NSCE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PC-01    PM-00 
      PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    SSO-00   STR-00   TRSE-00 
      USIE-00  R-00     EPAE-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02 
      G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /010W 
                  ------------------3F259C  160923Z /38 
O 160812Z NOV 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0297 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 003427 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF, AF/S, AND AF/EPS 
USAID FOR AAA/AFR - KBROWN, AFR/SD - MWILLIAMS, 
OTI - MSCOTT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/11 
TAGS:  KDEM, EAID, PGOV, ZI 
SUBJECT: ACTIVITIES RELATED TO 2002 PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTIONS 
 
($167,000) 
 
-- PEACE MONITORS - THIS TITLE IS LOOSELY DESCRIPTIVE OF 
A SERIES OF GRANTS TO LOCAL NGOS, SUCH AS THE CATHOLIC 
COMMISSION FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE, AMANI TRUST, THE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03427  03 OF 03  160923Z 
ZIMBABWE LIBERATORS PLATFORM THAT ARE FOCUSING ON THE 
ISSUE OF VIOLENCE IN RURAL AREAS.  PEACE MONITORS HAVE 
BEEN TRAINED AND THE NGOS ARE WORKING WITH TRADITIONAL 
AUTHORITIES, REAL WAR VETS AND OTHER RESPECTED RURAL 
LEADERS ON THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE MITIGATION. IN 
ADDITION, AN INTER-DENOMINATIONAL MEETING OF CHURCH 
LEADERS HAVE BEEN SPONSORED.  (APPROX. $250,000) 
-- VIOLENCE MONITORING AND REPORTING - THESE ACTIVITIES 
INCLUDE VIOLENCE MONITORING THROUGH AMANI TRUST THAT 
PARTICIPATES IN A COALITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND LEGAL 
NGOS CALLED THE HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM.  THE FORUM IS DOING 
REGULAR REPORTING ON VIOLENCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. 
(APPROX. $279,000) 
 
-- LAW SOCIETY AND INTERNATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION - 
FUNDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE IBA AND THE LOCAL LAW 
SOCIETY FOR TRAINING ACTIVITIES AND TO SPONSOR AND HOST 
INTERNATIONAL LEGAL EXPERTS TO PERIODICALLY VISIT 
ZIMBABWE AND DISSEMINATE THEIR FINDINGS CONCERNING THE 
RULE OF LAW.  (APPROX. $120,000) 
 
-- SATELLITE PHONES - APPROXIMATELY 10 SATELLITE PHONES 
ARE BEING PURCHASED FOR KEY CIVIL SOCIETY PARTNERS TO 
ENABLE SECURE AND RAPID COMMUNICATIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER 
(COST TBD). 
 
-- TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY - OTI HAS RESERVED FUNDING FOR 
OTHER POSSIBLE ELECTIONS-RELATED ACTIVITIES TO FILL GAPS 
THAT MAY ARISE. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03427  03 OF 03  160923Z 
UNFUNDED NEEDS 
 
-- NEWSPRINT - THE ESCALATING COST OF NEWSPRINT IS 
AFFECTING THE ABILITY OF THE INDEPENDENT PRESS TO KEEP 
THE COVER PRICE OF THEIR PUBLICATIONS AFFORDABLE TO THE 
GENERAL POPULATION.  THIS IS BECAUSE THEY MUST BUY 
NEWSPRINT THAT INCLUDES ABOUT A 20% IMPORT CONTENT. 
BECAUSE FOREIGN EXCHANGE IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET 
AT THE OFFICIAL RATE, THE SUPPLIER IS FORCED TO PURCHASE 
FOREIGN EXCHANGE AT THE PARALLEL RATE.  A GRANT TO COVER 
THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE COMPONENT OF NEWSPRINT BETWEEN NOW 
AND JUNE OF 2002 WOULD COST IN THE RANGE OF $1.5 TO $2.0 
MILLION.  THE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS WOULD PURCHASE THE 
NEWSPRINT AND LOCAL CURRENCY PROCEEDS WOULD BE 
PROGRAMMED FOR HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS - POSSIBLY DISPLACED 
FARM WORKERS. 
 
-- VOTER EDUCATION MATERIAL AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE 
MONITORING - GIVEN THE CURRENT HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, THE 
POSSIBLE USE OF ANY DONOR ASSISTANCE FOR PARTISAN 
PURPOSES SEVERAL ACTIVITIES COULD BE CONSIDERED.  FOR 
EXAMPLE, VOTER EDUCATION MATERIALS MIGHT BE DISTRIBUTED 
WITH FOOD RELIEF.  SIMILARLY, AN INDEPENDENT 
INTERNATIONAL NGO WITH HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERIENCE MIGHT BE 
ENGAGED TO MONITOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF SUPPLIES 
AND REPORT ON ABUSES. 
 
SULLIVAN 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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