US embassy cable - 01HARARE3630

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 003630 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER -- PLEASE PASS TO A/S KANSTEINER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL. 12/04/11 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ELECTION WITH ELECTORAL 
SUPERVISORY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF MATT HARRINGTON. 
REASONS:  1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  (C) ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION (ESC) CHAIRMAN 
SOBUSA GULA-NDEBELE TOLD THE AMBASSADOR ON NOVEMBER 29 THAT 
THE CONSTITUTION AND ZIMBABWEAN LAW ARE VAGUE ABOUT THE 
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ESC AND THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL FOR 
ELECTIONS, AND ACKNOWLEDGED PREVIOUS DIFFICULTIES BETWEEN 
THE TWO ELECTORAL BODIES.  HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S 
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ELECTORAL ACT WOULD REQUIRE THAT 
DOMESTIC MONITORS BE DRAWN EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE RANKS OF 
CIVIL SERVANTS AND THAT NGO'S WOULD BE ABLE TO CONDUCT 
VOTER EDUCATION, BUT WOULD HAVE TO REGISTER WITH, AND HAVE 
THEIR MATERIALS CLEARED BY, THE ESC.  GULA-NDEBELE LAMENTED 
THE LOW TURNOUT IN THE CURRENT VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESS, 
SAYING IT REFLECTED BOTH POLITICAL APATHY AND A LACK OF 
VOTER EDUCATION.   HE ADVOCATED FORMATION OF A FULL-FLEDGED 
ELECTORAL COMMISSION RATHER THAN A SUPERVISORY BODY, BUT 
POINTED OUT THAT SOME IN THE GOZ AND LEGAL COMMUNITY 
BELIEVE THIS CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT CONSTITUTIONAL OR LEGAL 
CHANGES.  GULA-NDEBELE AGREED THAT POLITICAL PARTIES SHOULD 
BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE WORK OF THE ESC AND NOTED 
THAT HE MAINTAINED GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH ZANU-PF AND THE 
MDC.   END SUMMARY. 
 
U.S. INTEREST 
------------- 
 
2.  (C) IN A NOVEMBER 29 MEETING WITH ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY 
COMMISSION CHAIRMAN SOBUSA GULA-NDEBELE, THE AMBASSADOR 
SAID THE UNITED STATES IS NOT SEEKING TO INSTRUCT ZIMBABWE 
ON HOW TO RUN ELECTIONS.  WE HAVE, HOWEVER, TAKEN A 
SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN THE ELECTION PROCESS, ABOUT WHICH 
WE WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE TO RENDER OUR JUDGMENT.  WE ARE 
GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF ONGOING VIOLENCE AND 
INTIMIDATION, WHICH WE HAVE REPEATEDLY URGED THE GOZ TO 
ADDRESS.  THE ELECTORAL NORMS AND STANDARDS ENDORSED BY THE 
SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM IN MARCH 2001 PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT 
FRAMEWORK FOR THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS.  THERE IS TIME FOR 
THE GOZ TO REVERSE COURSE AND IMPROVE THE ELECTION PROCESS. 
IF THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH THE USG CAN BE HELPFUL, WE WOULD 
LIKE TO DO WHAT WE CAN.  THE AMBASSADOR SOLICITED GULA- 
NDEBELE'S ASSESSMENT OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS TO DATE AND 
HOW IT WOULD UNFOLD IN THE RUN-UP TO NEXT YEAR'S 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. 
 
3.  (C) GULA-NDEBELE ASKED WHAT SPECIFICALLY THE AMBASSADOR 
MEANT WHEN HE SAID THE PROCESS NEEDED TO BE IMPROVED -- WAS 
HE REFERRING TO THE TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS OR THE GENERAL 
POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT?  THE ENVIRONMENT IS OUR BIGGEST 
CONCERN, THE AMBASSADOR REPLIED, BUT WE ALSO HAVE CONCERNS 
ABOUT SOME OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ELECTORAL ACT. 
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN A TEXT, THEY APPEAR DESIGNED 
TO DISENFRANCHISE LARGE NUMBERS OF VOTERS. 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03630  01 OF 04  041529Z 
 
ROLE OF ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION 
---------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C) GULA-NDEBELE NOTED THAT THE CONSTITUTION CONFERS A 
VAGUE SUPERVISORY ROLE ON THE ESC, CHARGING IT WITH 
SUPERVISING, NOT RUNNING, VOTER REGISTRATION AND THE 
CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS.  THE ELECTORAL ACT DOES NOT PROVIDE 
MUCH CLARIFICATION, WITH LITTLE MORE THAN VAGUE STATEMENTS 
REGARDING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE ESC AND THE REGISTRAR- 
GENERAL OF ELECTIONS.  IT ALSO STATES THAT THE REGISTRAR- 
GENERAL "SHALL," WHICH GULA-NDEBELE INTERPRETS TO MEAN 
"MUST," TAKE INTO ACCOUNT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ESC. 
ASKED WHAT AVENUES ARE OPEN TO THE COMMISSION IF IT 
DISAPPROVES OF ACTIONS BY THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, GULA- 
NDEBELE SAID THE ESC MAKES ITS VIEWS KNOWN TO THE R-G. 
THE ESC CHAIRMAN ACKNOWLEDGED DIFFICULTIES IN THE 
RELATIONSHIP, NOTING "SOME GLITCHES" OVER ACCREDITATION OF 
MONITORS DURING THE 2000 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. 
 
MONITORS/OBSERVERS 
------------------ 
 
5.  (C) THE ESC CHAIRMAN SAID HE HAD NOT SEEN THE LATEST 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4753 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  03630  02 OF 04  041529Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
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      WHA-00   SRPP-00  DS-00    EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   FAAE-00 
      FBIE-00  VC-00    H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   LAB-01   L-00 
      VCE-00   M-00     AC-01    NSAE-00  OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00 
      PC-01    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    TRSE-00 
      USIE-00  EPAE-00  IIP-00   PMB-00   DSCC-00  DRL-02   G-00 
      NFAT-00  SAS-00   SWCI-00    /008W 
                  ------------------46CF04  041529Z /38 
P 041437Z DEC 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0461 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY OSLO 
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 
AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 003630 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER -- PLEASE PASS TO A/S KANSTEINER 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03630  02 OF 04  041529Z 
E.O. 12958: DECL. 12/04/11 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ELECTION WITH ELECTORAL 
SUPERVISORY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN 
 
DRAFT OF THE GOZ'S PROPOSED ELECTORAL ACT AMENDMENTS, BUT 
THAT HE HAD PROVIDED HIS COMMENTS ON AN EARLIER VERSION. 
HE BELIEVED THE LEGISLATION WOULD ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR 
VOTER EDUCATION, AND THE PARTICIPATION OF DOMESTIC MONITORS 
AND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS.  THE PROVISION ON MONITORS IS 
THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL, GULA-NDEBELE ACKNOWLEDGED.  THE 
GOZ, HE SAID, PLANS TO REQUIRE THAT DOMESTIC MONITORS BE 
DRAWN FROM EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE RANKS OF CIVIL SERVANTS -- 
A COURSE OF ACTION THE ESC HAD NOT RECOMMENDED.  HE DID NOT 
OBJECT TO THIS IN PRINCIPLE, AS IT WAS A GOOD THING TO 
CREATE A POOL OF TRAINED PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE AND 
EXPERTISE.  HE WAS CONCERNED, HOWEVER, ABOUT THE PLAN'S 
FEASIBILITY.  THE ESC, HE SAID, HAS NORMALLY ASSIGNED FOUR 
MONITORS TO EACH OF APPROXIMATELY 4,000 POLLING STATIONS, 
TOTALING 16,000 MONITORS.  HE QUESTIONED WHETHER SO MANY 
CIVIL SERVANTS COULD BE AWAY FROM THEIR JOBS FOR THE TIME 
REQUIRED WITHOUT THEIR ABSENCES HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON 
THE FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT.   HE ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN 
ABOUT THE WIDESPREAD PERCEPTION THAT CIVIL SERVANTS ARE 
OVERWHELMINGLY ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS.  THEY ARE NOT, HE 
INSISTED, NOTING THE STRONG UNIONISM PREVAILING WITHIN THE 
CIVIL SERVICE AND THE NUMEROUS CONFRONTATIONS BETWEEN CIVIL 
SERVANTS AND THE GOZ SINCE 1990, BUT HE DECLARED THAT 
SOMETIMES PERCEPTION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN REALITY. 
 
6.  (C) IN THE JUNE 2000 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, GULA- 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03630  02 OF 04  041529Z 
NDEBELE SAID, A LOOSE ARRANGEMENT OF CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS 
PROVIDED DOMESTIC MONITORS FOR AN ESC-SUPERVISED MONITORING 
EFFORT.  ALTHOUGH NGOS LIKELY WOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO 
SERVE AS "MONITORS" THIS TIME, THEY WOULD BE PERMITTED TO 
ACT AS "OBSERVERS."  ASKED TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE, GULA- 
NDEBELE SAID MONITORS ARE AN ARM OF THE ESC AND CAN 
INTERVENE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS TO POINT OUT 
IRREGULARITIES.  OBSERVERS, ON THE OTHER HAND, REMAIN 
OUTSIDE THE POLLING STATIONS BUT CAN POINT OUT ANY 
IRREGULARITIES THEY OBSERVE TO THE ESC OR LOCAL 
CONSTITUENCY REGISTRAR. 
 
7.  (C) GULA-NDEBELE SAID THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE (MOJ) HAS 
ACCEPTED AN ESC RECOMMENDATION THAT INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER 
GROUPS BE PERMITTED TO OBSERVE BOTH THE PRE-ELECTORAL 
ENVIRONMENT AND THE VOTING DAYS THEMSELVES.  HE IS ALSO 
RECOMMENDING THAT ACCREDITED INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS BE 
ALLOWED TO ENTER VOTING PLACES TO OBSERVE.  "WE THINK WE 
HAVE A GOOD TECHNICAL SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR RUNNING ELECTIONS 
AND WE'D LIKE INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS TO SEE IT," GULA- 
NDEBELE SAID.  ASKED HOW LONG IN ADVANCE INTERNATIONAL 
OBSERVER GROUPS WOULD BE PERMITTED ON THE GROUND, GULA- 
NDEBELE DESCRIBED THAT ISSUE AS "VERY TRICKY," BUT BELIEVED 
BOTH MONITORS AND OBSERVERS SHOULD BE DEPLOYED AS SOON AS 
THE ELECTION DATES ARE ANNOUNCED, AND REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL 
3-5 DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION. 
 
VOTER EDUCATION 
--------------- 
 
8.  (C) GULA-NDEBELE TOLD US HE HAD ALSO RECOMMENDED TO THE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03630  02 OF 04  041529Z 
MOJ ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONWIDE, COORDINATED VOTER 
EDUCATION PROGRAM ORGANIZED AND IMPLEMENTED BY THE ESC.  WE 
WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING, GULA- 
NDEBELE INSISTED, AND THAT NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE DO TO THEM 
OUTSIDE THE POLLING CENTER, THEY CANNOT BE INFLUENCED OR 
INTIMIDATED ONCE THEY GO INSIDE TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS. 
VOTER EDUCATION, HE ASSERTED, IS CRUCIAL IN EMPOWERING 
PEOPLE, SO LONG AS IT IS DONE IN A "COORDINATED FASHION." 
HE SAID NGOS WILL BE ALLOWED TO CONDUCT VOTER EDUCATION, 
BUT THEY FIRST WILL HAVE TO REGISTER WITH THE ESC AND CLEAR 
WITH THE ELECTORAL BODY THE MATERIALS THEY PLAN TO USE. 
SUCH AN APPROACH, GULA-NDEBELE SAID, ALLOWS THE ESC TO 
ENSURE THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS COVERED AND ENSURE THAT THE 
INFORMATION CONVEYED TO VOTERS IS CONSISTENT, UNIFORM, AND 
NON-PARTISAN.  THE ESC CHAIRMAN DID NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF 
ALLOWING POLITICAL PARTIES TO CONDUCT VOTER EDUCATION -- 
BECAUSE IT CONVEYS THE WRONG IMPRESSION OF WHAT VOTER 
EDUCATION SHOULD BE ABOUT -- BUT MANY IN THE GOZ, HE SAID, 
BELIEVE POLITICAL PARTIES CANNOT BE STOPPED FROM DOING IT, 
AND THAT, THEREFORE, IT SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED. 
 
VOTER REGISTRATION 
------------------ 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4757 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  03630  03 OF 04  041530Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
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      WHA-00   SRPP-00  DS-00    EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   FAAE-00 
      FBIE-00  VC-00    H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   LAB-01   L-00 
      VCE-00   M-00     AC-01    NSAE-00  OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00 
      PC-01    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    TRSE-00 
      USIE-00  EPAE-00  IIP-00   PMB-00   DSCC-00  DRL-02   G-00 
      NFAT-00  SAS-00   SWCI-00    /008W 
                  ------------------46CF14  041530Z /38 
P 041437Z DEC 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0462 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY OSLO 
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 
AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 003630 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER -- PLEASE PASS TO A/S KANSTEINER 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03630  03 OF 04  041530Z 
E.O. 12958: DECL. 12/04/11 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ELECTION WITH ELECTORAL 
SUPERVISORY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN 
 
9.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR INQUIRED ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THE 
CURRENT MOBILE VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESS.  GULA-NDEBELE 
EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE LOW TURNOUT SO FAR, AND 
LAMENTED THAT MANY PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THEY NEED TO 
REGISTER.  ASKED WHETHER THERE ARE ANY REMEDIES, GULA- 
NDEBELE REPLIED, "YES, BETTER VOTER EDUCATION EFFORTS."  IN 
A SURPRISING ADMISSION, THE ESC CHAIRMAN SAID HE HAD NEVER 
BEFORE VOTED, BOTH BECAUSE HE HAS NEVER BEEN ENTHUSIASTIC 
ABOUT HIS CHOICE OF CANDIDATES AND BECAUSE HE DOES NOT 
PLACE MUCH CONFIDENCE IN POLITICIANS.  THAT KIND OF APATHY 
IS COMMON IN ZIMBABWE, HE CONTINUED, AND IS EXACERBATED BY 
THE WIDESPREAD PERCEPTION THAT THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM CAN BE 
MANIPULATED.  SINCE STATUTE REQUIRES THAT THE REGISTRATION 
PERIOD CONCLUDE WITHIN A SPECIFIC PERIOD OF TIME PRIOR TO 
THE ELECTION, AND SINCE ELECTION DATES HAVE NOT YET BEEN 
ANNOUNCED, GULA-NDEBELE THOUGHT IT INEVITABLE THAT THE 
REGISTRATION PERIOD WOULD HAVE TO BE EXTENDED BEYOND THE 
CURRENT MID-DECEMBER DEADLINE. 
 
10. (C) THE AMBASSADOR INFORMED GULA-NDEBELE HE HAD HEARD 
COMPLAINTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY REGISTERING. 
THE ESC CHAIRMAN COMMENTED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED 
IF THOSE REPORTS ARE TRUE, AS HE HAS LONG FOUND CIVIL 
SERVANTS RIGID -- "LUNCHTIME IS LUNCHTIME" TO THEM -- AND 
VERY DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH.  HE SAID THE REGISTRAR- 
GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTING ON SUCH 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03630  03 OF 04  041530Z 
COMPLAINTS, BUT HE ADVISED PEOPLE FACING DIFFICULTIES TO 
NOTIFY THE MEDIA.  CIVIL SERVANTS, HE SAID, DO NOT LIKE 
BEING BLAMED, AND PARTICULARLY DISLIKE PRESS COVERAGE OF 
THEIR MISDEEDS.  (NOTE: HIGH COURT JUDGE ANN GOORA 
SUBSEQUENTLY ORDERED THE GOVERNMENT, ON DECEMBER 3, TO 
RELAX THE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED ON THOSE WISHING 
TO REGISTER.  HER RULING WAS ISSUED IN A LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY 
THE MDC CHALLENGING THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S INSISTENCE THAT 
INDIVIDUALS SUBMIT PROOF OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP IN ORDER TO 
REGISTER.  END NOTE.) 
 
INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION? 
--------------------------------- 
 
11.  (C) ONE WAY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THEY HAD 
DISCUSSED, GULA-NDEBELE SUGGESTED, WAS TO ESTABLISH A 
GENUINE ELECTORAL COMMISSION, IN THE MODEL OF OTHER SADC 
COUNTRIES INSTEAD OF A BODY WHICH PLAYED ONLY AN 
SUPERVISORY ROLE.  HE NOTED THAT ESC MEMBERSHIP IS A "PART- 
TIME JOB" -- HE EARNS HIS LIVING BY RUNNING HIS OWN FIVE- 
ATTORNEY LAW PRACTICE -- AND LAMENTED THAT ONLY FOUR OF THE 
FIVE ESC SEATS ARE CURRENTLY FILLED.  WAS ESTABLISHMENT OF 
AN ELECTORAL COMMISSION POSSIBLE BEFORE NEXT YEAR'S 
ELECTION, THE AMBASSADOR ASKED?   THERE IS DISAGREEMENT 
WITHIN THE GOZ AND LEGAL COMMUNITY ON THIS POINT, GULA- 
NDEBELE REPLIED.  HE PERSONALLY THOUGHT SUCH A STEP WOULD 
BE CONSISTENT WITH THE CURRENT CONSTITUTION, WHILE OTHERS 
THOUGHT CONSTITUTIONAL AND/OR LEGAL CHANGES WOULD BE 
REQUIRED FIRST. 
 
12.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR NOTED THE IMPORTANCE OF CITIZENS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03630  03 OF 04  041530Z 
HAVING CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ELECTORAL AUTHORITIES.  ONE 
APPROACH TAKEN IN SOME COUNTRIES IS TO ALLOW THE 
PARTICIPATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES ON ELECTORAL 
COMMISSIONS, SOMETIMES AS NON-VOTING MEMBERS.  WAS THIS 
POSSIBLE IN ZIMBABWE?  GULA-NDEBELE REPLIED THAT, ALTHOUGH 
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE EXCLUDED FROM MEMBERSHIP ON THE ESC, 
HE DID NOT SEE WHY THEY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE 
INPUT.  HE NOTED THAT HE MAINTAINED GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH 
SENIOR OFFICIALS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CURRENT ZIMBABWEAN 
POLITICAL DIVIDE.  MDC SECRETARY-GENERAL WELSHMAN NCUBE, 
FOR INSTANCE, IS HIS COUSIN AND USED TO WORK IN HIS LAW 
FIRM. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
13.  (C) GULA-NDEBELE IS BRIGHT AND THOUGHTFUL, AND APPEARS 
GENUINELY INTERESTED IN STRENGTHENING THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM 
FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL ZIMBABWEANS, NOT JUST THOSE FROM THE 
RULING PARTY.  WE WERE ENCOURAGED BY HIS OPENNESS ON A 
NUMBER OF KEY ISSUES, INCLUDING HIS WILLINGNESS TO WORK 
WITH THE MDC AND HIS EMPHASIS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTER 
EDUCATION, INCLUDING THE NEED FOR INVOLVEMENT OF NGO'S. 
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ESC HAS, IN RECENT YEARS, BEEN 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4758 
 
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ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    ACQ-00   CIAE-00  DINT-00  DODE-00  DOTE-00 
      WHA-00   SRPP-00  DS-00    EAP-00   EB-00    EUR-00   FAAE-00 
      FBIE-00  VC-00    H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   LAB-01   L-00 
      VCE-00   M-00     AC-01    NSAE-00  OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00 
      PC-01    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    TRSE-00 
      USIE-00  EPAE-00  IIP-00   PMB-00   DSCC-00  DRL-02   G-00 
      NFAT-00  SAS-00   SWCI-00    /008W 
                  ------------------46CF1C  041530Z /38 
P 041437Z DEC 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0463 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY OSLO 
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 
AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 003630 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER -- PLEASE PASS TO A/S KANSTEINER 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03630  04 OF 04  041530Z 
E.O. 12958: DECL. 12/04/11 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINR, ZI 
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ELECTION WITH ELECTORAL 
SUPERVISORY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN 
 
RELEGATED TO THE MARGINS OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS -- ITS 
PRINCIPAL FUNCTION IN THE JUNE 2000 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION 
AND SUBSEQUENT BY-ELECTIONS HAS BEEN TO ACCREDIT MONITORS 
AND OBSERVERS.  IT IS THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL (TOBAIWA 
MUDEDE), CONSIDERED BY MANY OBSERVERS TO BE FIRMLY IN THE 
ZANU-PF CAMP, WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN PREDOMINANT AUTHORITY FOR 
RUNNING ELECTIONS.  WE ARE SEEKING A MEETING WITH MUDEDE TO 
PRESS THE SAME ELECTION-RELATED ISSUES.  EVEN IF HE GIVES 
US AN APPOINTMENT (HE HAS TO DATE DECLINED TO MEET WITH 
MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY), WE ARE NOT OPTIMISTIC 
THAT OUR DISCUSSION WITH HIM WOULD BE AS CONSTRUCTIVE. 
 
SULLIVAN 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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