US embassy cable - 02HARARE161

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000161 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2007 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, EAID, ZI 
SUBJECT: VISIT TO MUTARE AND MANICALAND 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY JOSEPH G. SULLIVAN FOR REASONS 1.5B/D 
 
1. C) SUMMARY: A BRIEF JANUARY 10-11 VISIT TO MUTARE IN 
MANICALAND PROVINCE CONFIRMED THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM 
THAT ZANU/PF IS FACING DIFFICULTIES IN THE CITY OF 
MUTARE AND SURROUNDING AREAS AND IS VULNERABLE IN ALL 
BUT THE MOST RURAL AREAS. THE AMBASSADOR MET WITH ACTING 
PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATOR MBETSA IN THE ABSENCE OF THE 
GOVERNOR, MAYOR LAWRENCE MUDEHWE, A GROUP OF COMMERCIAL 
FARMERS AND BISHOPS FROM THE CATHOLIC, ANGLICAN, 
EVANGELICAL AND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES. HE ALSO VISITED A 
USAID FUNDED VOLUNTARY COUNSELING AND TESTING CENTER AND 
A PRIMARY SCHOOL RECONSTRUCTED FROM DEVASTATING 
HURRICANE ELAINE WITH DOD HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FUNDS. 
THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC DECLINE, PROVOKED BY BAD ECONOMIC 
POLICIES AND LAND INSTABILITY, WAS MUCH IN EVIDENCE. 
POLITICAL VIOLENCE, ORGANIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT, WAS A 
MAJOR CONCERN OF CHURCH LEADERS.  BUT MOST INTERLOCUTORS 
THOUGHT THAT ECONOMIC HARD TIMES AND ZANU-PF INATTENTION 
TO MANICALAND MADE PRESIDENT MUGABE'S ELECTION PROSPECTS 
IN THE PROVINCE POOR, A PERCEPTION WHICH THE OPPOSITION 
MDC SHARES. END SUMMARY 
 
ECONOMY AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION DOWN 
---------------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) MUTARE AND MANICALAND PROVINCE ARE FEELING THE 
IMPACT OF ZIMBABWE'S ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, WITH TIMBERLAND, 
AGRO-INDUSTRY AND COMMERCIAL FARMING NEGATIVELY AFFECTED 
BY LAND INSTABILITY AND OCCUPATIONS.  CLOSE PROXIMITY TO 
THE MOZAMBIQUE BORDER HAS ALSO SPAWNED A FLOURISHING 
CLANDESTINE TRADE OF PRICE-CONTROLLED ITEMS FROM 
ZIMBABWE TO MOZAMBIQUE WHERE TRADERS ARE ABLE TO REALIZE 
A HANDSOME PROFIT.  CONSUMERS IN ZIMBABWE FEEL THE 
EFFECT IN SHORTAGES OF THESE BASIC COMMODITIES.  CHURCH 
LEADERS SAID THEIR POOREST CONSTITUENTS ARE FACING REAL 
HUNGER BUT THAT GOVERNMENT DELAYS IN RECOGNIZING 
SHORTAGES MEANT THAT THE CHURCHES DID NOT APPEAL TO 
SUPPORTING INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN A TIMELY 
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FASHION.  PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES CLAIMED THAT THE IMPACT 
OF LAND REDISTRIBUTION WAS MINIMAL ON TIMBER, COFFEE AND 
FRUIT AGRO-INDUSTRY, A CLAIM CONTESTED BY PRIVATE 
FARMERS.  ALL AGREED THAT THE EFFECT WAS FELT MOST IN 
SMALL AND MID-SIZED COMMERCIAL FARMS.  AFFECTED 
COMMERCIAL FARMERS TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THEY HAD ALL BEEN 
AFFECTED IN VARIOUS WAYS.  THE FARMER WHO HAD QUICKLY 
SURRENDERED ONE OF HIS TWO FARMS WITHOUT CONTESTATION 
FARED BEST, WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL WHO MADE THE MOST NOISE 
AND WAS CONTESTING IN COURT WAS SUFFERING THE MOST.  BUT 
IN EVERY CASE, PRODUCTIVITY WAS SUFFERING GREATLY WITH 
CROPS OR DAIRY PRODUCTION ON COMMERCIAL FARMS REDUCED 
SUBSTANTIALLY AND FARM OCCUPIERS WITH LITTLE KNOW-HOW 
AND FEW INPUTS, PRODUCING AT MOST A FEW SUBSISTENCE 
CROPS.  IN MANY CASES, THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE A-2 
COMMERCIAL FARM DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM HAVE BEEN URBAN 
DWELLERS PICKING UP A PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR THE WEEKEND 
WITH LITTLE EXPERIENCE OR PROSPECTS IN SUCCESSFUL 
FARMING.  MUTARE MAYOR MUDEHWE WAS A PLEASANT EXCEPTION 
TO THE TENDENCY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LAND 
DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM WHILE THE GETTING WAS GOOD. 
DESPITE THE FACT THAT HIS OWN LAND IN THE COMMUNAL AREAS 
HAS INSUFFICIENT WATER FOR PRODUCTIVE FARMING, HE DID 
NOT APPLY FOR A FARM IN THE A-2 PROGRAM TO AVOID THE 
APPEARANCE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. 
 
3. (C) THE VISIT TO THE DOD-REHABILITATED SCHOOL IN 
ROWA, JUST 20 MINUTES OUTSIDE MUTARE IN A COMMUNAL AREA, 
WAS INSTRUCTIVE.  THE SCHOOLED WAS BASIC BUT 
SERVICEABLE. THE PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, PRESENT DURING 
THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS PERFORMING THEIR MANDATORY GROUNDS 
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MAINTENANCE CHORES, WERE DRESSED POORLY BUT ADEQUATELY 
AND SHOWED NO SIGNS OF HUNGER OR MALNUTRITION.  THE 
REHABILITATION PROJECT WAS WELL EXECUTED AND A REAL 
CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE 
PARTICIPATION OF OFFICIALS FROM THE SCHOOL, THE 
PROVINCE, THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND THE PARENTS' 
ASSOCIATION IN THE BRIEF CEREMONY. 
 
VIOLENCE AND POLITICS 
--------------------- 
 
4. (C) IN TWO SEPARATE MEETINGS, THE CATHOLIC AND 
PROTESTANT CLERGYMEN COMPLAINED OF FREQUENT POLITICAL 
VIOLENCE ORCHESTRATED BY ZANU/PF AND THE GOVERNMENT. 
THE PROTESTANT CLERGY COMPLAINED THAT THE STATE MEDIA 
HAD DISTORTED THEIR RECENT MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MUGABE 
TO CLAIM THAT IT FOCUSED ON THEIR SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT 
LAND REFORM.  THEY HAD PUT OUT SUBSEQUENT STATEMENTS 
CLARIFYING THAT THEIR FOCUS HAD BEEN AN APPEAL FOR NON- 
VIOLENCE.  THEY SAID THAT ALL RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN THE 
PROVINCE WERE UNITED IN THIS APPEAL.  THEY DID NOT 
BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT VIOLENCE WOULD BE EFFECTIVE IN 
MANICALAND, EXCEPT IN THE MOST RURAL PARTS OF THE 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ6260 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  00161  02 OF 02  160830Z 
ACTION DRL-02 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AF-00    AID-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  SRPP-00  EB-00 
      EUR-00   VC-00    H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    L-00 
      AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   PA-00    PM-00 
      PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    SS-00    STR-00   TRSE-00 
      T-00     USIE-00  PMB-00   PRM-00   G-00     SAS-00     /007W 
                  ------------------5867DB  160830Z /40 
P 160752Z JAN 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0729 
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-HA// 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 000161 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2007 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, EAID, ZI 
SUBJECT: VISIT TO MUTARE AND MANICALAND 
 
PROVINCE, WHERE THE OPPOSITION WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY 
GETTING ITS MESSAGE OUT.  THEY PLANNED TO ORGANIZE MORE 
PRESSURE AGAINST VIOLENCE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.  CATHOLIC 
BISHOP MUTUME ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN AT POLITICAL 
VIOLENCE IN THE PROVINCE AND THE GOVERNMENT'S 
UNWILLINGNESS TO CURB IT.  HE DID NOT THINK THAT THIS 
VIOLENCE WOULD BENEFIT THE RULING PARTY, HOWEVER, AS 
PEOPLE KNEW WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLENCE AND 
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PAGE 02        HARARE  00161  02 OF 02  160830Z 
ECONOMIC HARD TIMES.  AS THE AMBASSADOR ARRIVED IN 
MUTARE, HE ENCOUNTERED A GROUP OF 100 GREEN-UNIFORMED 
YOUTH BRIGADE GRADUATES BEING SWORN IN AND WELCOMED BACK 
TO MUTARE TO CARRY OUT THEIR SERVICE.  ASKED WHAT WORK 
THEY WOULD BE DOING IN MUTARE, THE ACTING PROVINCIAL 
ADMINISTRATOR SAID THEY WOULD BE CARRYING OUT CIVIC 
PROJECTS. (COMMENT: WOULD THAT IT WERE SO.) 
 
5. (C) LAWRENCE MUDEHWE, WHO HAS BEEN ELECTED MAYOR OF 
MUTARE TWICE, NOTWITHSTANDING THE OPPOSITION OF HIS OWN 
ZANU-PF PARTY, WAS FRANK ABOUT ZANU_PF WEAKNESS IN 
MANICALAND.  HE NOTED THE POOR REPRESENTATION OF 
MANICALAND IN THE ZANU-PF LEADERSHIP AND THE TENDENCY OF 
HARARE PARTY HEADQUARTERS TO SEEK TO IMPOSE ITS 
DECISIONS ON LOCAL PARTY STRUCTURES.  HE BELIEVED THAT 
POOR ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE ECONOMIC 
POLICIES WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT AT THE POLLS AND 
THAT ZANU-PF WOULD NOT DO WELL IN MANICALAND PROVINCE. 
 
HIV-AIDS: A GROWING COMMUNITY FOCUS 
----------------------------------- 
 
6. (U) IN MEETINGS WITH CHURCH BISHOPS, HIV-AIDS WAS A 
MAJOR CONCERN.  THE CATHOLIC BISHOP, WHO HAS HAD 
SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT IN HIS OUTREACH PROGRAMS FROM THE 
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICE, SAID THAT HE NO LONGER NEEDED 
TO PLEA FOR SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS.  EVERYONE 
HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY THE DISEASE, EVEN IN THE MOST RURAL 
PARTS OF HIS DIOCESE.  VILLAGE CHIEFS WERE ANXIOUS TO 
HELP AND TO HAVE THE CHURCH'S ASSISTANCE IN CONFRONTING 
THE PROBLEM. BISHOP MUTUME SAID THAT THE CHURCH HAS 
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PAGE 03        HARARE  00161  02 OF 02  160830Z 
SOUGHT TO ASSIST IN THE FAMILY CARE OF THOSE AFFECTED, 
BUT THEN TO HELP TRANSPORT THE ILL TO THEIR RURAL 
VILLAGES BEFORE DEATH IN ORDER TO SPARE THE FAMILY 
EXPENSIVE FUNERAL COSTS.  BISHOP MUTUME AND THE OTHER 
BISHOPS WERE ALL FOCUSED ON BEHAVIOR CHANGE AS A KEY TO 
ATTACKING HIV-AIDS.  THEY WERE PLEASED TO LEARN MORE 
ABOUT THE NEW START VOLUNTARY COUNSELING AND TESTING 
CENTER WHICH IS FUNCTIONING IN MUTARE IN CONJUNCTION 
WITH THE MUTARE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE RED CROSS. THE 
AMBASSADOR VISITED THE MUTARE NEW START CENTER, WHICH 
HAS SEEN IMPRESSIVE GROWTH IN ITS USAGE, PARTICULARLY 
SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF QUICK TESTING KITS. 
 
SULLIVAN 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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