US embassy cable - 02HARARE211

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000211 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/12 

TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, ZI, NI 
SUBJECT: MDC RALLY BROKEN UP BY POLICE AND ZANU-PF 
MILITANTS, WHILE GOZ-PERPETRATED VIOLENCE SPREADS 
 
REF:  1/22 KRAFT/HARRINGTON TELCON 
 
CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF MATT HARRINGTON. 
REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  (C) ON JANUARY 20, ZANU-PF MILITANTS WAITING IN 
AMBUSH AND POLICE USING TEARGAS BLOCKED A PLANNED 
MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) RALLY IN BULAWAYO. 
AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE MELEE, AND SEVEN 
ARE REPORTED MISSING.  THE DISRUPTION OCCURRED EVEN 
THOUGH THE MDC HAD APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED PERMITS 
THREE WEEKS IN ADVANCE.  IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, 
VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO SPREAD, MORE ROADBLOCKS ARE BEING 
ERECTED, SAFEHOUSES FOR REFUGEES FROM POLITICAL 
VIOLENCE ARE BEING RAIDED, AND THE GOZ IS PREPARING TO 
SEIZE FIREARMS BELONGING TO COMMERCIAL FARMERS, THEREBY 
REMOVING THEIR LAST LINE OF DEFENSE.  END SUMMARY. 
 
MDC RALLY BLOCKED 
----------------- 
 
2.  (U) POLICE AND ZANU-PF MILITANTS BLOCKED A PLANNED 
MDC RALLY AT BULAWAYO'S WHITE CITY STADIUM ON JANUARY 
20.  MDC SECRETARY-GENERAL WELSHMAN NCUBE TOLD 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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JOURNALISTS ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS HAD OCCUPIED THE STADIUM 
TO PREVENT THE RALLY FROM BEING HELD, WHILE POLICE BEAT 
AND FIRED TEARGAS AT 8,000 - 10,000 MDC SUPPORTERS 
WAITING TO ENTER THE STADIUM.  ACCORDING TO PRESS 
REPORTS, AT LEAST 20 MDC SUPPORTERS WERE INJURED IN THE 
MELEE, AND ONE OF THE VICTIMS WAS ADMITTED TO AN 
INTENSIVE CARE UNIT WITH A SERIOUS HEAD INJURY.  SEVEN 
MDC SUPPORTERS WENT MISSING, ACCORDING TO NCUBE.  A 
POLICE SPOKESMAN DENIED CHARGES OF PARTISANSHIP, 
CLAIMING THAT THE POLICE HAD ACTED TO "STOP VIOLENCE 
BETWEEN SUPPORTERS OF TWO PARTIES." 
 
3.  (C) MDC VICE-PRESIDENT GIBSON SIBANDA, WHO WAS THE 
SENIOR PARTY OFFICIAL SCHEDULED TO ADDRESS THE RALLY, 
TOLD POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF THAT THE MDC HAD INFORMED 
THE POLICE THREE WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF THE PLANNED RALLY 
AND HAD OBTAINED PERMITS AUTHORIZING THE EVENT FROM 
BOTH THE POLICE AND THE CITY COUNCIL.  ACCORDING TO 
SIBANDA, THE NIGHT BEFORE THE RALLY, SEVERAL HUNDRED 
ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS CAMPED OUT INSIDE THE STADIUM IN A 
CLEAR ATTEMPT TO DISRUPT THE FOLLOWING DAY'S RALLY. 
SIBANDA CLAIMED GOVERNMENT VEHICLES TRANSPORTED THE 
GROUP THERE AFTER ATTENDING A ZANU-PF RALLY ADDRESSED 
BY VICE-PRESIDENT JOSEPH MSIKA AND RULING PARTY 
COMMISSAR ELLIOTT MANYIKA IN INYATHI, 50 KM NORTHEAST 
OF BULAWAYO.  SIBANDA SAID THERE WAS NO QUESTION IN HIS 
MIND THAT MSIKA AND MANYIKA HAD INSTRUCTED THEIR 
SUPPORTERS TO BLOCK THE RALLY.  AFTER HE AND MDC 
SECRETARY-GENERAL WELSHMAN NCUBE FAILED TO CONVINCE THE 
 
SIPDIS 
SENIOR POLICE OFFICER PRESENT TO EVICT THE ZANU-PF 
SUPPORTERS INSIDE SO THAT THE RALLY COULD TAKE PLACE, A 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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MELEE ENSUED BETWEEN THE IRATE MDC SUPPORTERS OUTSIDE 
AND THE RIOT POLICE, WITH THE FORMER THROWING STONES 
AND THE LATTER FIRING TEARGAS AND BEATING PEOPLE IN THE 
CROWD.  IN ADDITION TO THE PERSON ADMITTED TO THE 
INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, SIBANDA SAID A NUMBER OF MDC 
SUPPORTERS HAD BEEN STABBED. 
 
VIOLENCE SPREADS 
---------------- 
 
4.  (C) MEANWHILE, WAR VETERANS AND THE RECENTLY- 
INAUGURATED YOUTH BRIGADES HAVE CONTINUED TO EXPAND 
THEIR CAMPAIGN EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF ZANU-PF.  PHYSICAL 
VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO BE THE PRIMARY TACTIC OF CHOICE. 
ON JANUARY 13, MDC MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT WAS STABBED IN 
THE ABDOMEN BY A GROUP OF ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS AFTER THEY 
ABDUCTED HIM FROM LUPANE BUSINESS CENTER, ABOUT 160 
KILOMETERS NORTHWEST OF BULAWAYO.  HE WAS DUMPED SIX 
KILOMETERS FROM THE BUSINESS CENTER, UNCONSCIOUS AND 
BLEEDING.  ACCORDING TO LEARNMORE JONGWE, THE MDC'S 
SPOKESMAN, ZANU-PF MILITANTS KILLED THREE MDC MEMBERS 
AND A FOURTH PASSERBY IN ZAKA DISTRICT, MASVINGO 
PROVINCE, OVER THE PAST WEEK.  AT THE CENTRAL BUS 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ3544 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  00211  02 OF 02  231639Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  WHA-00   SRPP-00  EAP-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    SSO-00   SS-00 
      STR-00   TRSE-00  T-00     USIE-00  SNIS-00  NISC-00  PMB-00 
      PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     SAS-00     /007W 
                  ------------------5BFE11  231639Z /26 
O 231608Z JAN 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0775 
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY KINGSTON PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 000211 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/12 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  00211  02 OF 02  231639Z 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, ZI, NI 
SUBJECT: MDC RALLY BROKEN UP BY POLICE AND ZANU-PF 
MILITANTS, WHILE GOZ-PERPETRATED VIOLENCE SPREADS 
 
TERMINAL IN RUSAPE, ABOUT 200 KM SOUTHEAST OF HARARE, 
PEOPLE READING INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS AND THOSE UNABLE 
TO PRODUCE ZANU-PF MEMBERSHIP CARDS HAVE BEEN BEATEN, 
IN THE FULL VIEW OF POLICE, WHO IN MOST CASES 
REPORTEDLY STOOD IDLY BY.  ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS 
ANECDOTAL REPORTS, SIMILAR INCIDENTS OF BEATINGS 
PERPETRATED PREDOMINANTLY BY ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS -- 
INCLUDING INFLICTION OF SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY -- ARE 
HAPPENING NATIONWIDE.   WE HAVE EVEN RECEIVED FIRST- 
HAND REPORTS OF ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS BEATING RULING PARTY 
MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT MILITANT ENOUGH OR HAVE THE GALL TO 
MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONS WITH PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE 
OF THE POLITICAL AISLE. 
 
5.  (C) IN ADDITION, WE RECEIVE REGULAR REPORTS OF 
ROADBLOCKS BEING ERECTED AROUND THE COUNTRY, MOSTLY 
AWAY FROM MAIN THOROUGHFARES IN MORE ISOLATED AREAS, 
WHERE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS NOT IN POSSESSION OF ZANU-PF 
CARDS ARE SUBJECTED TO PHYSICAL AND VERBAL ABUSE.  IN 
SOME CASES, THOSE MANNING THE ROADBLOCKS SEIZE NATIONAL 
IDENTITY DOCUMENTS OF THOSE WHO CANNOT PRODUCE ZANU-PF 
CARDS, MEANING THEY MAY BE UNABLE TO VOTE IN THE 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. 
 
6.  (C) IN ANOTHER RECENT DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS CAUSED 
STRONG CONCERN AMONG HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, THE 
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE HAS ZEROED IN ON SAFEHOUSES 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  00211  02 OF 02  231639Z 
OPERATED BY THE WELL-RESPECTED HUMAN RIGHTS 
ORGANIZATION AMANI TRUST FOR VICTIMS OF POLITICAL 
VIOLENCE.  THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED MEDIA HAVE RUN 
VITRIOLIC FRONT-PAGE STORIES DURING THE PAST WEEK 
DESCRIBING THE SAFEHOUSES AS "KILLER HOUSES" INTENDED 
TO HIDE MDC MURDERERS AND PERPETRATORS OF VIOLENCE 
WANTED BY THE POLICE.  AMANI TRUST DIRECTOR TONY REELER 
TOLD US THAT "THE GUYS IN DARK GLASSES" HAVE SHOWN UP 
AT MANY OF THE SAFEHOUSES ASKING QUESTIONS AND 
DEMANDING WRITTEN RECORDS.  GIVEN THE INFLAMMATORY TONE 
OF THE RECENT PRESS ARTICLES, REELER FULLY EXPECTS THE 
WAR VETERANS OR YOUTH BRIGADES TO ATTACK THE OCCUPANTS 
SOON.  TO TRY TO PREEMPT SUCH AN ATTACK, AMANI TRUST IS 
DIVIDING THE OCCUPANTS -- MANY OF WHOM HAVE BEEN BADLY 
INJURED OR SEVERELY TRAUMATIZED -- INTO SMALLER GROUPS 
AND MOVING THEM TO NEW LOCATIONS. 
 
7.  (C) COMMERCIAL FARMERS WHOSE PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN 
DESIGNATED RECEIVED LETTERS FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE 
REGIONAL POLICE COMMANDERS ON JANUARY 18 ORDERING THEM 
TO SURRENDER ALL OF THEIR FIREARMS, LICENSED OR NOT, BY 
FEBRUARY 4.  THE LEGAL PROVISION ON WHICH THE GOZ HAS 
BASED THIS MOVE IS APPARENTLY FULL OF HOLES, BUT WE 
UNDERSTAND THE GOZ PLANS TO ISSUE A STATUTORY 
INSTRUMENT (DECREE) LEGALIZING THE SEIZURES.  (NOTE: WE 
HAVE ALSO RECEIVED AN UNCONFIRMED REPORT THAT THE CIO 
HAS CONFISCATED SOME WEAPONS AND LICENSES, WITHOUT 
ISSUING RECEIPTS, IN THE FEATHERSTONE AREA 100 KM SOUTH 
OF HARARE, ALTHOUGH THIS REPORTEDLY IS NOT YET GOZ 
POLICY.  END NOTE.)  IAN COCHRAN, A COMMERCIAL FARMER 
IN KAROI, WHICH HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY BADLY AFFECTED BY 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  00211  02 OF 02  231639Z 
THE LAND INVASIONS, TOLD POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF HE WAS 
EXTREMELY DISTURBED BY THIS NEW REQUIREMENT, AS HIS 
FIREARMS PROVIDED HIS FAMILY'S ONLY PROTECTION IN THE 
CHAOTIC ENVIRONMENT PREVAILING IN HIS REGION.  IF 
FORCED TO COMPLY, HE SAID HE AND HIS FAMILY WOULD LEAVE 
THE COUNTRY.  IN THE MEANTIME, COCHRAN AND A NUMBER OF 
OTHER FARMERS ARE ENCOURAGING THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS 
UNION TO CHALLENGE THE POLICE ACTION IN COURT. 
 
SULLIVAN 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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