US embassy cable - 05HARARE803

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000803 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF FOR DAS T. WOODS 
AF/S FOR B. NEULING 
OVP FOR NULAND 
NSC FOR DNSA ABRAMS, SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2010 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, ECON, ASEC, ZI, Economic Situation, Other Political Parties, MDC 
SUBJECT: DAY ONE OF STAY-AWAY 
 
REF: HARARE 788 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i, Eric T. Schultz under Section 1. 
4 b/d 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) June 9, day one of the Broad Alliance-led two-day 
stay-away, appeared to be a partial success.  The greatest 
impact was in Harare where Embassy staff observed slightly 
reduced vehicular traffic and significantly reduced 
pedestrian traffic.  Some businesses reported that the 
majority of their staff reported for work while others had 
nearly no staff.  Police presence was visible but not 
intrusive throughout the day in major cities.  Civil society 
and the MDC reported that based on today,s response, they 
were going forward with follow up demonstrations for next 
week.  End Summary. 
 
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The Stay Away in Harare 
----------------------- 
 
2. (C) By mid-day June 9, it appeared that many individuals 
in Harare had heeded the call to stay home, although most 
businesses stayed open.  In the morning, Embassy staff 
observed only slightly less vehicular traffic than normal but 
noticed that there were fewer commercial mini-buses and fewer 
people in each vehicle than usual.  Pedestrian traffic was 
significantly reduced.  There were also far fewer individuals 
hailing rides or gathering at bus stops.  Noticeably absent 
were students who are normally seen in groups walking to 
school.  Schools were open, but Embassy locally employed 
staff said many teachers yesterday invited students to stay 
home. 
 
3. (C) Many businesses that we contacted were fully staffed 
while others had nearly no staff, reflecting the initial 
mixed success of the stay away.  The Managing Director of 
Dimension Data in Harare reported that only one of his staff 
showed up for work.  He predicted that many businesses would 
close early.  Tham Mapofu of 3M Corporation said only 50% of 
his staff came in, mostly factory workers. 
 
4. (C) Police presence in Harare was heightened throughout 
the morning but, with few exceptions, generally not 
obtrusive.  Embassy staff reported sightings of a cannon and 
a tank being transported through the city, but there was 
otherwise there was no heightened military presence.  Embassy 
staff reported increased activity at roadblocks from the 
high-density suburb of Chitungwiza into Harare.  The police 
were requiring individuals to disembark from buses and 
individually questioning them about their business in town 
and sometimes asking for receipts for any goods in the 
individual,s possession. 
 
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Response in Other Major Cities 
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5. (C) Businessmen whom we contacted in Mutare and Bulawayo 
reported that workers were going to work and there were no 
disturbances.  They said there was heightened police presence 
and police, and in Bulawayo the police were breaking up 
groups of people in public. 
 
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Civil Society and MDC Assessments 
--------------------------------- 
 
6. (C) NCA Chairperson Lovemore Madhuku, who led the Broad 
Alliance effort in organizing the stay-away, by mid-afternoon 
called the first day a success.  He told poloff that more 
than half of workers had stayed home.  He said that the 
stay-away would probably roll over the weekend into next 
week, depending on what happened on Friday.  Broad Alliance 
leaders were planning more active protests for next week.  He 
said that the people needed heroes to set a good example and 
his goal was to get 2,000 people in the streets.  He added 
that organizing even today,s stay-away was consuming a great 
deal of resources, primarily for fuel, as organizers moved 
around to get the word out and monitor the situation. 
 
7. (C) As part of the stay-away, MDC MPs did not attend the 
opening session of Parliament (septel).  The MDC conducted no 
public activities.  However, the MDC had supported the stay 
away and our MDC contacts reported that the stay-away was 
very successful in the high-density suburbs, in large part 
because MP Job Sikhala was active in spreading the word. 
This success was in spite of a heavy police presence.  In 
Chitungwiza, for instance, MDC contacts reported that police 
were present in much greater numbers than usual and moving 
around and that the military were also visible.  However, 
neither was reported going into homes or questioning people. 
 
8. (C) Raymond Majongwe of Progressive Teachers Union of 
Zimbabwe said the stay-away had been successful but said 
further action was needed and that there would be no impact 
if some of the MDC,s and civil society,s leadership were 
not arrested to call attention to the situation and show that 
Zimbabweans were not being passive. 
 
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Comment 
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9. (C) As of mid-afternoon June 9, the stay-away appeared to 
be at least a partial success.  A lack of transportation 
appeared to be an important factor, probably reflecting the 
fact that private commuter buses were among the first targets 
of Operation Restore Order.  The GOZ response has been 
relatively moderate, which may encourage greater 
participation on June 10.  So too might the fact that June 10 
is a Friday.  It remains to be seen if the Broad Alliance can 
muster enough support for more active demonstrations next 
week given the public,s fear and apathy.  The last few NCA 
demonstrations had relatively low turnout and quickly 
dispersed. 
 
10. (C) For its part, the MDC, which reluctantly supported 
the stay away, continues to be criticized for not being 
aggressive enough.  The independent media are increasingly 
taking the MDC leadership to task for failing to lead.  A 
cartoon in today,s Financial Gazette, depicting the MDC as 
an empty suit, is indicative.  Efforts to organize action 
next week may fail to reach critical mass or be crushed, but 
failure to act at all, especially by the MDC, may pose more 
significant long-term risks for Zimbabwe's challenged 
opposition and civil society. 
SCHULTZ