US embassy cable - 02HARARE1822

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001822 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/S, AF/EX 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR CNEARY 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2012 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, EAGR, ECON, ZI, Land Reform 
SUBJECT: COMMERCIAL FARMS APPEAR CALM AS INITIAL DEADLINE 
PASSES 
 
Classified By: Laboff KRBel for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) As the August 8 midnight deadline for commercial 
farmers to vacate their farms and homesteads came and went, 
there are no reports of violence or forcible evictions from 
the disputed property.  Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) 
president David Hasluck reports that the situation 
countrywide is "cool" and that there are not yet any 
indications of confrontation.  Hasluck states that there is 
"lots of counterintelligence going around," by which the GOZ 
has been successful in increasing the level of anxiety and 
apprehension among farmers.  At the moment, however, no 
officials -- police, soldiers, CIO, or other government 
operatives -- have tried to remove any remaining farmers from 
their land. 
 
2. (SBU) Nevertheless, Hasluck has emphasized that they 
expect the situation to vary from region to region.  Just as 
implementation of the land acquisition program itself has 
depended upon the leadership at the local level, the CFU 
expects that enforcement of the various deadlines will depend 
upon the relationship farmers have with their local 
officials.  At this point, people who feel vulnerable, 
including farmers' wives and children, are not remaining on 
the farms.  Many of those individuals have opted to stay with 
friends or stay in the city for the upcoming long Heroes Day 
holiday weekend.  On the other hand, many farmers who are 
more certain of the situation on the local level have chosen 
to stay on their property in order to protect their assets. 
 
3. (C) Comment:  Although Post is heartened by the reported 
lack of violent confrontation, there remains the potential 
for some confrontation over the four-day weekend.  Just as 
the initial farm occupations occurred at the behest of groups 
of "war veterans," it is entirely possible that some forcible 
evictions will be attempted by these same groups -- 
particulary since many of them consider themselves to be 
among the "heroes" who are being honored on August 12. 
Additionally, the GOZ may attempt to make a public stand by 
evicting or arresting some farmers as an example to the rest 
-- similar to the response in arresting fifteen Chiredzi-area 
sugarcane farmers on the occasion of the June 24 deadline. 
Hasluck has agreed to notify us if he hears of any 
confrontation over the long weekend.  End comment. 
WHITEHEAD