US embassy cable - 05HARARE980

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000980 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
AF FOR DAS T. WOODS 
AF/S FOR B. NEULING 
OVP FOR NULAND 
NSC FOR DNSA ABRAMS, SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2010 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINR, ASEC, ZI, Restore Order/Murambatsvina 
SUBJECT: GOZ ANNOUNCES SUSPENSION OF DEMOLITIONS 
 
REF: HARARE 976 AND PREVIOUS ON "RESTORE ORDER" 
 
Classified By: Charge d' Affaires a.i. under Section 1.4 b/d 
 
1. (SBU) On July 15, Housing Minister Ignatius Chombo 
announced that the GOZ would halt Operation Restore Order, 
the GOZ's nationwide campaign to demolish "unauthorized 
structures" (reftel), for ten days in order to allow 
low-density suburb residents time to legalize any structures 
that do not conform to their land,s official plans.  The 
Embassy is unaware of any demolitions in urban or rural areas 
that have taken place since the minister,s announcement.  We 
will, however, continue to monitor the government,s actions. 
 
 
2. (C) Comment: It seems clear that the surprise hiatus came 
under duress.  Local media reports speculate that the 
suspension was the result of last weeks, visit by South 
Africa's new Vice President.  The Vice President,s visit was 
itself apparently in response to growing disapproval from 
fellow Africans of the operation, including especially the UN 
Special Envoy,s report, which is expected to be critical, 
and the tough statement from the South African Council of 
Churches after their visit last week.  As much as the respite 
is welcome news, even more welcome is the apparent 
involvement of the SAG in an effort to moderate the Mugabe 
regime and its policies. 
SCHULTZ