US embassy cable - 02HARARE2086

Disclaimer: This site has been first put up 15 years ago. Since then I would probably do a couple things differently, but because I've noticed this site had been linked from news outlets, PhD theses and peer rewieved papers and because I really hate the concept of "digital dark age" I've decided to put it back up. There's no chance it can produce any harm now.

Identifier:	02HARARE2086
Wikileaks:	View 02HARARE2086 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Harare
Created:	2002-09-12 11:40:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	EAGR EAID PGOV PREL
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 002086 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USAID FOR ANDREW NATSIOS 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
ROME FOR FODAG 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2012 
TAGS: EAGR, EAID, PGOV, PREL 
SUBJECT: UN FOOD SEIZED 
 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Kimberly Jemison for reasons 1.5 (b) a 
nd (d). 
 
 1.  (U) SUMMARY: On September 7, Zimbabwe police and 
soldiers raided the UNICEF facilities and illegally seized 
food UNICEF had been storing for UN employees.  After 
appealing to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UN received 
an apology from the guilty parties and expected to have the 
stolen food returned on September 11 but by mid-day on 
September 12 we were unable to confirm whether it had been 
returned.  END SUMMARY. 
 
-------------- 
UN FOOD SEIZED 
-------------- 
2.  (U) On September 7, Zimbabwe police and soldiers raided 
the UNICEF compound and seized food UNICEF had been storing 
for the UN employees and their dependents, according to Kirk 
Hoffman, Operation Manager at UNICEF.  The UN has been 
importing food every three months for its 1000 employees 
(3000 dependents) in Zimbabwe for several months.  UNICEF 
kept the food on its premises because it has the space to do 
so and was in the process of distributing it when the police 
and soldiers raided the facility.  In addition to seizing the 
food (there were eight staple food commodities), the police 
and soldiers beat up two UNICEF staff members and searched 
diplomatic (CD) vehicles. 
 
3.  (U) During the raid, UN officials advised the 
belligerents several times that they were violating UN 
immunities and privileges.  After the attackers left, the UN 
complained to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the highest 
level and has since been provided with the names of the 
perpetrators, an apology, a promise to return the items by 
the end of the day on September 11, and permission to open a 
legal case against those who assaulted the UNICEF staff. 
 
----------------------------- 
FOOD AID SECURITY IN QUESTION 
----------------------------- 
4.  (C) COMMENT: The raid on UNICEF further flags concerns 
about the security of food aid imported into Zimbabwe.  The 
fact that the Zimbabwe police and military can disregard the 
immunity afforded the UN and seize food does not particularly 
bode well for food secured by other international 
organizations.  The Government's response in this case will 
provide clear indications of how similar problems will be 
handled in the future, and what additional steps might be 
necessary to ensure adequate security arrangements for 
donated food.  END COMMENT. 
 
SULLIVAN