This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

041014Z May 01


                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ2167

PAGE 01        HARARE  01515  051624Z 
ACTION AF-00    

INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  SRPP-00  EB-00    EUR-00   
      VC-00    H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   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  PMB-00   PRM-01   DRL-02   G-00     
      SAS-00     /009W
                  ------------------E7D11E  051624Z /23    
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8796
INFO NSC WASHDC
DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L  HARARE 001515 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DRL/IL FOR KBRYANT 
NSC FOR JFRAZER 
ILAB FOR RSHEPHARD 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDICKSON-HORTON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL 05/04/11 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  01515  051624Z 
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PHUM PINR ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE LABOR DAY CELEBRATION DISRUPTED BY WAR 
VETERANS AND ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS 
 
REF: HARARE 1447 
 
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D' AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR 
REASONS 1.5 (B/D). 
 
¶1. (U) THE ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS (ZCTU) MAY 
DAY CELEBRATION HELD AT RUFARO STADIUM IN HARARE ON MAY 
1, WITH A CROWD ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 6,000 WORKERS, WAS 
DISRUPTED BY THE ARRIVAL OF WAR VETERANS AND RULING 
PARTY SUPPORTERS SHORTLY AFTER THE ZCTU SECRETARY- 
GENERAL, WELLINGTON CHIBHEBHE, HAD CONCLUDED HIS OPENING 
REMARKS.  THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE HARARE WAR VETERANS 
ASSOCIATION, AND PREVIOUSLY THE SELF-STYLED LEADER OF 
FARM INVASIONS, JOSEPH CHINOTIMBA, ARRIVED AT THE 
STADIUM IN A CHAUFFEURED LIMO, WITH ABOUT 1000 ZIMBABWE 
AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION-PATRIOTIC FRONT (ZANU-PF) 
SUPPORTERS FOLLOWING IN BUSES.  WHEN CHINOTIMBA ENTERED 
THE STADIUM AND TRIED TO FORCE HIS WAY TO THE STAGE 
WHERE THE MEMBERS OF THE ZCTU EXECUTIVE WERE SEATED, 
THERE OCCURRED A STANDOFF BETWEEN MOVEMENT FOR 
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) SUPPORTERS (THE MAJORITY BEING 
UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE STUDENTS), INTENT ON KEEPING 
CHINOTIMBA OFF THE STAGE, AND A GROUP OF RULING PARTY 
YOUTHS BROUGHT IN BY CHINOTIMBA, INTENT ON GETTING HIM 
TO THE STAGE.  HEAVILY ARMED RIOT POLICE HAD TO 
INTERCEDE TO KEEP THE TWO GROUPS FROM CLASHING. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  01515  051624Z 
¶2. (U) AS THE STANDOFF CONTINUED ON THE FLOOR OF THE 
STADIUM, THE ZCTU PRESIDENT, LOVEMORE MATOMBO, DECIDED 
TO GO AHEAD WITH HIS PRESENTATION.  HIS ADDRESS 
HIGHLIGHTED THE MYRIAD PROBLEMS THAT ZIMBABWE'S WORKERS 
FACE AS THE ECONOMY CONTINUES ITS RAPID COLLAPSE AND THE 
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ) FAILS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS 
OR POLICIES TO HALT THE COLLAPSE OR PROVIDE A SAFETY NET 
FOR WORKERS.  AMONG OTHER ISSUES, MATOMBO HIGHLIGHTED 
THE NEED FOR A NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE THAT WILL MAINTAIN 
WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE, A 
DESIRE THAT THE ZCTU BE GIVEN 25 PERCENT OF THE NATIONAL 
HIV/AIDS LEVY (WHICH IS A TAX ON WORKERS EARNINGS) IN 
ORDER TO CONDUCT WORKPLACE HIV/AIDS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, 
AND THE NEED TO ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT LABOR TRIBUNAL 
TO SPEED UP THE RESOLUTION OF LABOR DISPUTES TAKEN TO 
COURT (NOTE: THERE IS CURRENTLY A FIVE-YEAR BACKLOG OF 
LABOR CASES IN THE COURTS.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶3. (U) AFTER MATOMBO COMPLETED HIS ADDRESS, THE MEMBERS 
OF THE ZCTU EXECUTIVE LEFT THE STADIUM.  CHINOTIMBA WAS 
THEN ALLOWED ONTO THE STAGE.  WHEN HE TOOK THE 
MICROPHONE AND BEGAN TO ADDRESS THE CROWD, THE ASSEMBLED 
WORKERS BEGAN STREAMING FROM THE STADIUM.  AT THE 
BEGINNING OF HIS ADDRESS HE CRITICIZED THE ZCTU FOR NOT 
LOOKING AFTER THE INTERESTS OF WORKERS, AND ENCOURAGED 
WORKERS TO TURN TO ZANU-PF FOR ASSISTANCE.  THIS WAS MET 
BY LOUD BOOING FROM THE CROWD AS IT FILED OUT OF THE 
STADIUM.  CHINOTIMBA ENDED UP ADDRESSING ONLY AN 
ESTIMATED 2,000 PEOPLE, OF WHOM HALF WERE THE ZANU-PF 
SUPPORTERS WHO HAD BEEN BUSED IN.  HE READ OFF A LIST OF 
COMPANIES THAT THE WAR VETS WOULD SOON BE "VISITING" IN 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  01515  051624Z 
HARARE ON WORKERS BEHALF, TO THE CHEERING APPROVAL OF 
THE BUSED IN ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS. 
 
¶4. (U) THE MAY DAY CELEBRATION IN HARARE, AND OTHERS IN 
LARGER CITIES AND TOWNS ACROSS ZIMBABWE, WERE MARKED BY 
DECREASED ATTENDANCE FROM PRIOR YEARS AS A RESULT OF THE 
HYPER-CHARGED POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE COUNTRY, AS 
WELL AS THE SEVERE ECONOMIC CRISIS, WHICH HAS SEEN TENS 
OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS IN THE FORMAL SECTOR LOSE THEIR 
JOBS AS COMPANIES LAY OFF STAFF OR SHUT DOWN. 
 
¶5. (C) COMMENT: CHINOTIMBA'S GATE-CRASHING OF HARARE'S 
MAY DAY CELEBRATION WAS EXPECTED BY THE ZCTU EXECUTIVE. 
CHINOTIMBA IS SPEARHEADING ZANU-PF'S URBAN CAMPAIGN TO 
CAUSE DIVISION AND DISSENSION IN LABOR'S RANKS, AND 
WEAKEN THE ZCTU AHEAD OF THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION.  AS PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN, CHINOTIMBA RECENTLY 
PROCLAIMED HIMSELF PRESIDENT OF THE ZCTU, ALTHOUGH THIS 
PROCLAMATION WAS IMMEDIATELY REFUTED BY THE LAWFULLY 
ELECTED ZCTU PRESIDENT.  CHINOTIMBA AND THE WAR VETERANS 
HE LEADS IN HARARE HAVE BEEN BEHIND THE RECENT INVASIONS 
OF COMPANIES AND SOME NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN 
HARARE (REFTEL).  THEY HAVE ENTERED BUSINESSES AND 
SHAKEN DOWN MANAGEMENT, FORCING THEM TO PAY COMPENSATION 
TO WORKERS WHO HAVE HAD LABOR DISPUTES WITH THESE 
COMPANIES.  WE PREDICT THAT THIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING TO 
FAIL TO GAIN WIDESPREAD WORKER SUPPORT.  WHILE SOME 
WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN FIRED OR AGGRIEVED WILL TAKE UP 
CHINOTIMBA ON HIS OFFER TO EXTRACT SOME EXTRA CASH FROM 
THEIR FORMER EMPLOYERS, THE MAJORITY OF WORKERS 
RECOGNIZE THAT IN THE LONG-RUN THESE ACTIONS WILL ONLY 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 05        HARARE  01515  051624Z 
RESULT IN MORE CLOSINGS AND JOB LOSSES.   IN ADDITION, 
THE ZCTU AND ITS AFFILIATED UNIONS ARE HIGHLY ORGANIZED, 
WITH TWENTY YEARS OF LABOR UNION ACTIVISM BEHIND THEM. 
THEY ARE ACTIVELY REACHING OUT TO THEIR MEMBERSHIP TO 
SPREAD THEIR MESSAGE ON POLICY CHANGES NEEDED TO HELP 
WORKERS, AND IN HIGHLIGHTING THE FAILURE OF THE ZANU-PF- 
LED GOVERNMENT TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC 
CRISIS.  AS A RESULT, THE MAJORITY OF WORKERS REMAIN 
UNITED BEHIND THEIR UNIONS AND THE ZCTU LEADERSHIP, AND 
CONTINUE TO STRONGLY SUPPORT THE OPPOSITION MDC.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
IRVING 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
> 
@@@OASYS@@@ 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ2152 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  01515  01 OF 02  051505Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DODE-00  SRPP-00  EB-00 
      UTED-00  H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   L-00 
      NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   PM-00    PRS-00   P-00     SP-00 
      SS-00    STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00  PMB-00   PRM-01   DRL-02 
      G-00     SAS-00     /007W 
                  ------------------E7CE0E  051505Z /07 
R 041014Z MAY 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8796 
INFO NSC WASHDC 
DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 001515 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DRL/IL FOR KBRYANT 
NSC FOR JFRAZER 
ILAB FOR RSHEPHARD 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDICKSON-HORTON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL 05/04/11 
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PHUM PINR ZI
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  01515  01 OF 02  051505Z 
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE LABOR DAY CELEBRATION DISRUPTED BY WAR 
VETERANS AND ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS 
 
REF: HARARE 1447 
 
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D' AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR 
REASONS 1.5 (B/D). 
 
¶1. (U) THE ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS (ZCTU) MAY 
DAY CELEBRATION HELD AT RUFARO STADIUM IN HARARE ON MAY 
1, WITH A CROWD ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 6,000 WORKERS, WAS 
DISRUPTED BY THE ARRIVAL OF WAR VETERANS AND RULING 
PARTY SUPPORTERS SHORTLY AFTER THE ZCTU SECRETARY- 
GENERAL, WELLINGTON CHIBHEBHE, HAD CONCLUDED HIS OPENING 
REMARKS.  THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE HARARE WAR VETERANS 
ASSOCIATION, AND PREVIOUSLY THE SELF-STYLED LEADER OF 
FARM INVASIONS, JOSEPH CHINOTIMBA, ARRIVED AT THE 
STADIUM IN A CHAUFFEURED LIMO, WITH ABOUT 1000 ZIMBABWE 
AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION-PATRIOTIC FRONT (ZANU-PF) 
SUPPORTERS FOLLOWING IN BUSES.  WHEN CHINOTIMBA ENTERED 
THE STADIUM AND TRIED TO FORCE HIS WAY TO THE STAGE 
WHERE THE MEMBERS OF THE ZCTU EXECUTIVE WERE SEATED, 
THERE OCCURRED A STANDOFF BETWEEN MOVEMENT FOR 
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) SUPPORTERS (THE MAJORITY BEING 
UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE STUDENTS), INTENT ON KEEPING 
CHINOTIMBA OFF THE STAGE, AND A GROUP OF RULING PARTY 
YOUTHS BROUGHT IN BY CHINOTIMBA, INTENT ON GETTING HIM 
TO THE STAGE.  HEAVILY ARMED RIOT POLICE HAD TO 
INTERCEDE TO KEEP THE TWO GROUPS FROM CLASHING. 
 
¶2. (U) AS THE STANDOFF CONTINUED ON THE FLOOR OF THE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  01515  01 OF 02  051505Z 
STADIUM, THE ZCTU PRESIDENT, LOVEMORE MATOMBO, DECIDED 
TO GO AHEAD WITH HIS PRESENTATION.  HIS ADDRESS 
HIGHLIGHTED THE MYRIAD PROBLEMS THAT ZIMBABWE'S WORKERS 
FACE AS THE ECONOMY CONTINUES ITS RAPID COLLAPSE AND THE 
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ) FAILS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS 
OR POLICIES TO HALT THE COLLAPSE OR PROVIDE A SAFETY NET 
FOR WORKERS.  AMONG OTHER ISSUES, MATOMBO HIGHLIGHTED 
THE NEED FOR A NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE THAT WILL MAINTAIN 
WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE, A 
DESIRE THAT THE ZCTU BE GIVEN 25 PERCENT OF THE NATIONAL 
HIV/AIDS LEVY (WHICH IS A TAX ON WORKERS EARNINGS) IN 
ORDER TO CONDUCT WORKPLACE HIV/AIDS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, 
AND THE NEED TO ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT LABOR TRIBUNAL 
TO SPEED UP THE RESOLUTION OF LABOR DISPUTES TAKEN TO 
COURT (NOTE: THERE IS CURRENTLY A FIVE-YEAR BACKLOG OF 
LABOR CASES IN THE COURTS.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶3. (U) AFTER MATOMBO COMPLETED HIS ADDRESS, THE MEMBERS 
OF THE ZCTU EXECUTIVE LEFT THE STADIUM.  CHINOTIMBA WAS 
THEN ALLOWED ONTO THE STAGE.  WHEN HE TOOK THE 
MICROPHONE AND BEGAN TO ADDRESS THE CROWD, THE ASSEMBLED 
WORKERS BEGAN STREAMING FROM THE STADIUM.  AT THE 
BEGINNING OF HIS ADDRESS HE CRITICIZED THE ZCTU FOR NOT 
LOOKING AFTER THE INTERESTS OF WORKERS, AND ENCOURAGED 
WORKERS TO TURN TO ZANU-PF FOR ASSISTANCE.  THIS WAS MET 
BY LOUD BOOING FROM THE CROWD AS IT FILED OUT OF THE 
STADIUM.  CHINOTIMBA ENDED UP ADDRESSING ONLY AN 
ESTIMATED 2,000 PEOPLE, OF WHOM HALF WERE THE ZANU-PF 
SUPPORTERS WHO HAD BEEN BUSED IN.  HE READ OFF A LIST OF 
COMPANIES THAT THE WAR VETS WOULD SOON BE "VISITING" IN 
HARARE ON WORKERS BEHALF, TO THE CHEERING APPROVAL OF 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  01515  01 OF 02  051505Z 
THE BUSED IN ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS. 
 
¶4. (U) THE MAY DAY CELEBRATION IN HARARE, AND OTHERS IN 
LARGER CITIES AND TOWNS ACROSS ZIMBABWE, WERE MARKED BY 
DECREASED ATTENDANCE FROM PRIOR YEARS AS A RESULT OF THE 
HYPER-CHARGED POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE COUNTRY, AS 
WELL AS THE SEVERE ECONOMIC CRISIS, WHICH HAS SEEN TENS 
OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS IN THE FORMAL SECTOR LOSE THEIR 
JOBS AS COMPANIES LAY OFF STAFF OR SHUT DOWN. 
 
¶5. (C) COMMENT: CHINOTIMBA'S GATE-CRASHING OF HARARE'S 
MAY DAY CELEBRATION WAS EXPECTED BY THE ZCTU EXECUTIVE. 
CHINOTIMBA IS SPEARHEADING ZANU-PF'S URBAN CAMPAIGN TO 
CAUSE DIVISION AND DISSENSION IN LABOR'S RANKS, AND 
WEAKEN THE ZCTU AHEAD OF THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION.  AS PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN, CHINOTIMBA RECENTLY 
PROCLAIMED HIMSELF PRESIDENT OF THE ZCTU, ALTHOUGH THIS 
PROCLAMATION WAS IMMEDIATELY REFUTED BY THE LAWFULLY 
ELECTED ZCTU PRESIDENT.  CHINOTIMBA AND THE WAR VETERANS 
HE LEADS IN HARARE HAVE BEEN BEHIND THE RECENT INVASIONS 
OF COMPANIES AND SOME NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN 
HARARE (REFTEL).  THEY HAVE ENTERED BUSINESSES AND 
SHAKEN DOWN MANAGEMENT, FORCING THEM TO PAY COMPENSATION 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ2153 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  01515  02 OF 02  051505Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DODE-00  SRPP-00  EB-00 
      UTED-00  H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   L-00 
      NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   PM-00    PRS-00   P-00     SP-00 
      SS-00    STR-00   TRSE-00  USIE-00  PMB-00   PRM-01   DRL-02 
      G-00     SAS-00     /007W 
                  ------------------E7CE0F  051505Z /07 
R 041014Z MAY 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8797 
INFO NSC WASHDC 
DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 001515 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DRL/IL FOR KBRYANT 
NSC FOR JFRAZER 
ILAB FOR RSHEPHARD 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDICKSON-HORTON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL 05/04/11 
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PHUM PINR ZI
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  01515  02 OF 02  051505Z 
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE LABOR DAY CELEBRATION DISRUPTED BY WAR 
VETERANS AND ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS 
 
TO WORKERS WHO HAVE HAD LABOR DISPUTES WITH THESE 
COMPANIES.  WE PREDICT THAT THIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING TO 
FAIL TO GAIN WIDESPREAD WORKER SUPPORT.  WHILE SOME 
WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN FIRED OR AGGRIEVED WILL TAKE UP 
CHINOTIMBA ON HIS OFFER TO EXTRACT SOME EXTRA CASH FROM 
THEIR FORMER EMPLOYERS, THE MAJORITY OF WORKERS 
RECOGNIZE THAT IN THE LONG-RUN THESE ACTIONS WILL ONLY 
RESULT IN MORE CLOSINGS AND JOB LOSSES.   IN ADDITION, 
THE ZCTU AND ITS AFFILIATED UNIONS ARE HIGHLY ORGANIZED, 
WITH TWENTY YEARS OF LABOR UNION ACTIVISM BEHIND THEM. 
THEY ARE ACTIVELY REACHING OUT TO THEIR MEMBERSHIP TO 
SPREAD THEIR MESSAGE ON POLICY CHANGES NEEDED TO HELP 
WORKERS, AND IN HIGHLIGHTING THE FAILURE OF THE ZANU-PF- 
LED GOVERNMENT TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC 
CRISIS.  AS A RESULT, THE MAJORITY OF WORKERS REMAIN 
UNITED BEHIND THEIR UNIONS AND THE ZCTU LEADERSHIP, AND 
CONTINUE TO STRONGLY SUPPORT THE OPPOSITION MDC.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
IRVING 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
>