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

111646Z Apr 00


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FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5721
INFO AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 
AMEMBASSY LONDON

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001970 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/10 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS PINR ZI MDC
SUBJECT: MDC TO OFFER AMNESTY TO KEY MILITARY FIGURES 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 
B/D. 
 
¶1.  (C) A SMALL DEPUTATION OF MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC 
CHANGE (MDC) MEMBERS LED BY HARARE BUSINESSMAN CLIVE 
PUZEY CALLED ON AMBASSADOR MCDONALD APRIL 10 TO INFORM 
HIM OF A PLAN TO OFFER AN AMNESTY DEAL TO APPROXIMATELY 
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TEN OF ZIMBABWE'S TOP MILITARY LEADERS.  THE MDC HAD 
IDENTIFIED FORMER ZIMBABWE ARMY CHIEF SOLOMON MUJURU AS 
THE INDIVIDUAL WITH WHOM TO NEGOTIATE, AS THEY SAW HIM 
AS BEST PLACED TO SELL THE DEAL.  PUZEY SAID THAT MUJURU 
WAS CURRENTLY HOSPITALIZED IN SOUTH AFRICA, WHERE HE IS 
BEING TREATED FOR COMPLICATIONS ARISING FROM HIV/AIDS. 
THE ZIMBABWEAN BUSINESSMAN SAID THAT SOUTH AFRICAN VICE 
PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA OWED HIM A FAVOR AND HE WOULD CALL 
IT IN, ASKING THE FORMER UMKHONTO WE SIZWE OFFICER TO 
APPROACH MUJURU AS A MILITARY MAN AND LAY OUT THE DEAL. 
 
¶2.  (C) THE MDC REASONS THAT ALL THE VIOLENCE AND 
UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION 
CAMPAIGN IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT CERTAIN TOP MILITARY 
LEADERS FEEL INSECURE ABOUT THEIR FATES SHOULD THE MDC 
WIN A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES.  THESE INDIVIDUALS INCLUDE 
CHIEF OF THE DEFENSE FORCES VITALIS ZVINAVASHE, AIR 
FORCE CHIEF PERENCE SHIRI, ARMY CHIEF CONSTANTINE 
CHIWENGA, GENERAL MASHINGAIDZE AND AIR MARSHAL JOSIAH 
TUNGAMIRAYI.  PUZEY DESCRIBED  POLICE COMMISSIONER 
AUGUSTINE CHIHURI AS "HOPELESS," AND SAW NO NEED TO 
OFFER HIM AMNESTY.  ALTHOUGH THE MDC DID NOT BELIEVE IN 
GRANTING PRE-EMPTIVE AMNESTIES, IT THOUGHT IT PRUDENT TO 
EXTEND THIS OLIVE BRANCH TO THE "PEOPLE WITH THE GUNS" 
IN ORDER TO MITIGATE, IF NOT COMPLETELY ELIMINATE, THE 
CURRENT WAVE OF POLITICALLY-INSPIRED VIOLENCE. 
 
¶3.  (C) PUZEY TOLD AMBASSADOR MCDONALD THAT THE MDC 
EXPECTED TO WIN 90 SEATS IN PARLIAMENT AND NEEDED 
IMPARTIAL MONITORS TO BEGIN TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD. 
HE NOTED THAT INTIMIDATION WAS VERY POWERFUL AND THAT 
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THE ELECTION ALMOST CERTAINLY WOULD BE RIGGED.  WHILE 99 
PERCENT OF THE MDC'S MEMBERSHIP ACCEPTED THE PRINCIPLE 
OF LAW AND ORDER, THE PARTY LEADERSHIP WAS HAVING 
DIFFICULTY KEEPING THE LID ON THE FORMER'S ANGER.  THE 
MDC ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE PERSONAL SECURITY OF ITS 
LEADER, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, AND MONITORED NERVOUSLY THE 
MOVEMENTS OF ANTHONY WHITE, A FORMER SELOUS SCOUT TURNED 
HIT MAN TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER, CURRENTLY RESIDING IN 
BEIRA, MOZAMBIQUE.  THE PARTY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS BEST 
FOR TSVANGIRAI TO LEAVE ZIMBABWE FOR A TIME, AND WOULD 
BE SENDING HIM TO ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES ON A 
PUBLIC RELATIONS AND FUND RAISING TRIP.  PUZEY TOLD THE 
AMBASSADOR THAT TSVANGIRAI WOULD TAKE THE MESSAGE TO ALL 
WITH WHOM HE MET THAT THE MDC WAS COMMITTED TO TAKING 
THE MORAL HIGH ROAD AND PLAYING THE GAME AS CLEANLY AS 
POSSIBLE. 
 
¶4.  (C) COMMENT: WHILE AN EXCITABLE CHARACTER, PUZEY HAS 
REPORTED RELIABLY ON MDC PLANS AND THINKING.  WE THINK 
THAT THE AMNESTY OFFER IS ON THE MONEY, AND IS A 
SUGGESTION THAT WE OURSELVES MIGHT HAVE MADE TO THE MDC. 
WE HOPE THE OFFER IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE INTERMEDIARY, AND 
THAT HE IN TURN IS A SUCCESSFUL SALESMAN.  PUZEY'S 
PREDICTION OF A MDC SUPER MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT STRIKES 
US AS EXCESSIVELY SANGUINE, BUT THESE ARE UNPRECEDENTED 
TIMES AND WE HESITATE TO RULE OUT SUCH A POSSIBILITY. 
END COMMENT. 
 
MCDONALD 
 
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