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



                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ3328

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FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7044
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 005003 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
USUN FOR HOLBROOKE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/10 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ZI CG
SUBJECT:  NEW ZIMBABWE PARLIAMENT STILL FEELING ITS WAY 
 
REF:  HARARE 4026 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  05003  01 OF 03  110846Z 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMB. TOM MCDONALD.  REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND 
(D). 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY: SINCE ITS JULY 20 OPENING (REFTEL), 
ZIMBABWE'S NEW PARLIAMENT HAS FALLEN INTO RAUCOUS DEBATE 
AND POLITICAL SPARRING THAT HAS YIELDED FEW CONCRETE 
RESULTS.  ONE HUNDRED EIGHT OUT OF 150 MEMBERS ARE NEW 
TO THE LEGISLATIVE BODY AND THIS HAS BEEN REFLECTED IN 
THE LOW QUALITY OF DEBATE.   MAIDEN SPEECHES AND 
PAROCHIAL CONCERNS HAVE CONSUMED MUCH OF THE BODY'S TIME 
SINCE IT OPENED (IT HAS BEEN IN SESSION ONLY FOUR OF THE 
LAST SEVEN WEEKS) DESPITE A GENERAL RECOGNITION THAT 
URGENT ACTION IS NEEDED ON THE COUNTRY'S DIRE ECONOMIC 
CONDITION.  MANY MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) 
MEMBERS HAVE LAMBASTED THE GOVERNMENT, AND IN SOME 
CASES, PRESIDENT MUGABE PERSONALLY, FOR FAILING TO 
ADDRESS ZIMBABWE'S MOUNTING WOES AND FOR ORCHESTRATING A 
CAMPAIGN OF TERROR AGAINST ITS CITIZENS.  BEHIND THE 
SCENES, A MORE SOPHISTICATED COMMITTEE SYSTEM IS TAKING 
SHAPE, AND THERE ARE SIGNS THAT MEMBERS WILL COOPERATE 
ACROSS THE AISLE ON SOME ISSUES.  HOWEVER, THE 
WESTMINSTER-STYLE WHIP SYSTEM WILL LIKELY KEEP PARTY 
MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE IN LINE ON THE ISSUES 
THAT COUNT MOST.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------------ 
PARLIAMENT, BULLY PULPIT AND THEATRE 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2.  (U) AFTER A TWO-WEEK BREAK, PARLIAMENT RESUMED ITS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  05003  01 OF 03  110846Z 
SESSION ON AUGUST 29.  THE DEBATE SINCE HAS BEEN 
CHARACTERIZED BY A LEVEL OF POLITICAL ATTACKS AND 
BACKBENCH SNIPING THAT WOULD PUT LONDON'S PARLIAMENT TO 
SHAME.  EVERY NEW PARLIAMENTARIAN IS BEING GIVEN A 
CHANCE TO MAKE A MAIDEN SPEECH, AND THESE HAVE CONSUMED 
MUCH OF THE PARLIAMENT'S TIME.  MOST MDC MEMBERS HAVE 
USED THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTACK THE GOVERNMENT FOR 
ITS FAILURE TO TURN AROUND THE COUNTRY'S SLIDING ECONOMY 
WHILE POINTING OUT THE DECLINE IN HEALTH SERVICES OR 
LACK OF ROAD MAINTENANCE IN THEIR HOME DISTRICTS.  SOME 
MDC MEMBERS HAVE ATTACKED MUGABE PERSONALLY FOR THE 
VIOLENCE LEADING UP TO THE JUNE PARLIAMENTARY VOTE, AND 
THESE SPEECHES HAVE RECEIVED PROMINENT COVERAGE IN THE 
INDEPENDENT "DAILY NEWS."  EVELYN MASAITI OF NYANGA 
DESCRIBED MUGABE ON AUGUST 31 AS A FATHER WHO HAS 
BETRAYED HIS CHILDREN AND WHO IS NO LONGER WORTHY OF 
BEING A FATHER.  (NOTE: EVELYN MASAITI IS ONE OF THE 
PLAINTIFFS IN THE CIVIL SUIT FILED AGAINST THE PRESIDENT 
IN NEW YORK.  MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE 
PLAINTIFFS WILL FOLLOW SEPTEL.  END NOTE.)  OUTSPOKEN MP 
FOR GLEN NORAH, PRISCILLA MISIHAIRABWI-MUSHONGA, RAILED 
AGAINST MUGABE ON SEPTEMBER 6, SAYING HIS OPENING SPEECH 
TO PARLIAMENT (REFTEL) WAS IRRELEVANT TO THE COUNTRY AND 
THAT HE IS THE SOURCE OF THE COUNTRY'S PROBLEMS AND MUST 
RESIGN.  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE EMMERSON MNANGAGWA 
CAUTIONED THE MP AGAINST BEING DISRESPECTFUL OF THE HEAD 
OF STATE, WHICH CAUSED AN UPROAR FROM THE MDC BENCH. 
 
¶3.  (U) THE THEATRICS GOT INTO HIGH GEAR ON AUGUST 31 
WHEN MISIHAIRABWI THREATENED TO BEAT UP FELLOW MP - AND 
WAR VETERANS LEADER - CHENJERAI HUNZVI FOR INTERRUPTING 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  05003  01 OF 03  110846Z 
HER SEVERAL TIMES DURING HER SPEECH ABOUT THE DECLINING 
ACCESS TO MEDICINE.  DURING THE SEPTEMBER 6 SESSION 
ATTENDED BY POLOFF, MDC MEMBERS RETURNED THE FAVOR BY 
HECKLING AND JEERING HUNZVI'S MAIDEN SPEECH AND BROKE 
INTO LAUGHTER WHEN HUNZVI SUGGESTED FOREIGN DONORS 
SHOULD PROVIDE TRACTORS TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.  HALFWAY 
THROUGH HUNZVI'S RAMBLING DISCOURSE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF 
LAND DEPRIVATION BY ZIMBABWE'S COLONIZERS, NEARLY ALL OF 
THE MDC MEMBERS WALKED OUT. 
 
¶4.  (C) SPEAKER MNANGAGWA SO FAR APPEARS FAIRLY EVEN- 
HANDED IN HIS RUNNING OF THE PROCEEDINGS, CHOOSING HIS 
INTERJECTIONS SPARINGLY AND JUDICIOUSLY.  ALTHOUGH HE 
INTERVENES WHEN THE PRESIDENT'S NAME IS DISPARAGED, HE 
ALSO QUIETS THE RAUCOUS ZANU-PF BENCH WHEN IT DISRUPTS 
AN MDC MOTION.  ON THE OTHER HAND, DEPUTY SPEAKER EDNA 
MADZONGWE, WHO ACTS AS SPEAKER IN MNANGAGWA'S ABSENCE, 
HAS BEEN ACCUSED BY MDC MEMBERS OF STIFLING DEBATE. 
DURING THE QUESTION TIME ON AUGUST 30, THE ENTIRE MDC 
PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION THREATENED TO WALK OUT WHEN 
MADZONGWE REPEATEDLY REFUSED TO ALLOW QUESTIONS OF A 
DEPUTY MINISTER ON THE FAST-TRACK LAND RESETTLEMENT 
PROGRAM.  LIKE IN THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT, OPPOSITION 
MEMBERS PERIODICALLY HAVE THE CHANCE TO QUESTION 
GOVERNMENT MINISTERS ABOUT THEIR POLICIES AND ACTIONS. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ3329 
 
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P 110843Z SEP 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7045 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 005003 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
USUN FOR HOLBROOKE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/10 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ZI CG
SUBJECT:  NEW ZIMBABWE PARLIAMENT STILL FEELING ITS WAY 
 
UNTIL THE SITTING OF THIS PARLIAMENT, QUESTION TIME HAD 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  05003  02 OF 03  110846Z 
BEEN A NON-EVENT THAT MINISTERS SELDOM WORRIED ABOUT. 
NOW THEY ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO CLOSE AND PUBLIC 
SCRUTINY. 
 
---------------------------------- 
PARLIAMENTARY CRASH COURSE FOR MDC 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) ON SEPTEMBER 1 MDC MP FOR HARARE EAST TENDAI 
BITI INFORMED POLOFF THAT THE MDC'S MAIN GOAL IN 
PARLIAMENT IS TO CREATE MORE POLITICAL SPACE FOR THE 
OPPOSITION.  IN ORDER TO DO THIS, IT WILL FOCUS ON 
PRESSING FOR A NEW CONSTITUTION, EXPOSING GOVERNMENT 
MISMANAGEMENT, AND GAINING MORE CONTROL OVER THE BUDGET. 
THE MDC WILL NOT PUSH FOR THE IMPEACHMENT OF MUGABE, 
ACCORDING TO BITI, AS THE TIME WAS NOT YET RIPE.  NOR 
DOES IT REALISTICALLY EXPECT TO GET FAR WITH ITS 
REFORMIST AGENDA WHILE ZANU-PF HAS A PARLIAMENTARY 
MAJORITY.  BITI ACKNOWLEDGED THAT MDC MPS ARE AT A 
DISADVANTAGE IN HOUSE DELIBERATIONS SINCE NOT ALL OF 
THEM HAVE MASTERED PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES, SUCH AS 
TABLING MOTIONS.  MANY MDC MPS ARE STILL GRAPPLING WITH 
FINDING OFFICE SPACE AND SETTING UP TELEPHONES, AND ARE 
RELYING ON PERSONAL FUNDS UNTIL GOVERNMENT MONEY IS 
DISBURSED TO COVER THESE EXPENSES. 
 
¶6.  (C) MOST MDC MPS ATTENDED TWO WORKSHOPS SPONSORED BY 
THE INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTUE (IRI) IN JULY 
AND AUGUST TO HELP GET THEM UP TO SPEED ON PARLIAMENTARY 
PROCEDURE.  A SIMILAR PARLIAMENTARY TRAINING WORKSHOP IS 
BEING SPONSORED SEPTEMBER 24-25 BY THE ZIMBABWE CHAMBER 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  05003  02 OF 03  110846Z 
OF COMMERCE AND THE CONFEDERATION OF ZIMBABWEAN 
INDUSTRIES (CZI), AND WILL INCLUDE MPS FROM BOTH ZANU-PF 
AND THE MDC.  ACCORDING TO THE IRI RESPRESENTATIVE HERE, 
AGENTS FROM THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION (CIO) 
SHOWED UP AT THE JULY WORKSHOP FOR MDC MEMBERS, ASKING 
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO WAS SPONSORING THE EVENT AND WHO WAS 
ATTENDING IT.  THE ENCOUNTER DEMONSTRATED THE SENIOR 
GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP'S ONGOING MISTRUST OF THE MDC. 
DESPITE THE GOZ'S MISTRUST, BITI STATED THAT MDC MEMBERS 
ARE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES WITH NEWLY ELECTED, MOSTLY 
YOUNGER ZANU-PF MPS, WHO SEEM RECEPTIVE TO REACHING AN 
UNDERSTANDING ON A VARIETY OF SECONDARY ISSUES. 
HOWEVER, BITI DOES NOT EXPECT ANY OF THE ZANU-PF MPS TO 
BREAK RANKS WITH THE PARTY ON THE CRUCIAL ISSUES OF THE 
DAY SUCH AS LAND REFORM. 
 
----------------------------- 
REMAKING THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM 
----------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) SINCE THE MDC NOW CONTROLS MORE THAN A THIRD OF 
PARLIAMENT, MUCH IS BEING DONE TO REVAMP THE BODY'S 
COMMITTEE SYSTEM, ACCORDING TO AUSTIN ZVOMA, THE CLERK 
OF PARLIAMENT AND HIGHEST RANKING CIVIL SERVANT IN 
PARLIAMENT.  TWO OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES HAVE BEEN THE 
REFORMULATION OF PORTFOLIO COMMITTEES TO REFLECT THE NEW 
CABINET MINISTRIES AND THE INTRODUCTION OF "SHADOW" 
MINISTERS, WHO REPRESENT THE OPPOSITION IN PARLIAMENT ON 
ISSUES DEALT WITH BY THE GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES.  THE 
STANDING RULES AND ORDER COMMITTEE, COMPRISED OF BOTH 
ZANU-PF AND MDC MEMBERS, HAS ALREADY MET AND DETERMINED 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  05003  02 OF 03  110846Z 
THAT THE CHAIRMANSHIPS OF THE 12 PORTFOLIO COMMITTEES 
WILL BE DIVIDED EVENLY BETWEEN ZANU-PF AND MDC.  THE IRI 
REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED US THAT THE MDC IS LIKELY TO 
CHAIR THE EDUCATION, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, JUSTICE, 
ENVIRONMENT, AND HEALTH COMMITTEES.  BESIDES THE 
STANDING RULES AND ORDER COMMITTEE, THERE ARE NORMALLY 
FIVE OTHER STANDING COMMITTEES THAT INCLUDE THE PUBLIC 
ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE, WHICH OVERSEES GOVERNMENT SPENDING 
LEGISLATED BY PARLIAMENT, AND THE ALL-IMPORTANT BUDGET 
AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, WHICH APPROVES THE GOVERNMENT'S 
BUDGET.  ZANU-PF WILL PROBABLY KEEP THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF 
THE MORE INFLUENTIAL STANDING COMMITTEES, SUCH AS BUDGET 
AND FINANCE.  PARLIAMENT IS DUE TO APPOINT THE 
COMMITTEES AND THEIR CHAIRMEN ON SEPTEMBER 12. 
 
¶8.  (C) THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE IS DUE TO BEGIN 
CONSIDERING THE GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET IN LATE OCTOBER.  IT 
WILL SCRUTINIZE THE BUDGET BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, ZVOMA 
SAYS, BEFORE SUBMITTING IT TO THE WHOLE HOUSE FOR 
DEBATE.  THE DEADLINE FOR PASSAGE OF THE BUDGET IS 
JANUARY 1, THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.  THE 
GOVERNMENT CANNOT LEGALLY LEVY TAXES WITHOUT BUDGETARY 
APPROVAL FROM PARLIAMENT, THE CLERK STATED.  (COMMENT: 
GIVEN THE NEW MAKEUP OF THIS PARLIAMENT, BUDGETARY 
DEBATES ARE BOUND TO BE HEATED AND HIGHLY CONTENTIOUS. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ3330 
 
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                  ------------------83A2F7  110846Z /38 
P 110843Z SEP 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7046 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 005003 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
USUN FOR HOLBROOKE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/10 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ZI CG
SUBJECT:  NEW ZIMBABWE PARLIAMENT STILL FEELING ITS WAY 
 
FINANCE MINISTER SIMBA MAKONI DREW LOUD JEERS OF "SHAME, 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  05003  03 OF 03  110846Z 
SHAME" FROM MDC MEMBERS ON AUGUST 30 WHEN HE DISCLOSED 
THAT THE GOZ HAD SPENT NEARLY US$200 MILLION ON ITS 
INTERVENTION IN THE DROC.  END COMMENT.) 
 
------------------------- 
REAL ROLE FOR PARTY WHIPS 
------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (C) ANOTHER IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE WITH THIS 
PARLIAMENT IS THE NEW PROMINENCE OF PARTY WHIPS.  IN 
PREVIOUS PARLIAMENTS, WITH ZANU-PF'S HUGE MAJORITY, 
THERE WAS LITTLE CHANCE OF ANY MEASURE BEING DEFEATED. 
IF SOME PARLIAMENTARIANS APPEARED TO WAIVER IN THEIR 
SUPPORT OF A PARTICULAR BILL, ZANU-PF WOULD RELY 
PRIMARILY ON SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO APPLY THE 
NECESSARY PRESSURE (EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, AS JUSTICE 
MINISTER, WAS NOTABLE IN THIS ROLE).  NOW, WITH A 
SIZEABLE OPPOSITION, THE POTENTIAL FOR DEFECTION IS MUCH 
GREATER, AND INDIVIDUAL MPS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE 
WILL HAVE POTENTIALLY GREATER BARGAINING POWER WITH 
THEIR RESPECTIVE PARTIES.  HENCE, THERE IS A GREATER 
NEED FOR THE WHIPS TO ENSURE THAT PARTY MEMBERS STAY IN 
LINE AND VOTE WITH THE PARTY ON KEY MOTIONS AND BILLS. 
BOTH ZANU-PF AND MDC HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REIGN IN 
RECALCITRANT MPS FOR PUBLIC STATEMENTS THAT WENT AGAINST 
PARTY POLICY. 
 
¶10.  (C) COMMENT:  ZIMBABWE'S FIFTH PARLIAMENT IS STILL 
GOING THROUGH A TUMULTUOUS INFANCY, AND IT IS LIKELY TO 
HAVE MANY TANTRUMS BEFORE IT GROWS UP.  HOWEVER, IT IS 
DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE EVEN A MORE MATURE PARLIAMENT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  05003  03 OF 03  110846Z 
ALTERING GOVERNMENT POLICY ON KEY ISSUES SUCH AS LAND 
RESETTLEMENT, ECONOMIC REFORM, AND MILITARY ENGAGEMENT 
IN THE DROC.  ZANU-PF REMAINS IN FIRM CONTROL OF ALL THE 
INSTRUMENTS OF GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING PARLIAMENT.  IF 
NOTHING ELSE, THE REVITALIZED LEGISLATURE IS LIKELY TO 
RAISE THE PROFILE OF ORDINARY CITIZENS' CONCERNS, SUCH 
AS PRICE INCREASES AND THE DECLINE IN GOVERNMENT 
SERVICES.  THIS WILL INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON THE 
GOVERNMENT TO GET ITS FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER SO THAT 
IT CAN AT LEAST START TACKLING PROBLEMS IN A MEANINGFUL 
WAY BEFORE THE 2002 ELECTION SEASON.  PARLIAMENT RISKS 
DISENCHANTING THE PUBLIC AND RELEGATING ITSELF TO 
IRRELEVANCY, HOWEVER, IF IT CANNOT GET PAST THE STAGE OF 
CONSTANT POLITICAL AND PERSONAL ATTACKS.  THE BUDGET 
BATTLE LATER THIS YEAR WILL TEST THE NEW PARLIAMENT'S 
METTLE AND GIVE US A GOOD INDICATION OF WHETHER THIS 
PARLIAMENT WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON TURNING THE 
COUNTRY AROUND. 
 
MCDONALD 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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