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

131413Z Sep 00


                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ3367

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FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7082
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 005137 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/10 
TAGS: PREL ECON EFIN EAGR PINR PHUM ZI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH NEW PARLIAMENT SPEAKER 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  05137  01 OF 03  131415Z 
MNANGAGWA 
 
REF: HARARE 5003 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR MCDONALD.  REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND 
(D). 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  (C)  IN A MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR MCDONALD ON 
SEPTEMBER 11, NEW PARLIAMENT SPEAKER EMMERSON MNANGAGWA 
INITIALLY DENIED THAT HE WAS STILL A KEY PLAYER ON DRC 
POLICY, BUT LATER ADMITTED THAT HE WOULD TRAVEL SOON TO 
KINSHASA, AT PRESIDENT MUGABE'S REQUEST, TO LEARN 
KABILA'S LATEST THINKING ON LUSAKA.   MNANGAGWA DESCRIBED 
THE NEW PARLIAMENT AS LIVELY.  ZANU-PF AND THE MDC SHARE 
A COMMON ASSESSMENT OF ZIMBABWE'S CURRENT PROBLEMS BUT 
DISAGREE ON PROPOSED SOLUTIONS, AND NEITHER PARTY WOULD 
ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO RUSH THINGS THROUGH THE 
LEGISLATIVE BODY.  MNANGAGWA SPOKE HIGHLY OF THE 
USAID/SUNY-ALBANY PARLIAMENTARY REFORM PROJECT. 
 
¶2.  (C) ON LAND, MNANGAGWA SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN 
FORCED TO PROCEED WITH ITS FAST TRACK RESETTLEMENT EFFORT 
BECAUSE THE PLAN LAID OUT BY THE SEPTEMBER 1998 DONORS 
CONFERENCE HAD BEEN TOO GRADUAL.  WHEN THE AMBASSADOR 
EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE DAMAGING IMPACT ON THE 
ECONOMY, WITH FOOD SHORTAGES LIKELY, MNANGAGWA SAID THAT 
WAS THE COST OF REDISTRIBUTING LAND OWNERSHIP.  MNANGAGWA 
ACKNOWLEDGED THE OCCURRENCE OF PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE AND 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  05137  01 OF 03  131415Z 
INSISTED THE GOZ HAD INVESTIGATED THE INCIDENTS ACTIVELY, 
BUT BLAMED THE COURTS FOR NOT PROCESSING THE CASES 
EXPEDITIOUSLY.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR, ACCOMPANIED BY POLOFFS, CALLED ON 
NEW PARLIAMENT SPEAKER EMMERSON MNANGAGWA ON SEPTEMBER 
¶11.  MNANGAGWA WAS JOINED BY SENIOR INTERNATIONAL 
RELATIONS OFFICER EDISON PARADZA. 
 
DROC 
---- 
 
¶4.  (C) AFTER CONGRATULATING MNANGAGWA ON HIS NEW 
APPOINTMENT, THE AMBASSADOR RAISED DRC, EMPHASIZING 
CONTINUING U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT PRESIDENT KABILA'S REFUSAL 
TO IMPLEMENT FULLY THE LUSAKA ACCORDS.  THE UNITED STATES 
HOPED ZIMBABWE COULD PREVAIL ON KABILA TO HONOR HIS 
COMMITMENTS.  MNANGAGWA SAID HE WAS NO LONGER DIRECTLY 
INVOLVED IN DRC POLICY, BUT PROVIDED HIS ASSESSMENT OF 
WHERE THE PEACE PROCESS STOOD.  THE DRC, HE SAID, HAS 
BEEN VERY HARD ON THE ISSUE OF WHERE MONUC TROOPS ARE 
DEPLOYED.  THE GOZ HAS REMINDED THE CONGOLESE THEY HAVE 
TO ACCEPT THE DEPLOYMENT, AND TOLD THEM THAT LOCATION OF 
MONUC TROOPS SHOULD BE A MILITARY DECISION DICTATED BY 
EVENTS ON THE GROUND.   MNANGAGWA THEN, LATER IN THE 
MEETING, ADMITTED THAT HE HAD SPOKEN TO KABILA IN LATE 
AUGUST AND, AT PRESIDENT MUGABE'S INSTRUCTION, WOULD SOON 
TRAVEL TO KINSHASA TO LEARN KABILA'S LATEST THINKING ON 
THE PEACE PROCESS. 
 
PARLIAMENT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  05137  01 OF 03  131415Z 
---------- 
 
¶5. (C) MNANGAGWA DESCRIBED THE NEW PARLIAMENT AS "VERY 
LIVELY."  HE NOTED THAT HE HAD SPENT 20 YEARS IN 
PARLIAMENT AND FELT VERY COMFORTABLE THERE.  BOTH ZANU-PF 
AND THE MDC, HE THOUGHT, RESPECTED HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE. 
HE CLAIMED THAT, WHEN HE IS NOT IN THE SPEAKER'S CHAIR, 
THE TWO PARTIES ARE AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS AND THERE IS 
CHAOS IN THE HOUSE.  PARLIAMENT, WHICH CONVENES TUESDAY 
THROUGH THURSDAY, WILL BE IN SESSION THROUGH MID- 
DECEMBER, WITH A THREE-WEEK BREAK FROM SEPTEMBER 21 TO 
OCTOBER 17. 
 
¶6.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR ASKED WHETHER ZANU-PF AND THE MDC 
WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.  THE TWO PARTIES, 
MNANGAGWA REPLIED, HAVE A COMMON PERCEPTION OF MANY 
ISSUES, BUT DISAGREE ON HOW THEY SHOULD BE RESOLVED.  FOR 
INSTANCE, THEY SHARE THE VIEW THAT LAND REFORM IS 
NECESSARY AND THAT THE ECONOMY IS "IN THE DOLDRUMS," BUT 
HAVE PROPOSED DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS.  THE DEVIL IS IN THE 
DETAILS, HE SAID.  BOTH PARTIES, THOUGH, WANT 
TRANSPARENCY AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO RUSH 
THINGS THROUGH WITHOUT ADEQUATE SCRUTINY. 
 
¶7.  (C) ASKED WHETHER HE WAS AWARE OF THE PARLIAMENTARY 
REFORM PROJECT FUNDED BY THE USG THROUGH USAID AND 
ADMINISTERED THROUGH SUNY-ALBANY, MNANGAGWA SAID HE HAD 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ3370 
 
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      ITC-01   LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00  OIC-02 
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                  ------------------84C574  131415Z /38 
P 131413Z SEP 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7083 
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
NSC WASHDC 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 005137 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/10 
TAGS: PREL ECON EFIN EAGR PINR PHUM ZI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH NEW PARLIAMENT SPEAKER 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  05137  02 OF 03  131415Z 
MNANGAGWA 
 
THAT MORNING ATTENDED A SUNY-ALBANY WORKSHOP ON BUDGETARY 
OVERSIGHT.  HE EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR THE PROJECT AND 
SAID HE INTENDED TO TALK TO SUNY-ALBANY AND USAID ABOUT 
DOING EVEN MORE. 
 
LAND 
---- 
 
¶8.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR EXPRESSED SERIOUS U.S. CONCERN 
ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S FAST TRACK RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE. 
WE HAD BEEN ENCOURAGED BY THE RECENT POLICE EVICTIONS OF 
WAR VETERANS FROM SOME FARMS, BUT THE EVICTIONS HAVE NOW 
STOPPED.  HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER JOHN NKOMO, MNANGAGWA 
REPLIED, ORDERED POLICE TO EVICT VETERANS FROM FARMS NOT 
IDENTIFIED FOR COMPULSORY ACQUISITION, BUT POLICE THEN 
WENT BEYOND THEIR MANDATE WHEN THEY DESTROYED THE 
SQUATTERS' PROPERTY.  ONCE ALL FARMS HAVE BEEN 
IDENTIFIED, WAR VETERANS WOULD BE MOVED FROM NON- 
IDENTIFIED FARMS TO FARMS ON THE LIST.  ASKED WHETHER 
THEY WOULD BE ASKED TO MOVE VOLUNTARILY OR WHETHER POLICE 
WOULD BE INVOLVED, MNANGAGWA SAID HE DID NOT THINK FORCE 
WOULD BE USED.  HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE QUESTION OF LAW 
AND ORDER MUST BE ADDRESSED, AS SOME WAR VETERANS ARE 
OCCUPYING FARMS THAT WILL NEVER BE RESETTLED AND CANNOT 
BE ALLOWED TO DISTURB PRODUCTION THERE. 
 
¶9.  (C) MNANGAGWA ADMITTED THAT THIS PLANTING SEASON WILL 
BE AFFECTED BY THE RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE, SO IT IS 
IMPORTANT FOR THE GOZ TO SETTLE THE LAND ISSUE AS SOON AS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  05137  02 OF 03  131415Z 
POSSIBLE.  HE PREDICTED THAT COMMERCIAL FARMERS WOULD 
KNOW WHERE THEY STAND BY NOVEMBER.  THE AMBASSADOR 
EXPRESSED SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT THE DAMAGE TO THE 
ECONOMY, WITH POSSIBLE FOOD SHORTAGES NEXT YEAR.  THERE 
IS A COST TO REDRAWING THE LINES OF LAND OWNERSHIP, 
MNANGAGWA SAID.   LARGE-SCALE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION WOULD 
BE HURT AND WOULD TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO RECOVER, BUT 
STAPLE FOODS ARE PRODUCED PRIMARILY BY SMALL-SCALE AND 
COMMUNAL FARMERS AND WOULD NOT BE GREATLY AFFECTED BY THE 
RESETTLEMENT EFFORT. 
 
¶10.  (C) THE UNITED STATES, THE AMBASSADOR NOTED, AGREES 
THAT LAND REFORM IS NECESSARY AND WE WANT TO HELP, BUT 
NOT UNDER CURRENT CONDITIONS.  THE GOZ FIRST HAD TO 
DEVISE A FAIR, TRANSPARENT PROCESS.  THE GOZ, MNANGAGWA 
SAID SHARPLY, WOULD DETERMINE ITS OWN PLAN FOR LAND 
REFORM, AND THE DONORS COULD THEN DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT 
TO HELP.  THE SEPTEMBER 1998 DONORS CONFERENCE HAD LAID 
OUT A PROCESS THAT WAS TOO GRADUAL.  ABIDING BY THAT PLAN 
WOULD HAVE KEPT LAND IN THE FOREFRONT OF POLITICAL DEBATE 
IN ZIMBABWE FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS.  THE GOVERNMENT, 
THEREFORE, HAD BY NECESSITY DECIDED ON A MORE EXPEDITED 
APPROACH.  THE GOZ IS GETTING LAND MORE QUICKLY INTO THE 
HANDS OF THOSE WHO NEED IT, THEN WILL FOCUS ON HOW TO 
EMPOWER THOSE WHO ARE RESETTLED. 
 
PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE 
--------------------- 
 
¶11.  (C) MNANGAGWA ACKNOWLEDGED THE OCCURRENCE OF 
POLITICAL VIOLENCE PRIOR TO THE JUNE ELECTION, BUT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  05137  02 OF 03  131415Z 
INSISTED THAT SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE DIED DOWN.  THE 
AMBASSADOR AGREED THAT THE SITUATION WAS SOMEWHAT CALMER, 
BUT NOTED THAT WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE REPORTS OF VIOLENCE 
AND INTIMIDATION ON COMMERCIAL FARMS.  MNANGAGWA SAID 
THAT ANYONE WHO COMMITS A CRIME MUST BE BROUGHT TO 
JUSTICE.  MNANGAGWA BLAMED THE COURTS FOR FAILING TO ACT 
EXPEDITIOUSLY ON THE NUMEROUS CASES REFERRED TO THEM.  HE 
CLAIMED THAT 189 CASES OF PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE IN 
MIDLANDS PROVINCE HAD BEEN REFERRED TO THE COURTS, AND 14 
SUSPECTS HAD BEEN CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO TERMS 
RANGING FROM 6-14 MONTHS.  ASKED WHETHER ANYONE HAD BEEN 
TRIED AND SENTENCED FOR THE 31 REPORTED MURDERS COMMITTED 
DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, MNANGAGWA WAS EVASIVE, ONLY 
INSISTING THAT THE GOZ HAD DONE ITS JOB BY INVESTIGATING 
AND TURNING OVER CASES TO THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.  THE 
AMBASSADOR POINTED OUT THAT GOVERNMENT PROSECUTORS PLAY A 
CRITICAL ROLE IN PUSHING CASES THROUGH THE JUDICIAL 
SYSTEM. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
¶12.  (C) MNANGAGWA, A MUGABE CONFIDANT AND FORMER 
MINISTER OF JUSTICE WITH A CHECKERED PAST, WAS CLEARLY 
PLEASED TO BE IN HIS NEW POSITION.  HE ENJOYS THE RESPECT 
OF SOME LEGISLATORS, ALTHOUGH MOST FEAR HIM.  AS REPORTED 
REFTEL, HE HAS SO FAR BEEN EVEN-HANDED IN HIS RUNNING OF 
THE PROCEEDINGS, AND HAS NOT ATTEMPTED TO STIFLE VIGOROUS 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ3371 
 
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      ITC-01   LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00  OIC-02 
      OMB-01   OPIC-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 
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      SWCI-00    /013W 
                  ------------------84C578  131415Z /38 
P 131413Z SEP 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7084 
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
NSC WASHDC 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 005137 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/10 
TAGS: PREL ECON EFIN EAGR PINR PHUM ZI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH NEW PARLIAMENT SPEAKER 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  05137  03 OF 03  131415Z 
MNANGAGWA 
 
CRITICISMS OF THE GOVERNMENT BY MDC MPS.   WE HAVE NO 
DOUBT, HOWEVER, THAT THE MAN KNOWN AS MUGABE'S ENFORCER 
WILL DO ALL HE CAN TO PREVENT THE MDC FROM ALTERING 
GOVERNMENT POLICY ON KEY ISSUES SUCH AS LAND 
RESETTLEMENT, ECONOMIC REFORM, AND MILITARY INVOLVEMENT 
IN THE DRC. 
 
¶13.  (C)  DESPITE HIS INITIAL COY DENIALS, MNANGAGWA 
REMAINS A VERY KEY PLAYER ON DRC POLICY.  WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO STAY IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH HIM ON DRC AND WILL 
SEEK A READOUT AFTER HIS RETURN FROM KINSHASA. 
MNANGAGWA'S COMMENTS ON LAND REFLECT A WORRYING 
DETERMINATION TO GO IT ALONE WITH THE FAST-TRACK 
RESETTLEMENT EFFORT IF NECESSARY, REGARDLESS OF THE 
ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES.  HIS ATTEMPTS TO BLAME THE COURTS 
FOR THE LACK OF ACTION IN THE MANY INCIDENTS OF PRE- 
ELECTION VIOLENCE ARE SIMPLY NOT CREDIBLE.  THE GOZ BEARS 
THE PREDOMINANT BLAME FOR PREVENTING THE POLICE FROM 
INVESTIGATING THESE CASES RIGOROUSLY ENOUGH, IF AT ALL. 
ACCORDING TO A LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP HERE, ALTHOUGH 
THERE WERE 31 MURDERS REPORTED DURING THE ELECTION 
CAMPAIGN, ONLY ONE SUSPECT IN ONE CASE HAS BEEN ARRESTED. 
THIS GROUP TOLD US THAT THE KILLERS IN SOME OF THE OTHER 
CASES ARE KNOWN, BUT CONTINUE TO CIRCULATE WITH IMPUNITY 
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. 
 
MCDONALD 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  05137  03 OF 03  131415Z 
 
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