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Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
00HARARE5608	2000-10-03 16:13	2011-08-30 01:44	CONFIDENTIAL	Embassy Harare

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



                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4691

PAGE 01        HARARE  05608  01 OF 04  031613Z 
ACTION IO-00    

INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   ACQ-00   CIAE-00  
      SMEC-00  DINT-00  DODE-00  DOTE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00    
      EUR-00   FAAE-00  FBIE-00  VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     SSA-01   
      TEDE-00  INR-00   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    DCP-01   NSAE-00  
      OES-01   OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00   
      ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    TRSE-00  USIE-00  R-00     PMB-00   
      DSCC-00  DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00   SWCI-00    /012W
                  ------------------8D0754  031613Z /38    
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7268
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
USDOC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 005608 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
 
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  05608  01 OF 04  031613Z 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VNEWTON, AND A/AID - RMCCALL 
 
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2010 
TAGS: EAGR PINS PINR ZI
SUBJECT: UN/UNDP MISSION MEMBERS SEEK EMBASSY VIEWS 
ON RESUMING LAND REFORM DIALOGUE WITH THE GOZ 
 
REF: (A) HARARE 5514, (B) STATE 186563 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 
(B) AND (D). 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY: DURING AN HOUR'S MEETING OCTOBER 2 
THREE MEMBERS OF THE UN/UNDP MISSION SEARCHED FOR AN 
OPENING IN OUR POSITION ON THE CURRENT LAND REFORM 
IMPASSE TO REKINDLE DONOR DIALOGUE WITH THE GOVERNMENT 
OF ZIMBABWE.   THROUGHOUT THE DISCUSSION THE AMBASSADOR 
AND EMBASSY OFFICERS STRESSED THAT THE USG WANTS TO BE 
HELPFUL BUT RULE OF LAW AND MACROECONOMIC STABILITY MUST 
BE ESTABLISHED IN ZIMBABWE.  THE UN/UNDP TEAM SKETCHED 
OUT THE LINES OF A POSSIBLE PACKAGE THAT AT ONCE WOULD 
BE FACE SAVING FOR MUGABE, RETAINING THE FAST TRACK 
APPROACH TO LAND REFORM, AND SATISFY DONOR QUALMS ABOUT 
INVESTING HERE.  ESSENTIALLY THE DONORS WOULD OFFER TO 
PAY FOR 211 UNCONTESTED FARMS CURRENTLY ON OFFER AND THE 
GOVERNMENT WOULD END THE LAWLESSNESS ON THE FARMS AND 
EMBARK ON A DIALOGUE ON LARGER POLITICAL ISSUES. 
WITHOUT KNOWING ALL THE DETAILS, WE WERE POSITIVE BUT 
REGISTERED OUR CONCERN THAT THE PLAN BE RATIONAL AND 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  05608  01 OF 04  031613Z 
ACHIEVABLE.  THE TEAM APPEARS GENUINELY INTERESTED IN 
REACHING A RESOLUTION TO THE CURRENT IMPASSE AND IT IS 
FACILITATING THE SORT OF COMMUNICATION AND DIPLOMACY 
THAT IS CURRENTLY IN SHORT SUPPLY HERE.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (C) ON OCTOBER 3 UN/UNDP MISSION MEMBERS CHONCHOL, 
OKOTH AND BARUT MET WITH AMBASSADOR MCDONALD, THE DCM, 
ACTING USAID DIRECTOR MARTIN AND USAID OFFICER LOKEN FOR 
AN HOUR TO TAKE SOUNDINGS ON THIS EMBASSY'S VIEW ON 
RESUMING DIALOGUE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE ON 
LAND REFORM.  BY WAY OF PREFACE, AMBASSADOR MCDONALD 
WELCOMED THE MISSION MEMBERS AND CONVEYED HIS 
UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THEIR TASK.  HE 
CONTINUED THAT THE USG VIEWED A TRANSPARENT AND ORDERLY 
LAND REFORM PROGRAM AS NECESSARY FOR ZIMBABWE AND INDEED 
A MATTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, HOWEVER, WHAT WAS OCCURRING 
IN THE COUNTRY NOW DID NOT MEET THAT DEFINITION.  HE 
ARGUED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO RESTORE RULE OF LAW ON 
THE FARMS AND THE USG REMAINED CONCERNED FOR THE FARM 
WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO WOULD BE DISPLACED IN THE 
GOVERNMENT'S FAST TRACK EXERCISE.  IF PRESIDENT MUGABE 
WERE TO MAKE A CLEAR STATEMENT THAT IT WAS TIME TO MOVE 
OFF THE LAND, THE AMBASSADOR REASONED, MOST OF THE 
OCCUPIERS WOULD LEAVE AND THE POLICE COULD MOP UP ANY 
RECALCITRANT RINGLEADERS. 
 
¶3.  (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD CONTINUED THAT THE USG HAD 
PLEDGED TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ZIMBABWE'S 
LAND REFORM PROGRAM THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN 
LAND TENURE CENTER, BUT THAT RECENT EVENTS HAD SEVERELY 
CURTAILED SUCH SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES.  HE OBSERVED THAT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  05608  01 OF 04  031613Z 
THE USG COULD CONTINUE TO HELP WITH MONEY FOR TECHNICAL 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM AND EVEN RESETTLEMENT, BUT 
IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN FUNDS TO BUY LAND. 
HANDING OVER A NON-PAPER THAT REFLECTED DONOR 
PERSPECTIVES ON WHAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO RESUME 
DIALOGUE ON LAND REFORM, THE AMBASSADOR ASKED THE 
MISSION MEMBERS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH US, LEST THEY GET 
AHEAD OF OUR POSITION ON THIS MATTER. 
 
¶4.  (C) CHONCHOL CONCEDED THAT THE MISSION HAD MET ONLY 
WITH THE INDIGENOUS COMMERCIAL FARMER'S UNION (ICFU) AND 
THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION (CFU) AND WOULD MEET WITH 
THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ON OCTOBER 3.  HE OBSERVED 
THAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTED TO ACCELERATE ITS LAND REFORM 
GOAL BUT IT HAD LITTLE MONEY, AND SO IT CHANGED THE 
CONSTITUTION.  "PEOPLE SAY," CHONCHOL CONTINUED, THAT 
THERE'S NEED FOR DIALOGUE AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD 
CONDUCT LAND REFORM IF IT HAD FUNDS.  THE DONORS, ON THE 
OTHER HAND, WILL NOT GIVE MONEY UNLESS THERE IS RESPECT 
FOR THE LAW.  "WHAT IS FOR YOU THE RULE OF LAW?" 
AMBASSADOR MCDONALD REPLIED THAT THE U.S. WAS NOT 
INTERESTED IN GETTING INTO A DEBATE ON SEMANTICS.  THE 
FARM OCCUPATIONS AND THE ATTENDANT VIOLENCE HAD BEEN A 
ZANU-PF CAMPAIGN TACTIC, BUT NOW THE ELECTION WAS OVER. 
THE ZIMBABWE REPUBLIC POLICE, WHICH IS QUITE GOOD, 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4692 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  05608  02 OF 04  031613Z 
ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   ACQ-00   CIAE-00 
      SMEC-00  DINT-00  DODE-00  DOTE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00 
      EUR-00   FAAE-00  FBIE-00  VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     SSA-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    DCP-01   NSAE-00 
      OES-01   OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00 
      ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    TRSE-00  USIE-00  R-00     PMB-00 
      DSCC-00  DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00   SWCI-00    /012W 
                  ------------------8D0764  031613Z /38 
P 031613Z OCT 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7269 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
USDOC WASHDC 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 005608 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
 
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  05608  02 OF 04  031613Z 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VNEWTON, AND A/AID - RMCCALL 
 
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2010 
TAGS: EAGR PINS PINR ZI
SUBJECT: UN/UNDP MISSION MEMBERS SEEK EMBASSY VIEWS 
ON RESUMING LAND REFORM DIALOGUE WITH THE GOZ 
 
SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO ITS JOB, THE AMBASSADOR SAID. 
HE ALSO SAID THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH SHOULD ENFORCE COURT 
ORDERS AGAINST TRESPASSERS, AS WELL AS FIND AND 
PROSECUTE INDIVIDUALS WHO PERPETRATED SERIOUS CRIMES 
FROM DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY TO MURDER IN THE PRE- 
ELECTION PERIOD. 
 
¶5.  (C) CHONCHOL THEN ASKED WHERE SHOULD THE PEOPLE 
ALREADY ON THE FARMS BE PUT, SINCE TO REMOVE THEM 
SUMMARILY WOULD PRESENT THE GOVERNMENT A POLITICAL 
PROBLEM.  THE AMBASSADOR RESPONDED THAT THE COMMERCIAL 
FARMERS' UNION HAD OFFERED FARMS VOLUNTARILY.  CHONCHOL 
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT 211 FARMS HAD BEEN OFFERED, BUT THAT 
THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOT REACTED TO THE OFFER.  THE 
AMBASSADOR SPECULATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ACCEPT 
THE FARMS BUT WOULD WANT MORE.  USAID OFFICER LOKEN 
EXPLAINED THAT THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT HAD EXPENDED 
ITS ENTIRE BUDGET AND NOW HAD NO MONEY TO PAY FOR FARMS. 
UNTIL IT DID, IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE THE FARMERS.  POLITICS 
PLAYED A PART AS WELL: WHEN THE FARMERS INITIALLY 
INSTITUTED A SUIT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT THE GOVERNMENT 
RESPONDED WITH SILENCE; WHEN THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS' 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  05608  02 OF 04  031613Z 
UNION DROPPED THE SUIT, COMMUNICATION RESUMED.  WITH THE 
SUIT NOW REINSTATED, ATTITUDES WERE HARDENING AGAIN, 
LOKEN OBSERVED. 
 
¶6.  (C) "COULD DONORS HELP WITH MONEY?" CHONCHOL 
INQUIRED.  THE AMBASSADOR RESPONDED THAT THE DONORS WERE 
PREPARED TO EXPLORE SEVERAL OPTIONS, PROVIDED THE RULE 
OF LAW WAS RESPECTED.  OKOTH OBSERVED THAT THE RULE OF 
LAW ARGUMENT APPEARED TO EMBRACE GOVERNANCE IN GENERAL 
IN THE ZIMBABWEAN CONTEXT.  "WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO 
CORDON IT OFF ONLY TO APPLY TO LAND?"  THE AMBASSADOR 
ANSWERED THAT, "WE WANT TO FOCUS ON LAND, BUT LIFE 
DOESN'T HAPPEN IN A VACUUM.  WE WANT TO SOLVE THE LAND 
QUESTION, BUT THERE IS NO CLEAR LINE BETWEEN WHAT IS 
HAPPENING ON THE FARMS AND IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY'S 
POLITICAL LIFE."  OKOTH REJOINED THAT IN 1998 THE DONORS 
HAD COMMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LAND REFORM PROCESS, 
WHEREAS NOW THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE COMPLAINED THAT 
THE DONORS STARTED RAISING EXTRANEOUS ISSUES.  USAID 
OFFICER LOKEN REPLIED THAT THE RULE OF LAW QUESTION WAS 
SIMILAR TO THE MACROECONOMIC SITUATION.  UNTIL 
MACROECONOMIC STABILITY WAS ACHIEVED, NO DONOR WOULD BE 
PREPARED TO INVEST IN ZIMBABWE.  OKOTH THEN SAID THAT 
PERHAPS THE WAY TO PUT IT WAS THAT IF THE GOVERNMENT 
MADE A COMMITMENT TO SOLVE THE LAWLESSNESS ISSUE THEN WE 
CAN HAVE A DIALOGUE ON THE BIGGER POLITICAL ISSUE. 
 
¶7.  (C) BARUT RETURNED TO THE ISSUE OF WHETHER THERE WAS 
ROOM FOR DIALOGUE ON THE GOVERNMENT'S FAST TRACK 
PROGRAM, AND WHETHER ANY TINKERING COULD BE DONE TO MAKE 
IT ACCEPTABLE TO THE DONORS.  THE AMBASSADOR RESPONDED 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  05608  02 OF 04  031613Z 
THAT WE NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THE PROGRAM 
ENTAILED.  HAVING TALKED ABOUT IT TO SIX MINISTERS, "I 
STILL DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PROGRAM," THE 
AMBASSADOR OBSERVED.  BARUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE 
MISSION WAS ATTEMPTING TO FIND OUT AS WELL.  HE THEN 
ASKED WHETHER THE DONOR COMMUNITY DISPUTED THE 5 MILLION 
HECTARE GOAL THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE INTENDED TO 
ACQUIRE.  THE AMBASSADOR RESPONDED THAT MUCH DEPENDED ON 
THE WILL OF THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCEED SERIOUSLY AND IN A 
RATIONAL WAY.  THE AMBASSADOR CONTINUED THAT THE LAND 
ACQUISITION SHOULD PROCEED IN STAGES, IN ACCORDANCE WITH 
CAPACITY AND RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS, YET WITHIN A LONGER- 
TERM FRAMEWORK TO ACHIEVE THE GOVERNMENT'S GREATER 5M HA 
OBJECTIVE.  OKOTH THEN ASKED WHETHER IT WOULD MAKE SENSE 
TO GO BACK TO THE INCEPTION PHASE, PUT THE PEOPLE ON THE 
LAND SOMEWHERE ELSE AND PLACE THE FAST TRACK PROGRAM 
WITHIN THE INCEPTION PHASE?  ACTING USAID DIRECTOR 
MARTIN SAID THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE AS, IN ESSENCE, 
THAT WOULD MEAN RETURNING TO THE PROGRAM APPROVED BY ALL 
PARTIES AT THE 1998 DONORS' LAND CONFERENCE.  USAID 
OFFICER LOKEN SUPPLEMENTED THE ANSWER BY OBSERVING THAT 
WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE MOMENT WAS UNACCEPTABLE, 
UNPLANNED, UNDEMOCRATIC AND NOT TRANSPARENT.  "HOW DO WE 
KNOW THAT RIGHT PEOPLE ARE BEING PLACED ON THE FARMS," 
HE ASKED.  MANY SERIOUS ISSUES, SUCH AS PLACING 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4694 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  05608  03 OF 04  031614Z 
ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   ACQ-00   CIAE-00 
      SMEC-00  DINT-00  DODE-00  DOTE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00 
      EUR-00   FAAE-00  FBIE-00  VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     SSA-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    DCP-01   NSAE-00 
      OES-01   OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00 
      ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    TRSE-00  USIE-00  R-00     PMB-00 
      DSCC-00  DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00   SWCI-00    /012W 
                  ------------------8D0770  031614Z /38 
P 031613Z OCT 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7270 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
USDOC WASHDC 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 005608 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
 
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  05608  03 OF 04  031614Z 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VNEWTON, AND A/AID - RMCCALL 
 
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2010 
TAGS: EAGR PINS PINR ZI
SUBJECT: UN/UNDP MISSION MEMBERS SEEK EMBASSY VIEWS 
ON RESUMING LAND REFORM DIALOGUE WITH THE GOZ 
 
QUALIFIED WORKERS ON FARMS, HAD TO BE DEALT WITH BEFORE 
THE DONORS WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPORT IT. 
 
¶8.  (C) OKOTH AGREED THAT IT HAD TO BE A RATIONAL AND 
ACHIEVABLE PROGRAM.  BARUT SUGGESTED ONE APPROACH MIGHT 
BE TO START WITH THE 211 FARMS, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE 
GOVERNMENT NEEDED MONEY BOTH TO PURCHASE THESE FROM THE 
COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION, MOVE THE PEOPLE ON THE FARMS 
TO THEM, AND TRAIN THE LAND RECIPIENTS IN MODERN FARMING 
METHODS.  IF A TRANSPARENT TRUST FUND IS SET UP AND THE 
GOVERNMENT IS ALLOWED TO SAVE FACE, WOULD THE DONORS BE 
SATISFIED?  ACTING USAID DIRECTOR MARTIN REPLIED THAT 
THE TARGET OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CURRENT LAND REFORM 
PROGRAM WAS THE WAR VETERANS, MANY OF WHOM ARE THUGS 
PAID TO CAUSE MAYHEM AND NOT QUALIFIED TO FARM.  THEY 
SHOULD NOT BE MOVED TO THE 211 FARMS.  AMBASSADOR 
MCDONALD CONCURRED, NOTING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD 
CREATED A PROBLEM FOR ITSELF AND THE DONORS COULD NOT BE 
SEEN TO BE REWARDING LAWLESSNESS. 
 
¶9.  (C) SUMMING UP WHAT HE HAD HEARD FROM US AND HIS 
ZIMBABWEAN INTERLOCUTORS TO DATE, BARUT SAID THAT "WE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  05608  03 OF 04  031614Z 
NEED A PACKAGE" TO OFFER THE GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD 
INCLUDE A CLEAR COMMITMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO 
RESTORING THE RULE OF LAW ON THE FARMS.  FROM THAT BASE 
DONORS AND GOVERNMENT COULD BUILD.  THE AMBASSADOR 
POINTED TO DIFFERENT LOCAL INITIATIVES THAT WERE UNDER 
WAY AROUND THE COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY IN THE MIDLANDS 
PROVINCE, TO BRIDGE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FARMER, WAR 
VETERAN AND GOVERNMENT AND SUGGESTED THAT SOME OF THESE 
WOULD BEAR CLOSE STUDY.  CHONCHOL RECALLED A FORMULA 
THAT WOULD APPORTION 20 PERCENT OF THE FARMS TO THE WAR 
VETERANS, WHICH THE DONORS HAD ACCEPTED EARLIER.  LOKEN 
RESPONDED IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO CUT SUCH A DEAL NOW, 
GIVEN PAST ACTIONS AND THE ABSENCE OF ANY ASSURANCE THAT 
ANY OF THESE PEOPLE HAD ANY QUALIFICATIONS WHATSOEVER 
BEYOND THEIR LOYALTY TO ZANU-PF AND MUGABE.  ACTING 
USAID DIRECTOR MARTIN SUGGESTED THAT A WIN-WIN FORMULA 
WOULD BE A RETURN TO THE 1998 AGREEMENT WHICH ALL 
PARTIES ACCEPTED.  THE DONOR CAPITALS WERE LOOKING FOR A 
RATIONAL PLAN, SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE HAD 
BEEN UNABLE TO PRESENT, DESPITE NUMEROUS, FAILED HIGH 
LEVEL MISSIONS. 
 
¶10.  (C) OKOTH OBSERVED THAT IN TALKING TO THE CFU HE 
WAS STRUCK BY HOW CONFIDENT IT SEEMED ABOUT TAKING ON 
THE GOVERNMENT.  IT WAS ALMOST AS IF THE FARMERS HAD A 
GODFATHER BEHIND THEM.  AMBASSADOR MCDONALD REPLIED THAT 
IF SO, IT WAS NOT THE UNITED STATES.  THE BRITISH ARE 
PREPARED TO PAY FOR LAND WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE, BUT THE 
USG WAS NOT PREPARED TO DO SO AT THIS TIME.  CHONCHOL 
OBSERVED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RESPOND TO CFU 
INTRANSIGENCE IN KIND AND THAT PRESIDENT MUGABE WAS A 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  05608  03 OF 04  031614Z 
HARD-LINER WHO WOULD NOT CHANGE HIS POSITION UNLESS HE 
SAW THAT IT WAS IN HIS INTEREST TO DO SO.  LOKEN THOUGHT 
THAT ONE POSSIBLE WAY OUT MIGHT BE THROUGH THE ECONOMIC 
MODELING THAT THE WORLD BANK WAS DOING, LOOKING AT THE 
SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT VARIOUS COMBINATIONS AND 
PERMUTATIONS OF LAND USE MIGHT HAVE TO REACH A CONSENSUS 
WAY FORWARD.  MARTIN TOLD HIS INTERLOCUTORS NOT TO LEAVE 
THE MEETING WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE WAS NO DONOR 
WILLINGNESS TO HELP.  ON THE CONTRARY, A GREAT RESERVE 
OF GOOD WILL EXISTED, BUT WE CAN NO LONGER TAKE 
GOVERNMENT ASSURANCES ON FAITH. 
 
¶11.  (C) COMMENT:  THE TEAM MEMBERS HAVE DONE THEIR 
HOMEWORK AND ARE EXCELLENT IN THE ART OF INDIRECT 
INTERROGATION.  CONTRARY TO OUR PRIOR IMPRESSION, THEY 
APPEAR TO HAVE A GENUINE INTEREST IN FINDING SOME 
RESOLUTION TO THE CURRENT IMPASSE.  IN OUR DISCUSSION 
THE ELEMENTS OF THE TEAM'S PROPOSALS BEGAN TO COME TO 
LIGHT.  THE MEMBERS WANT TO PROPOSE A FACE-SAVING 
PACKAGE FOR THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT THAT PRESERVES AS 
MUCH AS POSSIBLE THE FAST TRACK LAND APPROACH.  THEY 
APPEAR TO BE LOOKING FOR SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF READY 
CASH FROM THE DONOR COMMUNITY TO PURCHASE THE 211 
UNCONTESTED FARMS ON OFFER.  TURNING THE LAND OVER TO 
THE GOVERNMENT, THEY APPEAR TO REASON, WOULD PROVIDE THE 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4695 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  05608  04 OF 04  031614Z 
ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  AID-00   ACQ-00   CIAE-00 
      SMEC-00  DINT-00  DODE-00  DOTE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    EB-00 
      EUR-00   FAAE-00  FBIE-00  VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     SSA-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    DCP-01   NSAE-00 
      OES-01   OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00 
      ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    TRSE-00  USIE-00  R-00     PMB-00 
      DSCC-00  DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00   SWCI-00    /012W 
                  ------------------8D0776  031614Z /38 
P 031613Z OCT 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7271 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
USDOC WASHDC 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 005608 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
 
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  05608  04 OF 04  031614Z 
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VNEWTON, AND A/AID - RMCCALL 
 
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2010 
TAGS: EAGR PINS PINR ZI
SUBJECT: UN/UNDP MISSION MEMBERS SEEK EMBASSY VIEWS 
ON RESUMING LAND REFORM DIALOGUE WITH THE GOZ 
 
SUFFICIENT INCENTIVE TO RETURN TO THE 1998 PRINCIPLES. 
THEY HAVE A HARD SELL ON ALL SIDES AND AT THIS WRITING 
IT IS NOT AT ALL CLEAR THAT THEY WILL SUCCEED. 
NEVERTHELESS, THE UN/UNDP ARE PROBABLY THE RIGHT 
MESSENGERS TO CONDUCT THIS MEDIATION EXERCISE.  THEY ARE 
SUPPLYING THE KIND OF COMMUNICATION AND DIPLOMACY WHICH 
CURRENTLY IS IN EXCEEDINGLY SHORT SUPPLY IN ZIMBABWE. 
MISSION IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR FINAL REPORT (DE- 
BRIEFING SET FOR OCTOBER 12).  END COMMENT. 
 
MCDONALD 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
>

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Viewing cable 00HARARE5608, UN/UNDP MISSION MEMBERS SEEK EMBASSY VIEWS