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

111147Z Nov 00


                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ0119

PAGE 01        HARARE  06321  01 OF 03  111147Z 
ACTION IO-00    

INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  SMEC-00  
      COME-00  INL-00   DINT-00  DODE-00  DOEE-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    
      NSAE-00  OES-01   OIC-02   OMB-01   PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00   
      ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    IRM-00   SS-00    TRSE-00  T-00     
      USIE-00  R-00     PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-02   DRL-02   G-00     
      NFAT-00  SAS-00     /012W
                  ------------------9DA613  111148Z /38    
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7607
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 
AMEMBASSY GABORONE 
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO 
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 006321 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  06321  01 OF 03  111147Z 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2010 
TAGS: PREL PINR EAGR ZI
SUBJECT: UNDP RESREP AND AMBASSADOR CONSULT WITH 
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMANENT SECRETARY ON STEPS 
TO DEFUSE TENSIONS IN ZIMBABWE 
 
REF: (A) HARARE 6282, (B) HARARE 6281 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 
(B) AND (D) . 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY: AMBASSADOR MCDONALD, THE UNITED NATIONS 
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE, VICTOR 
ANGELO, AND DCM (NOTE TAKER) CALLED ON MINISTRY OF 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMANENT SECRETARY WILLARD CHIWEWE ON 
NOVEMBER 8 TO EXPLORE WAYS THE DONOR COMMUNITY COULD 
ASSIST IN DEFUSING TENSIONS IN ZIMBABWE.  THE PERMANENT 
SECRETARY, BY TURNS CHOLERIC AND ELATED, WELCOMED THE 
 
SIPDIS 
INITIATIVE. ADMITTING HE WAS CAUGHT UNPREPARED TO GIVE 
VETTED GOVERNMENT POSITIONS, CHIWEWE NEVERTHELESS SAID 
THAT FIRST THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WOULD BE TO 
PRESENT TO PRESIDENT MUGABE THE UNITED NATIONS AND 
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (UN/UNDP) MISSION 
REPORT ON THE ZIMBABWEAN FAST TRACK LAND REFORM 
PROGRAM'S TECHNICAL DEFICIENCIES.  THE GOVERNMENT OF 
ZIMBABWE WOULD THEN INVITE DONORS WHO WISHED TO SUPPORT 
THE LAND REFORM PROGRAM WITHOUT CONDITIONS TO DO SO. 
THE SENIOR ZIMBABWEAN OFFICIAL ALSO ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  06321  01 OF 03  111147Z 
IN ELIMINATING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S "SIEGE" 
AGAINST HIS COUNTRY AND PRESIDENT, A STATE OF AFFAIRS 
THAT FOSTERED INSECURITY AND WAR TALK.  IN TURN, HE 
OFFERED TO APPROACH PRESIDENT MUGABE TO ADVISE HIM TO 
ADDRESS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS ABOUT 
RULE OF LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES ON THE COMMERCIAL 
FARMS.  WE ARE CHARY ABOUT HOW FAR WE CAN TAKE THIS 
ENTERPRISE, AND CHIWEWE SO FAR IS AN UNTESTED VEHICLE OF 
UNKNOWN RELIABILITY.  BUT THE FACT THAT HE TOLD US HIS 
GOVERNMENT'S PRINCIPAL CONCERNS MAKES US CAUTIOUSLY 
HOPEFUL THAT THE ZIMBABWEANS MIGHT BE READY TO ENGAGE IN 
REAL AND LESS CONFRONTATIONAL DIALOGUE. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (C) ON NOVEMBER 8 AMBASSADOR MCDONALD, UNDP RESIDENT 
REPRESENTATIVE VICTOR ANGELO AND DCM CALLED ON MINISTRY 
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMANENT SECRETARY WILLARD CHIWEWE, 
WHO WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THREE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
OFFICIALS WHO REMAINED SILENT THROUGHOUT THE DISCUSSION. 
ANGELO LED OFF SAYING THAT IT WAS OUR COMMON PURPOSE TO 
BE OF HELP AND WERE THUS SEEKING THE PERMANENT 
SECRETARY'S ADVICE ON HOW CERTAIN KEY AMBASSADORS MIGHT 
 
SIPDIS 
CONTRIBUTE TO ZIMBABWEANS FINDING A SOLUTION TO THEIR 
OWN PROBLEMS.  THE UNDP CHIEF WANTED TO KNOW HOW TO 
PROMOTE GREATER DISCUSSION AMONG KEY STAKEHOLDERS WITH A 
VIEW TO FACILITATING A CONSENSUS BUILDING PROCESS.  HE 
STRESSED THAT THERE WAS A SENSE OF URGENCY AMONG THE 
DONOR COMMUNITY TO GET THIS PROCESS UNDER WAY SOON, 
BECAUSE CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTRY BEING WHAT THEY ARE, 
WAITING TO HELP MIGHT LEAVE IT TOO LATE. 
 
¶3.  (C) THE PERMANENT SECRETARY REACTED BY EXPRESSING 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  06321  01 OF 03  111147Z 
HIS "HAPPY SURPRISE" THAT THE U.S. AMBASSADOR HAD AGREED 
TO JOIN ANGELO, CALLING THE GESTURE "VERY SIGNIFICANT." 
HE WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THE USG'S SUPPORT FOR THE LAND 
REFORM PROCESS.  HE ADMITTED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT "TENDED 
TO FEEL GLOBAL LEADERS TAKING A BENIGN NEUTRALITY" 
TOWARD ITS EFFORTS TO SOLVE THE LAND PROBLEM.  HE 
CONTINUED THAT IN ZIMBABWE, "WE DO NOT HAVE THE BASIS OF 
A CONFLICT WITH THE STATUS OF AN INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM." 
THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE IS CONVINCED THAT WITH 
INTERNATIONAL GOOOWILL THERE WILL BE NO PROBLEMS, WHICH 
ARE SMALLER THAN THEY LOOK, AND CALLED ON THE USG TO 
ASSERT ITS LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THIS CONNECTION.  THE 
AMBASSADOR REJOINED THAT THE PERMANENT SECRETARY SHOULD 
SEE THIS VISIT AS A CONTINUATION OF EFFORTS TO 
DEMONSTRATE GOOD WILL TO THIS GOVERNMENT.  HE NOTED THAT 
IT WAS TIME TO EXPAND AND INTENSIFY THE DIALOGUE IN 
ZIMBABWE. 
 
¶4.  (C) TURNING TO THE UNDP RESREP'S REQUEST FOR ADVICE, 
CHIWEWE REMARKED THAT, "WE NEED TO UNBUNDLE VARIOUS 
ACTIONS AND SEQUENCE THEM."  FIRST AMONG THESE WAS TO 
MAKE A FORMAL PRESENTATION OF THE FINAL REPORT OF THE 
UN/UNDP TECHNICAL MISSION TO PRESIDENT MUGABE. HE 
EXPECTED THE PRESIDENT WOULD ENDORSE THE FINDINGS OF THE 
REPORT, WHICH WOULD GIVE COOPERATION WITH THE 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ0120 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  06321  02 OF 03  111148Z 
ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  SMEC-00 
      COME-00  INL-00   DINT-00  DODE-00  DOEE-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 
      NSAE-00  OES-01   OIC-02   OMB-01   PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00 
      ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    IRM-00   SS-00    TRSE-00  T-00 
      USIE-00  R-00     PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-02   DRL-02   G-00 
      NFAT-00  SAS-00     /012W 
                  ------------------9DA618  111148Z /38 
P 111147Z NOV 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7608 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 
AMEMBASSY GABORONE 
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO 
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 006321 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  06321  02 OF 03  111148Z 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2010 
TAGS: PREL PINR EAGR ZI
SUBJECT: UNDP RESREP AND AMBASSADOR CONSULT WITH 
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMANENT SECRETARY ON STEPS 
TO DEFUSE TENSIONS IN ZIMBABWE 
 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY "A NEW START."  HE SUGGESTED 
THAT THE VISIT OF UNDP ADMINISTRATOR MALLOCH-BROWN 
SHOULD BE USED AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE 
PRESENTATION.  ANGELO COMMENTED THAT HE APPRECIATED THE 
PERMANENT SECRETARY'S OBSERVATION AND LOOKED FORWARD TO 
CONSULTATIONS AT CHIWEWE'S LEVEL TO GIVE FINAL SHAPE TO 
THE REPORT WHICH WAS STILL IN DRAFT FORM. 
 
¶5. (C) NEXT, CHIWEWE STRESSED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT IS NOT 
READY FOR DONOR COMMUNITY CONDITIONALITY TO THE "FAST 
TRACK" LAND REDISTRIBUTION EXERCISE.  THE GOVERNMENT AND 
THE TECHNICAL TEAM HAD AGREED ON A NUMBER OF AREAS WHERE 
THE GOVERNMENT HAD WEAKNESSES.  HE SAID THAT THE DONORS 
COULD HELP IMMEDIATELY, FOR EXAMPLE, BY PROVIDING 
EXPERTS ON DEMARCATION, LAND AND IMPROVEMENT VALUATORS 
AND AERIAL SURVEYING EQUIPMENT. HE STRESSED THAT HIS 
GOVERNMENT'S FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVE WAS TO "GET IT [THE 
FAST TRACK LAND REDISTRIBUTION EXERCISE] OVER WITH." 
AGAINST THIS BACKDROP, CHIWEWE CONTINUED, "WE ARE 
INVITING DONORS WHO WANT TO SUPPORT THE LAND REFORM 
PROGRAM WITHOUT CONDITIONS.  IF THEY DON'T WANT TO COME, 
THEY SHOULDN'T.  IN THAT CASE, WE'LL DO A BUSH 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  06321  02 OF 03  111148Z 
RESETTLEMENT." THE PERMANENT SECRETARY REITERATED THAT 
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY COULD NOT TELL HIS 
GOVERNMENT TO PUT A HALT TO THE RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE, 
ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE RECEPTIVE TO CONSTRUCTIVE 
CRITICISM, FOR EXAMPLE, "REFINE THIS, OR REFINE THAT." 
 
¶6.  (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD EXPLAINED THAT HE AND ANGELO 
WERE WILLING TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP BECAUSE, WITH ALL 
DUE RESPECT, HE DID NOT THINK PRESIDENT MUGABE WOULD DO 
SO.  THE POINT WAS TO UNLOCK THE DOOR TO DISCUSSION.  HE 
CONTINUED THAT THE USG HAD SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT 
RULE OF LAW ON THE COMMERCIAL FARMS IN ZIMBABWE AND 
CAUTIONED THAT, IN INITIATING THE DISCUSSION, DID NOT 
WISH TO PAPER OVER DIFFERENCES.  HE WONDERED PERHAPS IF 
THERE WAS NOT ANOTHER WAY TO TACKLE THAT DISCUSSION. 
CHIWEWE CONCURRED, AGREEING THAT UNVOICED DISAGREEMENT 
SHOULD BE AVOIDED.  IN A RARE MOMENT OF SELF-CRITICISM, 
HE OBSERVED THAT DIFFERENCES WITH THE INTERNATIONAL 
COMMUNITY DATING BACK TO SEPTEMBER 1998 STILL REMAINED. 
"PERHAPS THE STANCE I TOOK DURING THE 1998 DONORS' 
CONFERENCE GAVE A SENSE OF SUCCESS."  AMBASSADOR 
MCDONALD ASKED THAT PRESIDENT MUGABE KEEP AN OPEN MIND, 
AS THE USG WAS PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD AND ZIMBABWE 
COULD NOT SOLVE ITS PROBLEMS ALONE. 
 
¶7. (C) THE MFA PERMANENT SECRETARY THEN OBSERVEO THAT, 
"IN THE PAST TWO YEARS YOU'VE PICKEO UP A LANGUAGE OF 
WAR THAT WAS NOT IN OUR VOCABULARY IN THE LAST EIGHT 
YEARS."  IT COMES, HE SAIO, FROM A PERCEPTION THAT 
ZIMBABWE IS "AN ANIMAL UNOER SIEGE," ANO THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CREATED THAT.  HE THANKEO ANGELO 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  06321  02 OF 03  111148Z 
ANO THE AMBASSAOOR FOR MAKING THE FIRST MOVE BUT 
INQUIRED, CAN WE HELP REMOVE THE INTERNATIONAL SIEGE 
AGAINST THE PRESIDENT?"  THE UNDP RESIDENT 
REPRESENTATIVE REPLIED THAT HE WAS TRYING.  HE HAD TOLD 
THE DONORS THAT THAT WAS NOT THE BEST APPROACH AND HAD 
COUNSELED THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION TO MOVE FROM ITS 
CURRENT POSITION. 
 
¶8. (C) WITH THE CREATION OF CONDITIONS TO REMOVE 
INSECURITY AND SIEGE, CHIWEWE STATED THAT HE WAS 
"PREPARED TO SAY TO PRESIDENT MUGABE THAT THE GESTURE 
NEEDS TO BE RECIPROCATED. I COULD SAY TO THE PRESIDENT, 
'LET'S CREATE THE NECESSARY ENVIRONMENT TO ENGAGE THE 
DONORS.'"  SPECIFICALLY, HE WOULD RECOMMEND TO THE 
PRESIDENT THAT, "THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE MUST BE SEEN 
TO ENFORCE THE LAW IN RESPECT OF FARM OCCUPATIONS." 
CHIWEWE CONTINUED THAT HE WOULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT 
THE LAW WAS ENFORCEABLE ONLY UNDER CONDITIONS OF ORDER. 
UNDERSCORING THAT HE WOULD ACT AS A BRIDGE IF THE DONORS 
WERE SATISFIED THAT THERE IS LAW AND ORDER ON THE FARMS. 
ONCE EMBARKED ON THIS PATH, HE LOOKED TO THE WEST TO 
CONTINUE TAKING CONFIDENCE BUILDING STEPS, FOR EXAMPLE, 
BRINGING THE IMF CLOSER TO ZIMBABWE'S POSITION AND 
SECURING A WORLD BANK MORATORIUM FROM CALLING IN LOANS. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ0121 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  06321  03 OF 03  111148Z 
ACTION IO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AF-00    AGRE-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  SMEC-00 
      COME-00  INL-00   DINT-00  DODE-00  DOEE-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 
      NSAE-00  OES-01   OIC-02   OMB-01   PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00 
      ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    IRM-00   SS-00    TRSE-00  T-00 
      USIE-00  R-00     PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-02   DRL-02   G-00 
      NFAT-00  SAS-00     /012W 
                  ------------------9DA61B  111148Z /38 
P 111147Z NOV 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7609 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 
AMEMBASSY GABORONE 
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO 
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 006321 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  06321  03 OF 03  111148Z 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2010 
TAGS: PREL PINR EAGR ZI
SUBJECT: UNDP RESREP AND AMBASSADOR CONSULT WITH 
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMANENT SECRETARY ON STEPS 
TO DEFUSE TENSIONS IN ZIMBABWE 
 
¶9.  (C) ANGELO OBSERVED THAT THIS WAS NOT "A 'WAITING 
FOR GODOT' EXERCISE.  TIME IS AGAINST US.  HE COUNSELED 
CHIWEWE FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE TO TAKE A 
PRAGMATIC APPROACH AND ESTABLISH ORDER, IDENTIFY THE 
ISSUES AND SAY THAT IT IS WORKING TO ADDRESS THESE.  HE 
SAID THAT A SMALL NUMBER OF DONORS DID NOT UNDERSTAND 
WHY THE UN/UNDP MISSION WAS PURSUING THIS COURSE OF 
ACTION. HE ASKED FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, TO WHICH 
CHIWEWE RESPONDED THAT THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT HAD 
MADE NO STATEMENT DURING THE UN/UNDP MISSION'S STAY IN 
ZIMBABWE.  THE PERMANENT SECRETARY WOULD TRY TO KEEP A 
LID ON THE PRESS.  ASKED WHAT ELSE HE HAD IN MIND 
REGARDING LIFTING OF THE SIEGE, CHIWEWE CONCEDED THAT HE 
HAD NOT RECEIVED ADVANCED NOTIFICATION OF THE ISSUES TO 
BE DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING, BUT THAT "ONCE WE SET THE 
FRAMEWORK RIGHT, AND CONTINUE THE PROCESS STARTED, YOU 
SHOULDN'T SOLICIT DEFINITIVE GOVERNMENT POSITIONS." 
 
¶10. (C) THE UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE THEN TOLD 
CHIWEWE THAT THERE ARE INDIRECT WAYS TO PURSUE THE 
DIALOGUE, BUT THE GOVERNMENT WAS FRUSTRATING THESE.  HE 
CONTINUED THAT THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE HAD NOT MET 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  06321  03 OF 03  111148Z 
WITH THE UNIONS (I.E., THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION, THE 
INDIGENOUS COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION AND THE ZIMBABWE 
FARMERS' UNION) TO DISCUSS THE COMING AGRICULTURAL YEAR 
AND LISTEN TO THEIR CONCERNS.  THE UNDP RESIDENT 
REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THE PERMANENT SECRETARY THAT HE 
HAD DIFFICULTY PERSUADING AGRICULTURE MINISTER TO DO SO. 
CHIWEWE CHOSE TO INTERPRET IN THIS ACCOUNT AN 
INSINUATION BY ANGELO THAT THE DONOR COMMUNITY WAS 
TRYING TO LOBBY THE GOVERNMENT TO LISTEN TO ITS OWN 
PEOPLE AND IMPOSE THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION.  HE 
LAUNCHED INTO A BILIOUS REJECTION OF THE SUGGESTION AND 
DEFENDED HOTLY HIS GOVERNMENT'S RECORD ON COMMUNICATION 
WITH THE UNION.  ANGELO AND THE AMBASSADOR WORKED IN 
TANDEM TO CALM CHIWEWE, EXPLAINING ONLY THAT THE FARMERS 
HAD SOME REAL CONCERNS AND THAT THE INTERNATIONAL 
COMMUNITY WAS ADVOCATING NO PARTICULAR POSITION ON THE 
MATTER ONLY BETTER COMMUNICATION.  A MORE RELAXED 
CHIWEWE SUGGESTED THAT MISHECK SIBANDA IN THE 
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE WOULD BE THE PERSON TO APPROACH ON 
THE MATTER. 
 
¶11. (C) CHIWEWE IS ARGUABLY THE MOST POWERFUL AND 
INFLUENTIAL PERMANENT SECRETARY IN GOVERNMENT TODAY.  HE 
IS A PROTEGE OF PRESIDENTIAL CONFIDANT AND REPUTED POWER 
BROKER CHARLES UTETE.  IN THE EARLY POST-INDEPENDENCE 
YEARS CHIWEWE WORKED IN THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE ON 
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.  THE FACTS ALONE SUGGEST THAT 
CHIWEWE IS IN A POSITION TO TRY TO PERSUADE THE 
PRESIDENT TO ALTER THE CURRENT COURSE OF HIS POLICY.  TO 
DATE WE HAVE OBSERVED THAT THE PERMANENT SECRETARY HAS 
NOT USED HIS POSITION IN THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  06321  03 OF 03  111148Z 
TO MAKE FRIENDS FOR ZIMBABWE ABROAD.  THE RUSSIAN 
AMBASSADOR, FOR EXAMPLE, IS STILL AWAITING AN 
APPOINTMENT TO MAKE HIS COURTESY CALL ON CHIWEWE DESPITE 
A REQUEST TWO MONTHS AGO.  THE SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH 
COMMISSIONER TOLD US RECENTLY THAT HE HAS SOME BILATERAL 
PROBLEMS TO SORT OUT AND CHIWEWE KEEPS AVOIDING HIM. 
THE FACT THAT THE PERMANENT SECRETARY RECEIVED THE 
AMBASSADOR AND ANGELO FAIRLY QUICKLY IS EXTRAORDINARY IN 
ITSELF.  IT SUGGESTS TO US THAT HIS GOVERNMENT IS 
LOOKING FOR A WAY TO END ITS INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION AS 
A MEANS TO GET OUT OF ITS CURRENT FIX AND MAY BE READY 
TO DEAL.  NEVERTHELESS, WILLARD CHIWEWE REMAINS AN 
UNTESTED VEHICLE OF UNKNOWN RELIABILITY IN DELIVERING 
DESIRABLE BEHAVIOR FROM THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT: WE DO 
NOT FULLY TRUST HIM.  WE WILL PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY WITH 
THIS INITIATIVE AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT VICTOR ANGELO'S 
EFFORT TO RALLY THE DONOR COMMUNITY TO WORK CREATIVELY 
TO END THE VIOLENCE AND CHAOS SURROUNDING THE FAST TRACK 
RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE. 
 
MCDONALD 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
>