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



                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4204

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FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9301
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 002171 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL. 07/10/11 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE SLIDING OMINOUSLY TOWARD A POLICE STATE 
 
REF:  A) HARARE 2124  B) HARARE 2104   C) HARARE 1992 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  02171  01 OF 04  130953Z 
D) HARARE 1955 
 
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES MARK WOERNER.  REASONS: 1.5 
(B) AND (D). 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  (C) ZANU-PF HAS ESCALATED ITS INTIMIDATION OF OPPOSITION MDC 
LEADERS AND SUPPORTERS, AND IS MOVING TO ELIMINATE MANEUVERING 
ROOM FOR ALL OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT MIGHT 
THREATEN THE RULING PARTY'S CONTINUED HOLD ON POWER.  IN THE LAST 
SEVERAL WEEKS, ZANU-PF OR THOSE ACTING ON ITS BEHALF HAVE RAIDED 
THE MDC'S OFFICES IN HARARE AND BULAWAYO; BEATEN SEVERAL 
OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND PEOPLE CLOSE TO THEM; 
DESTROYED THE HOUSE OF AN MDC MP; TARGETED MDC SUPPORTERS IN 
TERROR CAMPAIGNS NATIONWIDE; AND INTENSIFIED REPRESSION OF 
COMMERCIAL FARMERS.  ALL OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE PART OF THE 
RULING PARTY'S INCREASINGLY VICIOUS BUT WELL-COORDINATED STRATEGY 
TO REMAIN IN POWER BEYOND THE 2002 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.  IT IS 
IMPORTANT THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DO ALL IT CAN TO HALT 
THIS ONCE-PROMISING COUNTRY'S SLIDE TOWARD TOTALITARIANISM.  AN 
IMPORTANT STARTING POINT IS TO MAKE THE UPCOMING ELECTION A FOCAL 
POINT OF OUR DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS AND TO EMPHASIZE TO PRESIDENT 
MUGABE AND HIS ADVISORS PRECISELY WHAT CONSEQUENCES THEY WILL FACE 
IF THE ELECTION IS NOT FREE AND FAIR.  END SUMMARY. 
 
ESCALATING HARASSMENT OF MDC OFFICIALS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) ON JULY 5, THE DAY AFTER A NATIONAL TWO-DAY LABOR STAYAWAY 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  02171  01 OF 04  130953Z 
SHUT DOWN MUCH OF ZIMBABWE, UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS DESCENDED ON 
ONE OF THE OFFICES OF THE OPPOSITION MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC 
CHANGE (MDC) IN DOWNTOWN HARARE.  ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, THE 
ARMED POLICE BLOCKED THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE BUILDING, SEARCHED 
AND DEMANDED IDENTIFICATION FROM EVERYONE COMING IN AND OUT.  MDC 
SECRETARY-GENERAL WELSHMAN NCUBE, WHO WAS IN THE OFFICE AT THE 
 
SIPDIS 
TIME OF THE RAID, TOLD US THAT POLICE SAID THEY WERE LOOKING FOR 
ARMS OF WAR AND FOR ZANU-PF YOUTH BEING HELD HOSTAGE AND TORTURED 
ON-SITE.  THE POLICE HAD NO SEARCH WARRANT, BUT PROCEEDED TO 
SEARCH THE PREMISES BEFORE DEPARTING.  THEY DID NOT ARREST ANYONE 
OR CONFISCATE RECORDS OR EQUIPMENT.  NCUBE WAS ALMOST NONCHALANT 
IN HIS CONVERSATION WITH US, SAYING THAT HE HAS COME TO EXPECT 
SUCH HARASSMENT FROM THE SECURITY SERVICES ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE 
RULING PARTY AND ANTICIPATED SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN THE RUN-UP TO 
THE 2002 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.  (COMMENT:  THE MDC'S LEADERSHIP 
HAS GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO EMPHASIZE AND LIVE UP TO ITS 
COMMITMENT TO PEACEFUL CHANGE AND TO AVOID REACTING TO REGULAR 
PROVOCATIONS.  IN THAT CONTEXT, THE POLICE OFFICERS' CLAIM TO BE 
LOOKING FOR ARMS OF WAR AND TORTURE VICTIMS IS ABSURD, AND 
CONFIRMS THAT THIS PARTICULAR ACTION WAS NOTHING MORE THAN 
HARASSMENT.  END COMMENT.) 
 
¶3.  (C) ON JULY 6, PLAINCLOTHES POLICE OFFICERS ENTERED THE MDC'S 
OFFICE IN BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE'S SECOND-LARGEST CITY.  ACCORDING TO 
MDC MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT DAVID COLTART, THE POLICE, WHO WERE 
EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE, HAD NEITHER A SEARCH WARRANT NOR AN ARREST 
WARRANT BUT REFUSED TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY WERE THERE.  THEY ARRESTED 
THE MDC'S TREASURER, FLETCHER DULINI-NCUBE, AND AN MDC DRIVER, 
KHETHANI SIBANDA, AND CONFISCATED A 10-TON TRUCK BELONGING TO THE 
OPPOSITION PARTY.  DULINI-NCUBE WAS RELEASED SEVERAL HOURS LATER, 
BUT SIBANDA REMAINED IN DETENTION UNTIL JULY 9, WHEN HE WAS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  02171  01 OF 04  130953Z 
RELEASED ON BAIL. 
 
¶4. (C) IN OTHER ACTIONS, IT IS CLEAR THAT MDC MEMBERS OF 
PARLIAMENT ARE BEING SINGLED OUT FOR PHYSICAL ABUSE AND THEIR 
PROPERTY TARGETED FOR DESTRUCTION.  ON JULY 7, PAUL THEMBA NYATHI, 
THE MDC'S DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS, WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD IN 
BULAWAYO BY A CAR WHICH HAD BEEN FOLLOWING HIM FOR SOME TIME.  HIS 
CAR ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT HE MIRACULOUSLY AVOIDED SERIOUS 
INJURY.  ACCORDING TO NYATHI, FOUR MEN DISEMBARKED FROM THE 
VEHICLE WHICH HAD RAMMED NYATHI'S TO INSPECT THE ACCIDENT SCENE, 
THEN SPED OFF. ON JUNE 23, A GROUP OF APPROXIMATELY 200 WAR 
VETERANS (SOME OF WHOM WORE ZANU-PF T-SHIRTS) USED STONES, BRICKS, 
AND BOTTLES TO DESTROY THE HOUSE OF MDC MP WILLIAS MADZIMURE, WHO 
REPRESENTS THE HARARE HIGH-DENSITY SUBURB OF KAMBUZUMA.  MADZIMURE 
TOLD US THAT POLICE HAVE TAKEN NO ACTION AGAINST THE PERPETRATORS, 
WHO ARE WELL-KNOWN BUT CONTINUE TO CIRCULATE FREELY.  ON JUNE 27, 
MADZIMURE WAS ASSAULTED BY A GROUP OF ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS WHILE IN 
A POLICE STATION FILING A COMPLAINT.  NO ONE HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN 
THAT INCIDENT.  ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, A SHOP OWNED BY MDC MP 
JOB SIKHALA, WHO HAS BEEN BEATEN TWICE THIS YEAR BY ZANU-PF 
SUPPORTERS, WAS RANSACKED ON JUNE 27 BY 15 PEOPLE CARRYING AXES, 
STICKS, BRICKS, AND STONES.  THE GROUP, LED BY A REPORTED ZANU-PF 
ACTIVIST IN THE AREA, BEAT THE SHOP'S TWO EMPLOYEES, ONE OF WHOM 
REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4208 
 
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                  ------------------051A1B  130953Z /38 
O 130954Z JUL 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9302 
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 002171 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL. 07/10/11 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE SLIDING OMINOUSLY TOWARD A POLICE STATE 
 
¶5.  (C) MDC SUPPORTERS ARE ALSO BEING TARGETED IN THE SWELLING 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  02171  02 OF 04  130953Z 
WAVE OF GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED VIOLENCE.  IN THE HARARE HIGH- 
DENSITY SUBURB OF EPWORTH, SIX PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE LAST 
TWO WEEKS IN POLITICAL VIOLENCE PROVOKED BY SELF-STYLED WAR 
VETERANS AND GOONS IN THE EMPLOY OF ZANU-PF.  THE LONG-SIMMERING 
TENSIONS IN THIS TOWNSHIP HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED IN RECENT WEEKS BY 
ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS, WHO HAVE DRAGGED SUSPECTED MDC BACKERS OUT OF 
THEIR HOMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND FORCED THEM TO WALK 
SEVERAL KILOMETERS TO A BASE CAMP, WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN SEVERELY 
BEATEN.  ON JULY 7, THREE MDC OFFICIALS WERE REPORTEDLY SERIOUSLY 
INJURED IN RUSAPE, 170 KM SOUTHEAST OF HARARE, IN SEPARATE ATTACKS 
ON THEM BY ZANU-PF YOUTHS.  THE RIGHT EYE OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS -- 
NATION SAGWETE, THE MDC DISTRICT YOUTH CHAIRMAN FOR MAKONI EAST -- 
WAS BLINDED IN THE SECOND ATTACK ON HIM IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS. 
MEANWHILE ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS CONTINUE TO WAGE A CAMPAIGN OF TERROR 
AGAINST RESIDENTS IN THE MASHONALAND CENTRAL CAPITAL OF BINDURA, 
WHERE A PARLIAMENTARY BY-ELECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR JULY 28 AND 29. 
 
INCREASING REPRESSION OF COMMERCIAL FARMERS 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) THE SITUATION ON COMMERCIAL FARMS NATIONWIDE IS HEATING 
UP, AS THE GOVERNMENT APPEARS INTENT ON BEATING FARMERS -- IN SOME 
CASES, QUITE LITERALLY -- INTO SUBMISSION.  DAVID HASLUCK, 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU), TOLD 
ECON/COMMERCIAL CHIEF ON JULY 9 THAT THE ORCHESTRATED CAMPAIGN OF 
VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION TARGETING COMMERCIAL FARMERS HAS 
INTENSIFIED IN RECENT WEEKS.  ACCORDING TO HASLUCK, THE GOZ HAD 
RECENTLY ORDERED ITS GANGSTER MILITIA OF WAR VETERANS AND ZANU-PF 
SUPPORTERS (WHOSE TACTICS ARE BECOMING INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM 
THOSE OF MUSSOLINI'S BROWNSHIRTS) TO DELIVER A CLEAR MESSAGE TO 
WHITE FARMERS THAT ANY RESISTANCE TO THE CHAOTIC LAND RESETTLEMENT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  02171  02 OF 04  130953Z 
PROGRAM WAS FUTILE AND WOULD ONLY RESULT IN INJURIES OR DEATH. 
THE CFU DIRECTOR INFORMED US THAT 92-95% OF ALL WHITE-OWNED FARMS 
IN ZIMBABWE HAVE NOW BEEN LISTED FOR COMPULSORY ACQUISITION, WITH 
THE GOVERNMENT AIMING FOR 100 PERCENT. 
 
¶7.  (C) SEVERAL RECENT INCIDENTS PROVIDE COMPELLING EVIDENCE THAT 
HASLUCK'S SOURCES ARE RIGHT-ON IN THEIR ASSESSMENT OF A NEW GOZ 
CAMPAIGN AGAINST FARM OWNERS.  IAIN KAY, A FARMER AND MDC ACTIVIST 
RESIDENT IN MARONDERA, 75 KM SOUTHEAST OF HARARE, WAS HELD 
HOSTAGE, ALONG WITH TWO NEIGHBORING FARMERS, IN HIS HOME FOR THREE 
DAYS BY HOSTILE WAR VETERANS JULY 6-8.  LAST YEAR, KAY WAS 
SEVERELY BEATEN AND LEFT FOR DEAD BY WAR VETERANS ANGRY THAT HE 
HAD NOT BUILT SHACKS FOR SQUATTERS ON HIS PROPERTY.  IN THE MOST 
RECENT INCIDENT, MDC MP DAVID COLTART TOLD US, A WELL-KNOWN 
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION (CIO) AGENT SUPERVISED THE 
ACTIVITIES OF THE WAR VETERANS, WHO ASSAULTED 20 OF KAY'S FARM 
WORKERS.  THEY ENTERED HIS HOUSE TWICE BUT WERE FORCED TO RETREAT 
AFTER THE FARM OWNER FIRED A PISTOL INTO THE AIR.  THE WAR 
VETERANS THREATENED TO KILL KAY IF HE DID NOT VACATE THE FARM 
IMMEDIATELY.  THE TENSE STANDOFF WAS DEFUSED ON JULY 8 AFTER KAY 
AND HIS NEIGHBORS WERE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE PREMISES, ALTHOUGH THE 
WAR VETERANS HAVE INSISTED THEY WILL ASSUME CONTROL OF THE 
PROPERTY WITHIN A MONTH. 
 
¶8.  (C) PHIL MATIBE, AN MDC ACTIVIST, COMMERCIAL FARMER, AND 
PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE IN THE JUNE 2000 POLLS, HAD HIS 650- 
HECTARE FARM SEIZED AFTER HE REFUSED TO WITHDRAW HIS LEGAL 
CHALLENGE OF ZANU-PF'S VICTORY IN CHEGUTU.  THE VICTORIOUS ZANU-PF 
CANDIDATE, WEBSTER SHAMU, HAD INSTRUCTED MATIBE TO WITHDRAW HIS 
CHALLENGE OR HIS FARM WOULD BE SEIZED.  MATIBE TOLD POLITICAL 
SECTION CHIEF THAT ON JUNE 7, THE DAY AFTER THE HIGH COURT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  02171  02 OF 04  130953Z 
SCHEDULED A DATE TO HEAR HIS CASE, A GROUP COMPRISING THE DISTRICT 
ADMINISTRATOR AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE WAR VETERANS, POLICE, 
AND ZANU-PF APPEARED ON THE FARM AND GAVE MATIBE AND HIS FAMILY 24 
HOURS TO VACATE THE PREMISES.  (COMMENT:  THE FACT THAT MATIBE'S 
FARM HAD NOT BEEN LISTED FOR COMPULSORY ACQUISITION UNDER THE 
GOVERNMENT'S FAST TRACK RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM, OR THAT HE IS BLACK, 
DID NOT SEEM TO MATTER TO ANY OF THE GOZ PLAYERS.  END COMMENT.) 
FIFTEEN TO TWENTY SQUATTER FAMILIES WERE DROPPED OFF SOON AFTER, 
ERECTED TEMPORARY SHACKS, BURNED ALL OF HIS CROPS IN THE GROUND 
(WHICH INCLUDED TOBACCO, BARLEY, AND MAIZE) AND DESTROYED MOST OF 
THE INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE FARM. 
 
¶9.  (C) ON JUNE 15, A MESSAGE WAS CONVEYED INDIRECTLY TO MATIBE 
ORDERING HIM TO RESIGN FROM THE MDC AND TO WITHDRAW HIS LEGAL 
CHALLENGE; OTHERWISE, HE AND HIS FAMILY WOULD FACE UNSPECIFIED 
CONSEQUENCES.  ON JUNE 22, THE CIO PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR FOR 
MASHONALAND WEST MET WITH MATIBE AND STATED EXPLICITLY THAT HE HAD 
BEEN SENT AS AN ENVOY FROM PRESIDENT MUGABE'S OFFICE.  THE CIO 
DIRECTOR TOLD MATIBE THAT, IF HE WITHDREW HIS HIGH COURT PETITION, 
HE COULD CHOOSE WHATEVER FARM HE WANTED ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY 
AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BACK OFF IMMEDIATELY.  IF HE DECLINED THE 
OFFER, THE ENVOY SAID, MATIBE WOULD BE CRUSHED.  THE SENIOR CIO 
OFFICIAL CONTINUED THAT ZANU-PF WOULD ENSURE THAT ANY BUSINESS OR 
OTHER ECONOMIC INITIATIVE MATIBE TRIED TO UNDERTAKE WOULD FAIL, 
AND HIS PHYSICAL SECURITY AND THAT OF HIS FAMILY WOULD NOT BE 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4211 
 
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                  ------------------051A2C  130954Z /38 
O 130954Z JUL 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9303 
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 002171 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL. 07/10/11 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE SLIDING OMINOUSLY TOWARD A POLICE STATE 
 
GUARANTEED.  ALTHOUGH CLEARLY SHAKEN BY THIS ORDEAL, MATIBE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  02171  03 OF 04  130954Z 
APPEARS DETERMINED NOT TO BACK DOWN AND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HIS 
COURT CASE.  (COMMENT:  THE TREATMENT OF MATIBE PROVIDES THE MOST 
GLARING EXAMPLE TO DATE THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S FAST TRACK 
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM IS MORE ABOUT INTIMIDATING POLITICAL 
OPPONENTS THAN RIGHTING HISTORICAL WRONGS OR EMPOWERING THE 
PEASANTRY.  END COMMENT.) 
 
¶10.  (U) ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, WAR VETERANS AND ZANU-PF 
SUPPORTERS ARMED WITH SPEARS AND AXES WENT ON A RAMPAGE THE WEEK 
OF JULY 2 IN MWENEZI, IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF MASVINGO, 
BEATING UP FARM WORKERS WHOM THEY ACCUSED OF SUPPORTING THE MDC. 
ONE BAFFLED FARMER IN THE AREA TOLD JOURNALISTS:  "IT IS VERY 
DANGEROUS FOR US TO MOVE AROUND THE FARM BECAUSE THE WAR VETERANS 
HAVE BECOME VERY HOSTILE.  THE WHOLE AREA HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A 
BATTLEFIELD."  ON JULY 5, GROUPS OF AXE-WIELDING WAR VETERANS 
REPORTEDLY BROUGHT THE TOWN OF PLUMTREE, A BORDER TOWN 100 KM 
SOUTHWEST OF BULAWAYO, TO A STANDSTILL WHEN THEY HARASSED WORKERS 
AT COMPANIES THEY ACCUSED OF PARTICIPATING IN THE JULY 3-4 
STAYAWAY ORGANIZED BY THE ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS 
(ZCTU).  THE WAR VETERANS ALLEGEDLY THREATENED TO TAKE OVER THE 
COMPANIES AND DEMANDED THE TRANSFER OF ALL OF THEIR MANAGERS.  ON 
JULY 5, THE GAME RANCH OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN WAS OCCUPIED BY WAR 
VETERANS DROPPED OFF BY A POLICE LAND ROVER (REF A). 
 
DETENTION OF ZCTU SECRETARY-GENERAL 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶11.  (U) THE JULY 12 DETENTION OF WELLINGTON CHIBHEBHE, THE ZCTU'S 
SECRETARY-GENERAL, SIGNALED THE GOVERNMENT'S UNHAPPINESS OVER THE 
 
SIPDIS 
SUCCESS OF THE JULY 3-4 STAYAWAY AND ITS CONCERN OVER THREATS BY 
THE LABOR ORGANIZATION TO CALL FOR AN INDEFINITE WORK STOPPAGE. 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  02171  03 OF 04  130954Z 
CHIBHEBHE WAS QUESTIONED FOR TWO HOURS BY POLICE, WHO ASKED ABOUT 
HIS POLITICAL AFFILIATION, THE COMPOSITION OF THE ZCTU AND ITS 
VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES, WHICH KEY FIGURES DECIDE TO 
PROCEED WITH STAYAWAYS, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ZCTU AND 
THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION.  ZCTU PRESIDENT LOVEMORE 
MATOMBO CALLED THE QUESTIONING OF CHIBHEBHE "MERE HARASSMENT." 
MDC SPOKESMAN LEARNMORE JONGWE HAD STRONGER WORDS, SAYING "THIS 
HIGH-HANDEDNESS IN DEALING WITH LEGITIMATE DISSENT WILL NOT STOP 
THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY FROM DEMANDING THAT THE ELECTED LEADERS 
BEHAVE RESPONSIBLY." 
 
NEW CITIZENSHIP LAW 
------------------- 
 
¶12.  (U) ON JULY 6, PRESIDENT MUGABE SIGNED INTO LAW AN AMENDMENT 
TO THE CITIZENSHIP ACT OF ZIMBABWE INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN ZANU- 
PF'S PROSPECTS IN THE 2002 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.  ACCORDING TO 
THE IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS, ZIMBABWEANS HOLDING DUAL CITIZENSHIP 
ARE REQUIRED TO RENOUNCE THEIR FOREIGN CITIZENSHIP WITHIN SIX 
MONTHS OF THE ENACTMENT DATE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOREIGN 
COUNTRY'S LAWS.  PREVIOUSLY, ZIMBABWEANS HOLDING DUAL CITIZENSHIP 
WERE ONLY REQUIRED TO RENOUNCE THEIR FOREIGN CITIZENSHIP UNDER 
ZIMBABWEAN LAW, A RENUNCIATION WHICH SOME FOREIGN COUNTRIES DID 
NOT RECOGNIZE. 
 
¶13.  (C) COMMENT: OBSERVERS AGREE THAT THE AMENDMENT IS AIMED 
SOLELY AT DISENFRANCHISING WHITES, WHOM THE GOZ BELIEVES TO BE 
OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE MDC.  IT IS UNCLEAR, HOWEVER, HOW 
THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO ENFORCE THE NEW PROVISION.  WILL ALL WHITE 
ZIMBABWEANS, FOR EXAMPLE, BE FORCED TO PROVE THAT THEY ARE NOT 
CITIZENS OF ANOTHER COUNTRY WHEN THEY APPLY FOR RENEWAL OF THEIR 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  02171  03 OF 04  130954Z 
ZIMBABWEAN PASSPORTS?  SINCE WHITE ZIMBABWEANS COMPRISE LESS THAN 
TWO-THIRDS OF ONE PERCENT OF THE POPULATION, THIS LAW BY ITSELF 
LIKELY WILL NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE ELECTION OUTCOME. 
THE MOST WORRYING POSSIBILITY, HOWEVER, IS THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON 
DUAL CITIZENS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE LIVED IN ZIMBABWE MOST OF THEIR 
LIVES, IF THEY OPT TO MAINTAIN THEIR FOREIGN CITIZENSHIP.  THEY 
WILL HAVE TO APPLY FOR ZIMBABWEAN RESIDENCE PERMITS, AND A 
GOVERNMENT DENIAL OF THEIR APPLICATIONS COULD POTENTIALLY LEAVE 
THOUSANDS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS NOT ONLY STATELESS, BUT ASSET-LESS 
TOO.  END COMMENT.) 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶14.  (C) THINGS ARE RAPIDLY GOING FROM BAD TO WORSE IN ZIMBABWE, 
AS THE RULING PARTY SEEMS TO HAVE CONCLUDED THAT RUNNING ON ITS 
RECORD IS NOT A RECIPE FOR ELECTORAL SUCCESS NEXT YEAR.  ZANU-PF 
HAS ESCALATED ITS INTIMIDATION OF THE OPPOSITION AND THOSE 
SUSPECTED OF SUPPORTING IT, AND IS ELIMINATING THE MANEUVERING 
ROOM OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT MIGHT EVEN 
REMOTELY THREATEN THE PARTY'S STRANGLEHOLD ON POWER.  CRUSHING THE 
OPPOSITION AND COMMERCIAL FARMERS; PROHIBITING CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS 
FROM CONDUCTING VOTER EDUCATION; THREATENING RURAL VOTERS WITH 
DEATH IF THEY VOTE MDC; OUTLAWING FOREIGN FUNDING OF POLITICAL 
PARTIES AND NGOS; MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR INDEPENDENT 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4212 
 
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        /009W 
                  ------------------051A2F  130954Z /38 
O 130954Z JUL 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9304 
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 002171 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL. 07/10/11 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE SLIDING OMINOUSLY TOWARD A POLICE STATE 
 
BROADCASTERS TO OBTAIN A LICENSE; AND IMPOSING STRINGENT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  02171  04 OF 04  130954Z 
ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS ON FOREIGN JOURNALISTS THAT MAKE IT 
IMPOSSIBLE TO COVER BREAKING STORIES ARE ALL KEY ELEMENTS IN ZANU- 
PF'S INCREASINGLY VICIOUS BUT WELL-COORDINATED STRATEGY. 
 
¶15.  (C) GIVEN THAT THE RAPID POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DETERIORATION 
IN ZIMBABWE WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC 
STABILITY OF THE REGION, AND THAT THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY HERE IS 
IN PERIL, IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DO ALL 
IT CAN NOW TO ARREST THIS COUNTRY'S SLIDE TOWARD TOTALITARIANISM. 
THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION, OF COURSE, IS WHAT ACTIONS FROM THE 
UNITED STATES AND OTHERS WOULD ELICIT THE KINDS OF CHANGES WE ARE 
SEEKING.  AT A MINIMUM, WE WOULD ARGUE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE 
WEIGH IN WITH THE GOVERNMENT NOW, PERHAPS IN CONCERT WITH KEY 
ALLIES, TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE EXPECT A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION, TO 
CLARIFY WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT, AND TO SPECIFY THE CONSEQUENCES THAT 
WILL FOLLOW IF THE ELECTION DOES NOT MEET THAT STANDARD.  A 
RESPONSE FROM SECRETARY POWELL TO FM MUDENGE'S RECENT LETTER (REF 
D) MIGHT PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE SENIOR-LEVEL CHANNEL FOR 
COMMUNICATING THAT INFORMATION.  IN ADDITION, THE EMBASSY AND 
USAID MISSION ARE PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD IMMEDIATELY WITH 
DEPLOYMENT OF A NON-PARTISAN TEAM OF ELECTION-RELATED MONITORS 
WHEN THE ESF FUNDS PLEDGED TO US FOR THIS PURPOSE IN FEBRUARY 2001 
ARE DISBURSED.  AS WE PROCEED WITH PLANNING FOR THE MONITORING 
EFFORT, WE WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PREVAILING SECURITY CONDITIONS 
AND ADOPT ADEQUATE SECURITY PRECAUTIONS. 
 
WOERNER 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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