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

131408Z Nov 01


                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ1550

PAGE 01        HARARE  03367  131457Z 
ACTION AF-00    

INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   ACQ-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DODE-00  
      SRPP-00  DS-00    VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   LAB-01   VCE-00   
      DCP-01   NSAE-00  EPAE-00  DSCC-00  DRL-02   NFAT-00  SAS-00   
        /004W
                  ------------------3D927E  131457Z /07    
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0259
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L  HARARE 003367 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL. 10/31/11 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR AND VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA DISCUSS 
TERRORISM, 
LAND REFORM, RULE OF LAW, ELECTION OBSERVATION 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER BRUCE WHARTON.  REASONS: 
1.5. (B) AND (D). 
 
SUMMARY 
----------- 
 
¶1.  (C) IN AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN'S INITIAL COURTESY CALL ON VICE 
PRESIDENT JOSEPH MSIKA ON NOVEMBER 8, THE VICE PRESIDENT 
OFFERED HIS VIEW OF ZIMBABWE'S RECENT HISTORY AND A SPIRITED 
DEFENSE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE'S (GOZ) RECORD ON RULE OF 
LAW AND LAND REFORM.  HE PLEDGED CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE 
GLOBAL EFFORT AGAINST TERRORISM AND SPOKE OF  GOZ UMBRAGE AT 
THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) DEMAND THAT INTERNATIONAL ELECTION 
OBSERVERS BE INVITED TO ZIMBABWE.  MSIKA ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN 
THAT THE US WAS UNFAIRLY CRITICAL OF THE GOZ, SPECIFICALLY 
NOTING THE POSSIBILITY OF SANCTIONS UNDER THE ZIMBABWE 
DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT (ZDERA).  END SUMMARY. 
 
FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM 
---------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN OPENED THE MEETING BY THANKING MSIKA 
FOR GOZ SUPPORT IN THE GLOBAL EFFORT AGAINST TERRORISM.  THE 
AMBASSADOR MADE FUNDAMENTAL POINTS ABOUT THE FIGHT AGAINST 
TERROR AND RECEIVED MSIKA'S ASSURANCE THAT ZIMBABWE UNDERSTOOD 
THE ISSUES AND WOULD MAINTAIN A STRONG POSITION AGAINST 
TERRORISM. 
 
US POLICY TOWARD ZIMBABWE 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3. ( C ) VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA OFFERED A LENGTHY OVERVIEW OF THE 
HISTORY OF ZIMBABWE SINCE 1979.  THE POINTS HE MADE ABOUT THE 
LANCASTER HOUSE NEGOTIATIONS, INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF LAND 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03367  131457Z 
IN ZIMBABWE, THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY OF ELECTIONS, AND THE 
POPULAR DEMAND FOR LAND FOLLOWED PRECISELY THE ARGUMENTS MADE 
BY PRESIDENT MUGABE AT AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN'S PRESENTATION OF 
CREDENTIALS TWO WEEKS EARLIER.  MSIKA ENDED THE HISTORY LESSON 
BY ASKING WHY THE UNITED STATES NOW WANTED TO "INTRODUCE 
SANCTIONS" (AN APPARENT REFERENCE TO THE ZDERA) AND HEATEDLY 
DISAGREEING WITH THE NOTION THAT ZIMBABWE HAD ABANDONED THE 
RULE OF LAW AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE. 
 
¶4. ( C ) AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN RESPONDED THAT HE WELCOMED THE 
VICE PRESIDENT'S FRANKNESS AND WOULD ALSO SPEAK PLAINLY.  THE 
AMBASSADOR POINTED OUT THAT THE US HAD SUPPORTED AFRICAN 
INDEPENDENCE SINCE BEFORE THE KENNEDY ERA, HAD OPPOSED THE IAN 
SMITH GOVERNMENT AND HAD SUPPORTED MAJORITY RULE IN 
RHODESIA/ZIMBABWE.  HE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE US HAD PROVIDED 
OVER US$700 MILLION SINCE 1980 IN FULFILLMENT OF THE PLEDGE IT 
MADE AT THE LANCASTER HOUSE NEGOTIATIONS.  THE AMBASSADOR WENT 
ON TO SAY THAT THE US SUPPORTED THE PRINCIPLES AGREED TO AT THE 
1998 DONORS' CONFERENCE ON LAND REFORM IN ZIMBABWE, BUT THAT 
ZIMBABWE HAD DEVIATED FROM THOSE PRINCIPLES.  HE SPOKE OF THE 
VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH POLITICS AND LAND REFORM AND SAID THAT 
THE RULE OF LAW HAD NOT BEEN FOLLOWED IN ZIMBABWE.  THE 
AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE ZDERA, POINTED 
OUT THAT IT OFFERED MORE INCENTIVES THAN SANCTIONS, AND SAID 
THAT ZIMBABWE'S RETURN TO THE RULE OF LAW WOULD OPEN THE 
POSSIBILITY OF TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SUCH INCENTIVES. 
 
LAND REFORM AND ABUJA 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5. ( C ) VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA STOUTLY DEFENDED THE GOZ RECORD 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03367  131457Z 
ON LAND REFORM AND RULE OF LAW.  HE STATED THAT VIOLENCE ON THE 
FARMS HAD BEEN STARTED BY WHITE COMMERCIAL FARMERS AND BY 
"PEOPLE WHO DID NOT WANT TO SHARE."  HE INSISTED THAT HIS 
GOVERNMENT HAD NOT DEVIATED FROM THE PRINCIPLES OF THE 1998 
DONORS' CONFERENCE, IS PEACE LOVING AND BELIEVES IN THE RULE OF 
LAW.  HE SAID THAT "EXTERNAL FORCES" HAD MADE THE LAND REFORM 
ISSUE "MORE COMPLICATED" AND HAD MADE "PEOPLE DO THINGS THEY 
SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE."  AS MSIKA EXPLAINED IT, THE 
PEASANTS' 
HUNGER FOR LAND, THE PEOPLE'S ANGER, AND THE PRESENCE OF 
"CRIMINALS MASQUERADING AS EX-COMBATANTS," RESULTED IN THE 
OCCUPATION OF FARMS THAT DID NOT MEET THE GOZ CRITERIA FOR 
SEIZURE.  AS EVIDENCE OF THE GOZ DETERMINATION TO ABIDE BY 
THE RULE OF LAW, HE DETAILED HIS EFFORTS TO REMOVE MORE THAN 
600 FARMS FROM THE LIST OF PROPERTIES APPROVED FOR SEIZURE.  HE 
DID NOT EXPLAIN HOW FARMS THAT DID NOT MEET GOZ CRITERIA FOR 
ON TO SAY THAT THE GOZ HAD NEVER DEVIATED FROM ITS PRINCIPLED 
STAND ON LAND REFORM OR THE RULE OF LAW, AND THAT THE ABUJA 
AGREEMENT OF SEPTEMBER CONFIRMED THE JUSTICE OF ITS POLICIES 
AND ACTIONS.  MSIKA SAID THAT ZIMBABWE'S LAND PROBLEMS EXISTED 
BEFORE THE ABUJA AGREEMENT AND WOULD TAKE MORE TIME TO RESOLVE. 
HE AGAIN MADE THE POINT THAT ZINBABWE HAD "SUFFERED FROM 
LAND REFORM, RULE OF LAW, ELECTION OBSERVATION 
 
INTERNATIONAL INTERFERENCE THAT COMPLICATED OUR PATH." 
AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN URGED MSIKA TO PREVENT FUTURE VIOLENCE AND 
TO CONTINUE TO MOVE INVADERS OFF OF ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED FARMS. 
 
ELECTION OBSERVERS 
---------------------- 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 05        HARARE  03367  131457Z 
¶6. ( C ) AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN RAISED THE ISSUE OF ELECTION 
OBSERVERS, EXPRESSING THE HOPE THAT THE GOZ WOULD INVITE 
INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS AND ASKING WHEN A DECISION MIGHT BE 
MADE ON THAT ISSUE.  MSIKA REPLIED THAT IT WAS HIS "CONVICTION" 
THAT ZIMBABWE WOULD BE HAPPY TO INVITE OBSERVERS OR MONITORS IF 
AND WHEN THEY WERE NEEDED.  THE VP MADE A CLEAR DISTINCTION 
BETWEEN OBSERVERS AND MONITORS AND SAID HE SAW NO NEED FOR 
INTERNATIONAL MONITORS IN ZIMBABWE.  MSIKA EXPRESSED ANGER OVER 
WHAT HE CHARACTERIZED AS THE EU "DEMAND" THAT OBSERVERS BE 
INVITED.  HE SAID THAT ZIMBABWE'S SOVEREIGNTY AND INDEPENDENCE 
ARE "NOT NEGOTIABLE" AND THAT NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO DEMAND 
THAT THE GOZ INVITE OBSERVERS.  HE SAID THAT ZIMBABWE HAD 
NOTHING TO HIDE AND POINTED TO THE GOVERNMENT'S DEFEAT IN THE 
FEBRUARY 2000 CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM AS EVIDENCE OF 
ZIMBABWE'S CAPACITY TO RUN FAIR ELECTIONS.  THE AMBASSADOR MADE 
THE POINT THAT INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS ARE STANDARD PRACTICE 
AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING IN THE US, AND THAT THEY ENHANCE 
CONFIDENCE IN ELECTION RESULTS AND REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTION- 
RELATED VIOLENCE. 
 
WE ARE NOT THE ENEMY 
--------------------------- 
 
¶7. ( C ) MSIKA ENDED THE MEETING BY SAYING THAT ZIMBABWE NEEDED 
THE US - NEEDED ITS BUSINESS, ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT.  HE THEN 
ASKED WHY THE US WANTED TO "MAKE ZIMBABWE YOUR ENEMY - WE ARE 
NOT THE ENEMY."  MSIKA RECOUNTED THAT HE HAD BEEN IN THE US 
DURING THE 1988 ELECTIONS AND HAD BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE ABILITY 
OF AMERICANS FROM DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES TO DISCUSS 
ISSUES.  HE SAID THAT HAD TAUGHT HIM AN IMPORTANT LESSON ABOUT 
DIALOGUE BETWEEN PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW AND THAT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 06        HARARE  03367  131457Z 
HE HOPED THAT HE AND THE AMBASSADOR COULD CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN 
OPEN, HONEST DISCUSSIONS. 
 
COMMENT 
----------- 
 
¶8. ( C ) VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA'S VERSION OF ZIMBABWE'S RECENT 
ON LAND REFORM AND RULE OF LAW, FOLLOWS VERY CLOSELY RECENT 
STATEMENTS BY PRESIDENT MUGABE AND OTHER HIGH-RANKING GOZ 
OFFICIALS.  THEY CLEARLY HAVE A UNIFIED SET OF TALKING POINTS. 
THAT BOTH MUGABE AND MSIKA MADE THE EFFORT TO OFFER THE 
AMBASSADOR A LENGTHY HISTORY LESSON -ALBEIT A ONE-SIDED ONE - 
INDICATES BOTH THEIR VIEW OF THE WORLD AND THEIR BELIEF THAT WE 
DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR APPRECIATE THAT VIEW. IN SPITE OF VP 
MSIKA'S PROFESSED DESIRE FOR OPEN, FRANK DISCUSSION, THERE DOES 
NOT SEEM TO BE MUCH ROOM FOR ALTERNATIVE POINTS OF VIEW ON HOW 
ZIMBABWE HAS COME TO ITS CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS.  RECENT 
MEETINGS WITH VP MSIKA AND OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 
INDICATE THE US ACCESS TO THE GOZ HAS IMPROVED FOR THE TIME 
BEING.  THE TOP ZANU-PF LEADERSHIP SEES THIS EXERCISE AS ONE OF 
PERSUADING US NOT TO BE THEIR ENEMIES RATHER THAN LISTENING TO 
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO AVOID FURTHER DETERIORATION OF 
RELATIONS. 
 
¶9. ( C )  ON NOVEMBER 12, THE AMBASSADOR WAS CONVOKED TO PAY A 
COURTESY CALL ON ZIMBABWE'S OTHER VICE PRESIDENT, SIMON 
MUZENDA; SLIGHTLY OLDER THAN VP MSIKA (79 V 
¶S. 77), SLIGHTLY 
MORE IRRELEVANT, AND EQUALLY LOYAL TO PRESIDENT MUGABE.  THE 
MEETING WAS EVEN LESS SUBSTANTIVE WITH MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION 
DEVOTED TO TELLING MUZENDA WHY THE RHODESIANS' LABELING OF 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 07        HARARE  03367  131457Z 
LIBERATION FIGHTERS AS "TERRORISTS" OUGHT NOT INHIBIT THE ZANU- 
PF GOVERNMENT FROM WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT OF THE WAR AGAINST THE 
AL QAEDA TERRORIST NETWORK.  MORE INTERESTING WAS THE FRANK AND 
SOMEWHAT NAIVE.QUESTIONS FROM MUZENDA: "WHY DO YOU AMERICANS 
WANT TO KICK OUT MUGABE?"  WE GAVE THE STANDARD ANSWER THAT IT 
WAS UP TO ZIMBABWEANS TO CHOOSE THEIR LEADERS THROUGH FREE AND 
FAIR ELECTIONS AND MADE THE CASE FOR BROAD OBSERVATION OF 
ELECTIONS. 
 
SULLIVAN 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
> 
@@@OASYS@@@ 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ1510 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  03367  01 OF 02  131451Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   ACQ-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DODE-00 
      SRPP-00  DS-00    VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   LAB-01   VCE-00 
      DCP-01   NSAE-00  EPAE-00  DSCC-00  DRL-02   NFAT-00  SAS-00 
        /004W 
                  ------------------3D917B  131452Z /38 
P 131408Z NOV 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0259 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 003367 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL. 10/31/11 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR AND VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA DISCUSS 
TERRORISM, 
LAND REFORM, RULE OF LAW, ELECTION OBSERVATION 
 
CLASSIFIED BY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER BRUCE WHARTON.  REASONS: 
1.5. (B) AND (D). 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03367  01 OF 02  131451Z 
SUMMARY 
----------- 
 
¶1.  (C) IN AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN'S INITIAL COURTESY CALL ON VICE 
PRESIDENT JOSEPH MSIKA ON NOVEMBER 8, THE VICE PRESIDENT 
OFFERED HIS VIEW OF ZIMBABWE'S RECENT HISTORY AND A SPIRITED 
DEFENSE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE'S (GOZ) RECORD ON RULE OF 
LAW AND LAND REFORM.  HE PLEDGED CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE 
GLOBAL EFFORT AGAINST TERRORISM AND SPOKE OF  GOZ UMBRAGE AT 
THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) DEMAND THAT INTERNATIONAL ELECTION 
OBSERVERS BE INVITED TO ZIMBABWE.  MSIKA ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN 
THAT THE US WAS UNFAIRLY CRITICAL OF THE GOZ, SPECIFICALLY 
NOTING THE POSSIBILITY OF SANCTIONS UNDER THE ZIMBABWE 
DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT (ZDERA).  END SUMMARY. 
 
FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM 
---------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN OPENED THE MEETING BY THANKING MSIKA 
FOR GOZ SUPPORT IN THE GLOBAL EFFORT AGAINST TERRORISM.  THE 
AMBASSADOR MADE FUNDAMENTAL POINTS ABOUT THE FIGHT AGAINST 
TERROR AND RECEIVED MSIKA'S ASSURANCE THAT ZIMBABWE UNDERSTOOD 
THE ISSUES AND WOULD MAINTAIN A STRONG POSITION AGAINST 
TERRORISM. 
 
US POLICY TOWARD ZIMBABWE 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3. ( C ) VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA OFFERED A LENGTHY OVERVIEW OF THE 
HISTORY OF ZIMBABWE SINCE 1979.  THE POINTS HE MADE ABOUT THE 
LANCASTER HOUSE NEGOTIATIONS, INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF LAND 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03367  01 OF 02  131451Z 
IN ZIMBABWE, THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY OF ELECTIONS, AND THE 
POPULAR DEMAND FOR LAND FOLLOWED PRECISELY THE ARGUMENTS MADE 
BY PRESIDENT MUGABE AT AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN'S PRESENTATION OF 
CREDENTIALS TWO WEEKS EARLIER.  MSIKA ENDED THE HISTORY LESSON 
BY ASKING WHY THE UNITED STATES NOW WANTED TO "INTRODUCE 
SANCTIONS" (AN APPARENT REFERENCE TO THE ZDERA) AND HEATEDLY 
DISAGREEING WITH THE NOTION THAT ZIMBABWE HAD ABANDONED THE 
RULE OF LAW AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE. 
 
¶4. ( C ) AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN RESPONDED THAT HE WELCOMED THE 
VICE PRESIDENT'S FRANKNESS AND WOULD ALSO SPEAK PLAINLY.  THE 
AMBASSADOR POINTED OUT THAT THE US HAD SUPPORTED AFRICAN 
INDEPENDENCE SINCE BEFORE THE KENNEDY ERA, HAD OPPOSED THE IAN 
SMITH GOVERNMENT AND HAD SUPPORTED MAJORITY RULE IN 
RHODESIA/ZIMBABWE.  HE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE US HAD PROVIDED 
OVER US$700 MILLION SINCE 1980 IN FULFILLMENT OF THE PLEDGE IT 
MADE AT THE LANCASTER HOUSE NEGOTIATIONS.  THE AMBASSADOR WENT 
ON TO SAY THAT THE US SUPPORTED THE PRINCIPLES AGREED TO AT THE 
1998 DONORS' CONFERENCE ON LAND REFORM IN ZIMBABWE, BUT THAT 
ZIMBABWE HAD DEVIATED FROM THOSE PRINCIPLES.  HE SPOKE OF THE 
VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH POLITICS AND LAND REFORM AND SAID THAT 
THE RULE OF LAW HAD NOT BEEN FOLLOWED IN ZIMBABWE.  THE 
AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE ZDERA, POINTED 
OUT THAT IT OFFERED MORE INCENTIVES THAN SANCTIONS, AND SAID 
THAT ZIMBABWE'S RETURN TO THE RULE OF LAW WOULD OPEN THE 
POSSIBILITY OF TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SUCH INCENTIVES. 
 
LAND REFORM AND ABUJA 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5. ( C ) VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA STOUTLY DEFENDED THE GOZ RECORD 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03367  01 OF 02  131451Z 
ON LAND REFORM AND RULE OF LAW.  HE STATED THAT VIOLENCE ON THE 
FARMS HAD BEEN STARTED BY WHITE COMMERCIAL FARMERS AND BY 
"PEOPLE WHO DID NOT WANT TO SHARE."  HE INSISTED THAT HIS 
GOVERNMENT HAD NOT DEVIATED FROM THE PRINCIPLES OF THE 1998 
DONORS' CONFERENCE, IS PEACE LOVING AND BELIEVES IN THE RULE OF 
LAW.  HE SAID THAT "EXTERNAL FORCES" HAD MADE THE LAND REFORM 
ISSUE "MORE COMPLICATED" AND HAD MADE "PEOPLE DO THINGS THEY 
SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE."  AS MSIKA EXPLAINED IT, THE 
PEASANTS' 
HUNGER FOR LAND, THE PEOPLE'S ANGER, AND THE PRESENCE OF 
"CRIMINALS MASQUERADING AS EX-COMBATANTS," RESULTED IN THE 
OCCUPATION OF FARMS THAT DID NOT MEET THE GOZ CRITERIA FOR 
SEIZURE.  AS EVIDENCE OF THE GOZ DETERMINATION TO ABIDE BY 
THE RULE OF LAW, HE DETAILED HIS EFFORTS TO REMOVE MORE THAN 
600 FARMS FROM THE LIST OF PROPERTIES APPROVED FOR SEIZURE.  HE 
DID NOT EXPLAIN HOW FARMS THAT DID NOT MEET GOZ CRITERIA FOR 
ON TO SAY THAT THE GOZ HAD NEVER DEVIATED FROM ITS PRINCIPLED 
STAND ON LAND REFORM OR THE RULE OF LAW, AND THAT THE ABUJA 
AGREEMENT OF SEPTEMBER CONFIRMED THE JUSTICE OF ITS POLICIES 
AND ACTIONS.  MSIKA SAID THAT ZIMBABWE'S LAND PROBLEMS EXISTED 
BEFORE THE ABUJA AGREEMENT AND WOULD TAKE MORE TIME TO RESOLVE. 
HE AGAIN MADE THE POINT THAT ZINBABWE HAD "SUFFERED FROM 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ1512 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  03367  02 OF 02  131452Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   ACQ-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DODE-00 
      SRPP-00  DS-00    VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01 
      VCE-00   DCP-01   NSAE-00  DSCC-00  DRL-02   NFAT-00  SAS-00 
        /004W 
                  ------------------3D918D  131452Z /38 
P 131408Z NOV 01 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0260 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 003367 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL. 10/31/11 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR AND VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA DISCUSS 
TERRORISM, 
LAND REFORM, RULE OF LAW, ELECTION OBSERVATION 
 
INTERNATIONAL INTERFERENCE THAT COMPLICATED OUR PATH." 
AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN URGED MSIKA TO PREVENT FUTURE VIOLENCE AND 
TO CONTINUE TO MOVE INVADERS OFF OF ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED FARMS. 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03367  02 OF 02  131452Z 
 
ELECTION OBSERVERS 
---------------------- 
 
¶6. ( C ) AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN RAISED THE ISSUE OF ELECTION 
OBSERVERS, EXPRESSING THE HOPE THAT THE GOZ WOULD INVITE 
INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS AND ASKING WHEN A DECISION MIGHT BE 
MADE ON THAT ISSUE.  MSIKA REPLIED THAT IT WAS HIS "CONVICTION" 
THAT ZIMBABWE WOULD BE HAPPY TO INVITE OBSERVERS OR MONITORS IF 
AND WHEN THEY WERE NEEDED.  THE VP MADE A CLEAR DISTINCTION 
BETWEEN OBSERVERS AND MONITORS AND SAID HE SAW NO NEED FOR 
INTERNATIONAL MONITORS IN ZIMBABWE.  MSIKA EXPRESSED ANGER OVER 
WHAT HE CHARACTERIZED AS THE EU "DEMAND" THAT OBSERVERS BE 
INVITED.  HE SAID THAT ZIMBABWE'S SOVEREIGNTY AND INDEPENDENCE 
ARE "NOT NEGOTIABLE" AND THAT NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO DEMAND 
THAT THE GOZ INVITE OBSERVERS.  HE SAID THAT ZIMBABWE HAD 
NOTHING TO HIDE AND POINTED TO THE GOVERNMENT'S DEFEAT IN THE 
FEBRUARY 2000 CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM AS EVIDENCE OF 
ZIMBABWE'S CAPACITY TO RUN FAIR ELECTIONS.  THE AMBASSADOR MADE 
THE POINT THAT INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS ARE STANDARD PRACTICE 
AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING IN THE US, AND THAT THEY ENHANCE 
CONFIDENCE IN ELECTION RESULTS AND REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTION- 
RELATED VIOLENCE. 
 
WE ARE NOT THE ENEMY 
--------------------------- 
 
¶7. ( C ) MSIKA ENDED THE MEETING BY SAYING THAT ZIMBABWE NEEDED 
THE US - NEEDED ITS BUSINESS, ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT.  HE THEN 
ASKED WHY THE US WANTED TO "MAKE ZIMBABWE YOUR ENEMY - WE ARE 
NOT THE ENEMY."  MSIKA RECOUNTED THAT HE HAD BEEN IN THE US 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03367  02 OF 02  131452Z 
DURING THE 1988 ELECTIONS AND HAD BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE ABILITY 
OF AMERICANS FROM DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES TO DISCUSS 
ISSUES.  HE SAID THAT HAD TAUGHT HIM AN IMPORTANT LESSON ABOUT 
DIALOGUE BETWEEN PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW AND THAT 
HE HOPED THAT HE AND THE AMBASSADOR COULD CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN 
OPEN, HONEST DISCUSSIONS. 
 
COMMENT 
----------- 
 
¶8. ( C ) VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA'S VERSION OF ZIMBABWE'S RECENT 
ON LAND REFORM AND RULE OF LAW, FOLLOWS VERY CLOSELY RECENT 
STATEMENTS BY PRESIDENT MUGABE AND OTHER HIGH-RANKING GOZ 
OFFICIALS.  THEY CLEARLY HAVE A UNIFIED SET OF TALKING POINTS. 
THAT BOTH MUGABE AND MSIKA MADE THE EFFORT TO OFFER THE 
AMBASSADOR A LENGTHY HISTORY LESSON -ALBEIT A ONE-SIDED ONE - 
INDICATES BOTH THEIR VIEW OF THE WORLD AND THEIR BELIEF THAT WE 
DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR APPRECIATE THAT VIEW. IN SPITE OF VP 
MSIKA'S PROFESSED DESIRE FOR OPEN, FRANK DISCUSSION, THERE DOES 
NOT SEEM TO BE MUCH ROOM FOR ALTERNATIVE POINTS OF VIEW ON HOW 
ZIMBABWE HAS COME TO ITS CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS.  RECENT 
MEETINGS WITH VP MSIKA AND OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 
INDICATE THE US ACCESS TO THE GOZ HAS IMPROVED FOR THE TIME 
BEING.  THE TOP ZANU-PF LEADERSHIP SEES THIS EXERCISE AS ONE OF 
PERSUADING US NOT TO BE THEIR ENEMIES RATHER THAN LISTENING TO 
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO AVOID FURTHER DETERIORATION OF 
RELATIONS. 
 
¶9. ( C )  ON NOVEMBER 12, THE AMBASSADOR WAS CONVOKED TO PAY A 
COURTESY CALL ON ZIMBABWE'S OTHER VICE PRESIDENT, SIMON 
MUZENDA; SLIGHTLY OLDER THAN VP MSIKA (79 V 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03367  02 OF 02  131452Z 
¶S. 77), SLIGHTLY 
MORE IRRELEVANT, AND EQUALLY LOYAL TO PRESIDENT MUGABE.  THE 
MEETING WAS EVEN LESS SUBSTANTIVE WITH MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION 
DEVOTED TO TELLING MUZENDA WHY THE RHODESIANS' LABELING OF 
LIBERATION FIGHTERS AS "TERRORISTS" OUGHT NOT INHIBIT THE ZANU- 
PF GOVERNMENT FROM WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT OF THE WAR AGAINST THE 
AL QAEDA TERRORIST NETWORK.  MORE INTERESTING WAS THE FRANK AND 
SOMEWHAT NAIVE.QUESTIONS FROM MUZENDA: "WHY DO YOU AMERICANS 
WANT TO KICK OUT MUGABE?"  WE GAVE THE STANDARD ANSWER THAT IT 
WAS UP TO ZIMBABWEANS TO CHOOSE THEIR LEADERS THROUGH FREE AND 
FAIR ELECTIONS AND MADE THE CASE FOR BROAD OBSERVATION OF 
ELECTIONS. 
 
SULLIVAN 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
>