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

101113Z Jan 02


                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ1296

PAGE 01        HARARE  00096  01 OF 04  101219Z 
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      SAS-00     /004W
                  ------------------55CBC0  101219Z /38    
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0693
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 000096 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF; ALSO AF/S 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER 
 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/12 
TAGS: PREL ZI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENTIAL 
COUNSELOR UTETE 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY DCM REWHITEHEAD DUE TO 1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
REF:  01 HARARE 3229 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY.  AMBASSADOR AND DCM MET WITH 
PRESIDENTIAL COUNSELOR CHARLES UTETE AND HIS CHIEF OF 
STAFF ON JANUARY 9.  THE AMBASSADOR CITED CONTINUED U.S. 
ENGAGEMENT IN ZIMBABWE -- COUNTER-TERRORISM, HIV/AIDS 
ASSISTANCE, FOOD ASSISTANCE -- BUT NOTED THAT PREVIOUSLY 
EXPRESSED USG CONCERNS OVER NECESSARY CHANGES TO ENSURE 
FREE AND FAIR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS HAD IN FACT 
DEEPENED.  THE AMBASSADOR CAUTIONED THAT WHILE WE HOPE 
TO BE ABLE TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH THE GOZ, GOZ 
ACTIONS WILL BE THE DETERMINANT.  UTETE REPLIED WITH THE 
STANDARD GOZ LINE ON ALL POINTS SAVE THE LATTER, ON 
WHICH HE DISSEMBLED.  THE MEETING REVERTED TO CORDIAL 
VERBAL SPARRING, WITH UTETE SPEAKING MOST POINTEDLY ON 
THE ISSUES OF FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN ELECTIONS AND THE 
PASSAGE OF ZDERA.  IT WAS OUR SENSE THAT UTETE BOTH 
LISTENED AND HEARD, BUT NOT THAT HE -- LIKE MOST ZANU-PF 
INSIDERS -- IS PREPARED TO EMBRACE A CHANGE OF POLICY. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------ 
THE GOOD, THE BAD, 
------------------ 
 
¶2.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR BROKE THE ICE WITH AN EXCHANGE ON 
JAZZ (UTETE IS SOMETHING OF A COGNOSCENTE), THEN SEGUED 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  00096  01 OF 04  101219Z 
INTO THE USG'S CONTINUED POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH 
ZIMBABWE ON NUMEROUS FRONTS.  HE CITED COOPERATION ON 
COUNTER-TERRORISM AND NOTED THE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN 
AFGHANISTAN.  OBSERVING THAT A LONG STRUGGLE LIES AHEAD, 
HE STRESSED THAT CONTINUED COOPERATION IS ESSENTIAL.  IN 
THE DIRECT BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP, USAID AND CDC REMAIN 
FULLY ENGAGED WITH THE GOZ AND NGOS IN THE STRUGGLE 
AGAINST HIV/AIDS.  THE USG HAS CONSECRATED AN ANNUAL WAR 
CHEST OF USD 13 MILLION FOR ITS ZIMBABWE HIV/AIDS 
INITIATIVES.  IN ADDITION, WE ARE AWARE OF IMPENDING 
FOOD SHORTAGES IN ZIMBABWE AND HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE 
LAST SUMMER TO HELP PROVIDE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE.  OUR 
ATTEMPTS TO BROKER A BILATERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WITH 
WORLD VISION INTERNATIONAL HAD BEEN SCUTTLED BY THE GOZ 
OVER TECHNICAL CONCERNS, INCLUDING OBJECTIONS TO 
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS, BUT WE WERE WORKING 
CLOSELY WITH THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM AND BELIEVED THAT WE 
WERE NEAR A SOLUTION THAT WOULD PERMIT US TO ASSIST IN A 
TIMELY FASHION. 
 
--------------- 
...AND THE UGLY 
--------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR CONTINUED THAT THE UPCOMING 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION POSES SERIOUS CHALLENGES FOR 
ZIMBABWE AND ITS RELATIONS WITH THE U.S.  A FREE AND 
FAIR ELECTION ACCEPTED INTERNATIONALLY WOULD LEND NEW 
LEGITIMACY TO ZIMBABWE AND ITS GOVERNMENT; TO THE 
CONTRARY, A BOTCHED ELECTION WOULD SPAWN ADDITIONAL 
PROBLEMS FOR THE COUNTRY.  THE AMBASSADOR RECALLED THAT 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  00096  01 OF 04  101219Z 
PDAS BELLAMY HAD MADE SIMILAR OBSERVATIONS DURING HIS 
VISIT LAST OCTOBER (REFTEL), BUT SINCE THAT TIME IT WAS 
OUR VIEW THAT THE PROBLEMS IN ZIMBABWE HAVE WORSENED, 
SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE PASSAGE OF ZDERA.  DURING HIS 
DECEMBER VISIT, ASSISTANT SECRETARY KANSTEINER STATED 
PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY TO GOZ OFFICIALS THAT ZDERA WAS 
AN INCENTIVES BILL WITH THE POTENTIAL TO IMPOSE 
RESTRICTIONS IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS WERE NOT MET.  HE HAD 
EMPHASIZED THAT WHILE CONGRESS HAD PASSED THE BILL AND 
ASKED THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONSIDER THESE OPTIONS, 
THERE WAS STILL TIME FOR THE GOZ TO TAKE THE NECESSARY 
STEPS TO ENSURE FREE/FAIR ELECTIONS CONDUCTED IN AN OPEN 
MANNER. 
 
¶4.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR STRESSED THAT THE BENCHMARKS FOR 
FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS ADOPTED BY THE U.S. WERE IN FACT 
STANDARDS THAT THE GOZ HAD ALREADY ACCEPTED -- THE SADC- 
PF NORMS AND STANDARDS.  DESPITE EARLY STATEMENTS BY 
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MNANGAGWA THAT HE WOULD SEEK TO 
REMOVE SOME OF THE MORE CONTENTIOUS AMENDMENTS TO THE 
ELECTORAL ACT, THERE NOW APPEARS TO BE A MOVEMENT TOWARD 
A LESS INCLUSIVE ELECTORAL PROCESS ABSENT CLEAR, 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ1298 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  00096  02 OF 04  101219Z 
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INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    EVG-00   ACQ-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DODE-00 
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        /004W 
                  ------------------55CBD5  101220Z /38 
O 101113Z JAN 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0694 
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY 
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 000096 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF; ALSO AF/S 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER 
 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/12 
TAGS: PREL ZI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENTIAL 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  00096  02 OF 04  101219Z 
COUNSELOR UTETE 
 
INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT BY A NEUTRAL BODY.  IN ADDITION, 
THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN POLITICAL VIOLENCE, MUCH 
OF IT ASSOCIATED WITH GROUPS, SUCH AS WAR VETS, WHO 
PUBLICLY IDENTIFY WITH THE RULING PARTY.  THE USG DOES 
NOT WANT TO GO THE NEGATIVE ROUTE AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE 
A FAIR ELECTORAL PROCESS.  WE HOPE THE DIRECTION CAN BE 
CHANGED TO ALLOW FOR A POSITIVE ELECTORAL EXPERIENCE 
THAT WOULD PERMIT IMPROVED RELATIONS. 
 
--------- 
THANKS... 
--------- 
 
¶5.  (C) UTETE REPLIED THAT ON THE COUNTER-TERRORISM 
FRONT, AS DISCUSSED WITH PDAS BELLAMY, THERE IS NO 
SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE OF VIEW.  THE GOZ NOTES WE HAVE 
TURNED AROUND CIRCUMSTANCES IN AFGHANISTAN.  THERE IS 
THE STILL UNRESOLVED ISSUE OF THE DEFINITION OF 
TERRORISM, BUT NO ROOT DIFFERENCES.  HE EXPRESSED 
ZIMBABWEAN APPRECIATION OF USG SUPPORT FOR VARIOUS 
HIV/AIDS INITIATIVES, AND NOTED THAT THE STRUGGLE SHOULD 
BE MORE SHARPLY DEFINED, WITH THE GOZ USING ITS OWN 
RESOURCES IN ADDITION TO THOSE OF OTHERS TO CHECK THE 
SPREAD OF THE PANDEMIC. 
 
------------- 
BUT NO THANKS 
------------- 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  00096  02 OF 04  101219Z 
¶6.  (C) UTETE OBSERVED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHICH ASPECT 
TO DEAL WITH ON THE POLITICAL FRONT, BUT WOULD START 
WITH VIOLENCE.  HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY 
THAT THE AMBASSADOR RELIED ON NEWSPAPERS FOR 
INFORMATION, WHICH WOULD INDEED INDICATE INCREASED 
VIOLENCE.  HE FELT THAT EFFORTS NOW UNDERWAY BY THE GOZ 
WOULD HELP CHECK THIS, AND ADDED THAT IT IS NOT FAIR TO 
STATE THAT GOZ SUPPORTERS PERPETRATE ALL VIOLENCE.  THIS 
PHENOMENON STRETCHES ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM. 
WHAT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD IS THAT THERE IS NO MECHANISM 
WITHIN GOVERNMENT DESIGNED TO HAVE PEOPLE BEATEN.  TO 
THE CONTRARY, THE GOVERNMENT UNDERSTANDS THAT WHATEVER 
THE SOURCE OF VIOLENCE, IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S DUTY TO 
PREVENT SUCH BEHAVIOR. 
 
¶7.  (C) UTETE RECALLED THAT THE POLICE COMMISSIONER HAS 
REPEATEDLY STATED THAT VIOLENCE WOULD NOT BE TOLERATED. 
UNFORTUNATELY, THE GOZ HAS NEITHER THE PRESCIENCE TO 
PREDICT WHERE VIOLENCE MAY FLARE NOR THE MANPOWER TO 
COVER ALL CONTINGENCIES.  IN THE PRESENT "CHARGED 
ATMOSPHERE," SOME CRIMINAL ELEMENTS WERE INTRUDING UNDER 
THE GUISE OF ONE POLITICAL PARTY OR THE OTHER. 
JOURNALISTS HAD SENSATIONALIZED THIS ISSUE, BUT UTETE 
REASSURED THE AMBASSADOR THAT IT IS NOT GOZ POLICY TO 
USE VIOLENCE  AS A POLITICAL INSTRUMENT.  HE NOTED THAT 
THIS WAS IN FACT NOT A VERY GOOD WAY TO ATTRACT SUPPORT, 
SINCE VOTERS COULD VOTE FOR WHOMEVER THEY WISHED IN 
ANONYMITY ONCE IN THE VOTING BOOTH.  IT WAS UNLIKELY 
THAT THEY WOULD VOTE FOR SOMEONE WHO HAD ABUSED THEM. 
 
¶8.  (C) UTETE TURNED TO PROPOSED ELECTORAL AMENDMENTS, 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  00096  02 OF 04  101219Z 
STRESSING THAT THERE WERE PROVISIONS FOR AN INDEPENDENT 
ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION REJECTED 
DURING THE 2000 REFERENDUM.  HE DESCRIBED THE 
OPPOSITION'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE DRAFT AS "VERY 
FOOLISH" -- WHEN IT FAILED TO PASS, THE GOZ HAD NO 
CHOICE BUT TO REVERT TO THE PREVAILING LANCASTER HOUSE 
CONSTITUTION.  HE ADDED THAT ZANU-PF NO LONGER HAS A 
LARGE ENOUGH PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY TO CHANGE THE 
CONSTITUTION, AND MDC WOULD CERTAINLY REFUSE TO SUPPORT 
ANY ZANU-PF INITIATIVE.  AS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS 
MONITORING (IN LIEU OF INDEPENDENT MONITORS), HE ARGUED 
THAT CIVIL SERVANTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY SUPPORTERS OF 
THE INCUMBENT GOVERNMENT.  THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO 
SUPPORT THE POLITICAL PARTY OF THEIR CHOICE, AND AS SUCH 
ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BODY POLITIC.  POLITICAL 
PARTIES CAN CHOOSE THEIR OWN REPRESENTATIVES AT THE 
POLLS; BY USING CIVIL SERVANTS, THE GOZ HAD SIMPLY HOPED 
TO IMPROVE THE EXISTING ELECTORAL SYSTEM. 
 
--------------- 
VERBAL SPARRING 
--------------- 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ1299 
 
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                  ------------------55CBED  101220Z /38 
O 101113Z JAN 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0695 
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY 
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 000096 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF; ALSO AF/S 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER 
 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/12 
TAGS: PREL ZI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENTIAL 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  00096  03 OF 04  101220Z 
COUNSELOR UTETE 
 
¶9.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT WHILE HE DID NOT THINK 
IT NECESSARY TO REPLY POINT BY POINT, IT IS A FACT THAT 
SADC-PF RECOMMENDS ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT 
ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN EACH MEMBER STATE.  WE REALIZE 
THAT VIOLENCE IN NOT UNILATERAL AND DON'T' BELIEVE 
EVERYTHING WE READ; HOWEVER, WE HAVE NUMEROUS RELIABLE 
SOURCES UPON WHICH TO RELY.  HE CITED THE RECENT 
PRONOUNCEMENT BY A WAR VET THAT CHINHOYI AND BINDURA ARE 
"NO GO" ZONES FOR MDC, A STATEMENT NEVER REPUDIATED BY 
THE GOVERNMENT.  UTETE REPLIED THAT HE HAD LIVED IN THE 
U.S. AND UNDERSTOOD THE PRINCIPLES OF FREE SPEECH -- NO 
ONE EXPECTS THE USG TO SPEAK OUT ON EVERY STATEMENT ANY 
AMERICAN CITIZEN MAKES.  ONLY WHEN SOMEONE ACTS OUTSIDE 
THE LAW IS IT TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN.  THE 
GOZ COULD NOT SPEND ALL OF ITS TIME REBUTTING EVERY 
CRAZY STATEMENT MADE BY SOME "SO CALLED" WAR VET. 
 
¶10.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT THE ROOT PROBLEM IS A 
LACK OF TRUST IN THE ZIMBABWEAN POLITICAL SITUATION, AND 
THE LACK OF A MECHANISM TO CREATE THIS.  THE ACTUAL FORM 
OF AN ELECTORAL COMMISSION IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THE 
ROLE THAT SUCH A BODY PLAYS IN CREATING TRUST.  IT IS IN 
THE INTEREST OF THE GOZ TO SEEK SUCH A MECHANISM TO 
BUILD CONFIDENCE AND CREATE FAIR ELECTORAL RULES, AND 
RESPECT FOR THOSE RULES.  UTETE AGREED THAT TRUST IS 
IMPORTANT FOR THE HEALTH OF THE COUNTRY BUT CITED THE 
MDC'S "BETRAYAL" OF ZANU-PF BY RENEGING ON AGREED 
SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDED ELECTORAL LAWS (WHICH FAILED TO 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  00096  03 OF 04  101220Z 
PASS A VOTE IN PARLIAMENT). 
 
¶11.  (C) UTETE ADDED THAT HE WANTED TO BE FRANK -- THE 
SITUATION IN ZIMBABWE WAS PUMPED UP FROM OUTSIDE. 
OPPOSITION IDEAS AND TACTICS WERE IMPORTED FROM ABROAD; 
THE OPPOSITION SEEMED TO BE A CREATURE FROM THE OUTSIDE. 
THE GOZ WAS AWARE THAT FOREIGNERS FROM SOUTH AFRICA 
STAFFED OPPOSITION OFFICES.  IT APPEARED THAT OUTSIDERS 
WERE SEEKING TO INFLUENCE ZIMBABWE'S INTERNAL POLITICAL 
PROCESS.  IN THE U.S., HE OBSERVED, IT IS A CRIME FOR 
OUTSIDERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS.  HOW CAN 
THE GOZ HAVE TRUST/CONFIDENCE WITH UNDER SUCH 
CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH ARE GROUNDED IN VERIFIABLE FACT? 
HE DERIDED "YOUR EU FRIENDS" AND SAID THE OPPOSITION 
SHOULD GARNER VOTES IN AN HONEST MANNER, NOT BECAUSE OF 
OUTSIDE WEALTH.  THE AMBASSADOR REPEATED OUR VIEW THAT 
ELECTIONS SHOULD BE FREE AND FAIR, SO THAT WE WILL BE 
ABLE TO RESPECT THE RESULTS.  THE GOZ HAS THE POWER TO 
TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO CREATE THESE CONDITIONS. 
 
----- 
ZDERA 
----- 
 
¶12.  (C) UTETE ASKED WHY ZDERA?  DID THE USG INTEND TO 
IMPOSE SUCH ACTS AROUND THE WORLD ON EVERY GOVERNMENT 
WITH WHICH IT DISAGREED?  UTETE SAID THAT HE UNDERSTOOD 
WHY WE MIGHT DISAGREE WITH HOW THE GOZ IS HANDLING 
THINGS.  HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY REGIMES AROUND THE 
WORLD THAT ARE DOING MUCH WORSE.  HOW HAS "LITTLE 
ZIMBABWE" SO PROVOKED CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  00096  03 OF 04  101220Z 
THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED THIS EXCEPTIONAL TREATMENT.  THE 
AMBASSADOR CITED SEVERAL SPECIFIC INCIDENTS, SUCH AS 
JAILING THE DAILY NEWS EDITOR ON FLIMSY CHARGES SHORTLY 
BEFORE HIS SCHEDULED VISIT TO THE U.S.  SUCH BEHAVIOR 
HAD PROVOKED STRONG FEELINGS.  THE AMBASSADOR ADDED THAT 
ZIMBABWE IS IMPORTANT.  IT HAS HAD STRONG INSTITUTIONS 
AND IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY.  MANY FRIENDS OF ZIMBABWE ARE 
DISAPPOINTED.  HE CONCLUDED THAT ZDERA IS TWO-EDGED -- 
INCENTIVES AND RESTRICTIONS -- AND THAT WE HOPE THAT 
EVENTS HERE EVOLVE IN SUCH A FASHION THAT INCENTIVES CAN 
BE INVOKED. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶13.  (C) NUMEROUS HALF-TRUTHS DO NOT NECESSARILY ADD UP 
TO THE WHOLE TRUTH.  UTETE HEWED FAITHFULLY TO THE PARTY 
LINE BUT SELDOM ADMITTED THE UNDERLYING MOTIVE BEHIND 
GOZ ACTIONS.  FOR INSTANCE, THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION DID 
NOT FAIL POPULAR MUSTER IN 2000 BECAUSE OF PROVISIONS 
FOR AN INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION, BUT RATHER 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ1300 
 
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INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    EVG-00   ACQ-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DODE-00 
      DS-00    VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   LAB-01   VCE-00   DCP-01 
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      SAS-00     /004W 
                  ------------------55CBF4  101220Z /38 
O 101113Z JAN 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0696 
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY 
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 000096 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF; ALSO AF/S 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER 
 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY 
 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/12 
TAGS: PREL ZI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENTIAL 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  00096  04 OF 04  101220Z 
COUNSELOR UTETE 
 
BECAUSE IT CONTAINED ILL-ADVISED LAND REFORM LANGUAGE 
AND BEEFED UP THE ALREADY SWEEPING POWERS OF THE 
EXECUTIVE.  WHATEVER THE POLICE COMMISSIONER'S RHETORIC, 
THERE IS AMPLE EVIDENCE OF POLICEMEN STANDING ASIDE TO 
PERMIT WAR VETS AND ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS TO WREAK HAVOC, 
AND THE SAME POLICEMEN REACTING RAPIDLY OVER REPORTED 
MDC VIOLENCE.  UTETE WAS CLEARLY LISTENING TO WHAT WE 
SAID, AND HEARD THE MESSAGE, BUT THERE WAS LITTLE 
INDICATION THAT HE IS WILLING TO OPT FOR A CHANGE OF 
POLICY.  WE NOTE THAT UTETE, LIKE MANY PROMINENT ZANU-PF 
INSIDERS, HAS BEEN STUNG BY THE IMPLICIT THREAT OF ZDERA 
TARGETED SANCTIONS AND WHAT THIS MIGHT MEAN FOR 
HIM/THEM. 
 
SULLIVAN 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
>