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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 005058 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
AMEMBASSY HARARE FOR AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN AND USAID DIRECTOR 
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05058  01 OF 04  180028Z 
DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH 
STATE FOR P U/S GROSSMAN, E U/S LARSON, IO ACTING A/S WOOD, 
A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/SA 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND RTILSWORTH 
USDA/FAS PRETORIA FOR RHELM 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ZIMBABWE - "NO FAMINE - 
YET. A MAJOR HUMANITARIAN DISASTER ON THE HORIZON." 
REF: (A) HARARE 2211, (B) HARARE 2214 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. A TEAM LED BY AMBASSADOR TONY HALL VISITED ZIMBABWE 
OCTOBER 08-11 AND FOUND ZIMBABWE SLOUCHING TOWARD A MAJOR 
HUMANITARIAN DISASTER. NEARLY HALF THE COUNTRY'S POPULATION 
IS NOW CLASSIFIED BY THE UN AS SERIOUSLY FOOD INSECURE (6.7 
MILLION). WHILE EXACERBATED BY SUB-NORMAL RAINFALL THIS 
YEAR, THE ALARMING FOOD SHORTFALL IS MAN-MADE - EMANATING 
FROM THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL POLICIES OF THE GOVERNMENT 
OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ). BIOTECH MAIZE, GOZ "IMPEDIMENTS" IMPOSED 
ON FOOD IMPORTS AND NGO REGISTRATION  - WERE HIGHLIGHTED. 
AMBASSADOR HALL HIGHLIGHTED THE FACT THAT AMERICA IS A 
GENEROUS AND COMPASSIONATE NATION THAT PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT 
ASSISTANCE TO ZIMBABWE DURING THE 1991/1992 "WORST DROUGHT 
OF THE CENTURY" - AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE LEAD DONOR TO 
THE PRESENT CRISIS. "WHILE WE DISAGREE WITH THE POLICIES OF 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05058  01 OF 04  180028Z 
THIS GOVERNMENT, WE CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY 
AND ARE GUIDED BY FORMER PRESIDENT REAGAN'S PHILOSOPHY THAT 
`A HUNGRY CHILD KNOWS NO POLITICS.'" END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
BACKGROUND - "IF YOU BURN A HOUSE, CAN YOU HIDE THE SMOKE?" 
- AFRICAN PROVERB 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶2. AMBASSADOR TONY HALL, US MISSION TO ROME; HUMANITARIAN 
ATTACHE TIM LAVELLE; SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE AMBASSADOR MAX 
FINBERG; AND USDA/FAS PRETORIA AGRICULTURAL COUNSELOR RICK 
HELM, VISITED ZIMBABWE OCTOBER 08-11. IN ADDITION TO 
MEETINGS IN HARARE WITH U.S. EMBASSY, UN AND GOZ 
FUNCTIONARIES, THE TEAM SPENT TWO DAYS IN RURAL AND PERI- 
URBAN AREAS REVIEWING UN AND NGO RELIEF OPERATIONS. 
 
¶3. SINCE 1997, ZIMBABWE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING AN ECONOMIC 
AND SOCIAL CRISIS INDUCED BY DECLINING PRICES FOR ITS KEY 
EXPORTS AND POOR ECONOMIC POLICIES, AND HEIGHTENED BY A 
DECREASE IN TOBACCO EXPORTS FOLLOWING FARM INVASIONS, 
INCREASED FISCAL DEFICIT, AND LOSS OF INVESTOR CONFIDENCE 
ARISING FROM UNCERTAINTY ABOUT DOMESTIC POLICIES. FOREIGN 
DIRECT INVESTMENT HAS DROPPED FROM USD $444 MILLION IN 1998 
TO $3 MILLION (EST.) IN 2002. OVER THIS PERIOD, REAL GDP HAS 
GONE DOWN BY 35 PERCENT. SOURCES ESTIMATE THE UNEMPLOYMENT 
RATE AS HIGH AS 70 PERCENT. IN SHORT, THE ECONOMY IS 
IMPLODING FROM SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS. 
 
¶4. THE FOOD SUPPLY SITUATION GIVES SERIOUS CAUSE FOR 
CONCERN. THE 2002 MAIZE CROP (THE BASIC STAPLE) HARVEST IS 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05058  01 OF 04  180028Z 
ESTIMATED AT ONLY ONE-FOURTH THE NORMAL LEVEL OF 2000. THE 
GOZ MAINTAINS A RIGID MONOPOLY ON GRAIN IMPORTS AND 
UNREALISTIC PRICE CONTROLS ON STAPLE FOODS (WHICH 
EFFECTIVELY MARGINALIZE THE PRIVATE SECTOR). ACCORDING TO 
THE UNDP, 8.6 MILLION HECTARES WERE USED IN AGRICULTURAL 
PRODUCTION IN 2000.  NOW IT IS LESS THAN 1 MILLION HECTARES. 
A RECENT VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT BY THE SOUTHERN AFRICA 
DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC), IN COLLABORATION WITH UN 
AGENCIES, HAS REVISED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN NEED OF FOOD 
ASSISTANCE FROM SIX MILLION ESTIMATED BY THE FAO/WFP IN MAY 
2002, TO 6.7 MILLION. THIS REPRESENTS ABOUT HALF THE 
POPULATION. 
 
------------------------------- 
SOBERING DATA RELATED TO HEALTH 
------------------------------- 
 
¶5. ZIMBABWE HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF HIV/AIDS 
INFECTION IN THE WORLD, WITH 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING WITH 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ8830 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05058  02 OF 04  171002Z 
ACTION SSO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AF-00    AID-00   ANHR-00  E-00     UTED-00  TEDE-00 
      IO-00    NSCE-00  OIC-02   P-00     SS-00    TEST-00  PRM-00 
      SAS-00     /002W 
                  ------------------F8FA09  171027Z /38 
P 170920Z OCT 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO AMEMBASSY HARARE PRIORITY 
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6365 
USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2331 
INFO AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE 
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA 
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
USEU BRUSSELS 2847 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 ROME 005058 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
AMEMBASSY HARARE FOR AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN AND USAID DIRECTOR 
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05058  02 OF 04  171002Z 
DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH 
STATE FOR P U/S GROSSMAN, E U/S LARSON, IO ACTING A/S WOOD, 
A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/SA 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND RTILSWORTH 
USDA/FAS PRETORIA FOR RHELM 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ZIMBABWE - "NO FAMINE - 
YET. A MAJOR HUMANITARIAN DISASTER ON THE HORIZON." 
AIDS AND AT LEAST ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR PEOPLE HAVING HIV. 
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE A WEEK ARE DYING 
FROM COMPLICATIONS DUE TO AIDS. TODAY THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 
900,000 ORPHANS - TRAGICALLY, THIS NUMBER WILL ONLY GROW. 
THE NUMBER OF ORPHANS ALONE WAS OVERWHELMING. ONE OF THE 
LINKS BETWEEN THE FOOD CRISIS AND THE AIDS EPIDEMIC IS THAT 
WOMEN ARE SELLING SEX FOR FOOD.  A LOCAL NGO INTRODUCED US 
TO ROSEMARY, A 12-YEAR OLD AIDS ORPHAN WHO HAD LOST BOTH 
PARENTS AND WAS HIV-POSITIVE HERSELF.  SHE APPEARED SIX 
BECAUSE OF STUNTING AND WAS LOSING BOTH HER SIGHT AND 
HEARING. 
 
¶6. MALARIA AFFECTS ABOUT ONE MILLION PEOPLE IN ZIMBABWE A 
YEAR, WITH AN ESTIMATED 116,000 DEATHS ANNUALLY ATTRIBUTABLE 
TO THE DISEASE. A RECENT CHOLERA OUTBREAK IS NOW REPORTED 
UNDER CONTROL, ALTHOUGH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) 
REPORTED THE CASE FATALITY RATE AS THE WORST EVER RECORDED 
IN THIS COUNTRY. ALSO ACCORDING TO WHO, ZIMBABWE IS AMONG 
THE TWO DOZEN NATIONS WORST HIT BY THE WORLDWIDE 
TUBERCULOSIS (TB) EPIDEMIC. WE SAW A TB WARD AT ST. ALBERT'S 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05058  02 OF 04  171002Z 
HOSPITAL AND ALMOST ALL OF THE MEN BEING TREATED FOR TB WERE 
HIV POSITIVE. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED FROM THE BESIEGED COMMERCIAL 
FARMING SECTOR 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶7. IN JANUARY 2000, THE COMMERCIAL FARMING SECTOR EMPLOYED 
MORE THAN 350,000 WORKERS, ROUGHLY ONE-THIRD OF ALL WAGE 
EMPLOYMENT. BY MID-2002, UP TO 1.5 MILLION EX-COMMERCIAL 
FARM WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE OR SOON WILL BE IN LIFE 
THREATENING CIRCUMSTANCES DUE TO FARM EXPROPRIATIONS AND 
ENSUING INTIMIDATION. MANY HAVE STARTED TO MOVE SOMEWHERE, 
ANYWHERE TO SURVIVE - LIVING ON LAND WITHOUT WATER OR 
SANITATION, ALONG ROADS AND ON THE MARGINS OF CITIES. THE 
FARM WORKERS ARE AT ODDS WITH THE GOVERNMENT FOR TWO 
PRINCIPAL REASONS: (A) MOST VOTED FOR THE OPPOSITION; AND 
(B) THEY WERE THE SKILLED WORK FORCE THAT KEPT THE WHITE 
FARMERS IN BUSINESS. ADDITIONALLY, MANY ARE FROM NEIGHBORING 
COUNTRIES.  WHILE MANY HAVE RECEIVED "FORCED RETRENCHMENT" 
SEVERANCE PACKAGES, THESE MONIES ARE NOT EXPECTED TO LAST 
LONG, PARTICULARLY WITH RAMPANT INFLATION (CURRENTLY AT 135 
PERCENT BY OFFICIAL ESTIMATES). AT PRESENT, VIRTUALLY NO 
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IS REACHING "EXPELLED" FARM WORKERS. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
GOZ VRS. NGOS - "A CLIMATE OF DISTRUST AND SUSPICION" 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶8. THE GOZ CONTINUES TO PURSUE A POLICY OF INHIBITING THE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05058  02 OF 04  171002Z 
EFFORTS OF A NUMBER OF NGOS (INTER ALIA SAVE/UK, CATHOLIC 
RELIEF SERVICES, CAFOD, OXFAM), TO PARTICIPATE IN RELIEF 
DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS, ON THE GROUNDS OF ALLEGED POLITICAL 
ACTIVITY. WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WITH A TARGET OF DELIVERING UP 
TO 55,000 MTS/MONTH TO OVER A MILLION BENEFICIARIES IN THE 
COUNTRY'S 28 DISTRICTS) HAS MANAGED TO DATE TO SIGN UP (WITH 
GOVERNMENT APPROVAL) ONLY NINE INTERNATIONAL NGOS - WHICH 
SERIOUSLY LIMITS ITS ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT AND MONITOR ITS 
PLANNED OPERATIONS. MANY LOCAL NGOS ALSO LABOR UNDER A CLOUD 
OF GOVERNMENTAL DISTRUST. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
PLAIN SPEAK - "IT IS FIVE MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT AND IT WILL BE 
A VERY LONG AND DARK NIGHT, UNLESS SOMETHING MORE IS DONE" 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶9. IN TWO MEETINGS WITH ZIMBABWE'S MINISTER OF LABOR AND 
SOCIAL WELFARE JULY MOYO AND IN AN OCTOBER 11 PRESS 
CONFERENCE, AMBASSADOR HALL UNDERLINED THAT ZIMBABWE WOULD 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ8831 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05058  03 OF 04  171003Z 
ACTION SSO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AF-00    AID-00   ANHR-00  E-00     UTED-00  TEDE-00 
      IO-00    NSCE-00  OIC-02   P-00     SS-00    TEST-00  PRM-00 
      SAS-00     /002W 
                  ------------------F8FA1E  171027Z /38 
P 170920Z OCT 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO AMEMBASSY HARARE PRIORITY 
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6366 
USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2332 
INFO AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE 
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA 
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
USEU BRUSSELS 2848 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 ROME 005058 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
AMEMBASSY HARARE FOR AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN AND USAID DIRECTOR 
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05058  03 OF 04  171003Z 
DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH 
STATE FOR P U/S GROSSMAN, E U/S LARSON, IO ACTING A/S WOOD, 
A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/SA 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND RTILSWORTH 
USDA/FAS PRETORIA FOR RHELM 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ZIMBABWE - "NO FAMINE - 
YET. A MAJOR HUMANITARIAN DISASTER ON THE HORIZON." 
FACE A MAJOR FAMINE "IF THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT CLEAR AWAY 
BUREAUCRATIC ROADBLOCKS AND ALLOW MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF FOOD 
(BOTH COMMERCIALLY PROCURED AND FOOD AID) TO BE IMPORTED BY 
THE END OF THE YEAR." "THE CRITICAL TIME IS THE NEXT TWO 
MONTHS...IF BY THE END OF DECEMBER ENOUGH FOOD HASN'T 
ARRIVED...THERE WILL BE STARVATION." HALL REITERATED THAT HE 
HAD HEARD SPECIFIC TESTIMONY WHERE THE GOVERNMENT REFUSED TO 
SELL GRAIN TO OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS AND AREAS CONSIDERED 
HOTBEDS OF OPPOSITION SUPPORT. MINISTER MOYO ACKNOWLEDGED 
THAT SOME PRIVATE GRAIN SHIPMENTS "HAD BEEN HELD UP FOR 
POLITICAL REASONS." 
 
OTHER KEY POINTS ENUNCIATED BY AMBASSADOR HALL: 
 
-    "THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE BEARS THE RESPONSIBILITY 
  FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS ONCE-PRODUCTIVE COUNTRY, WHICH 
  IS NOW MIRED IN CRISIS. THE DROUGHT HAS NOT CAUSED THIS; IT 
  HAS ONLY COMPOUNDED THE PROBLEM; 
-    THE GOZ NEEDS TO CREATE THE SPACE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL 
  ORGANIZATIONS, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE NGOS AND THE CHURCHES 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05058  03 OF 04  171003Z 
  TO OPERATE FREELY. THEY NEED TO BE GIVEN `ELBOW ROOM' 
  INSTEAD OF BEING BOUND BY RESTRICTIONS;" 
-    THE UNITED STATES IS A GENEROUS COUNTRY. WE WERE HERE 
  DURING THE DROUGHT OF 1992 AND WE ARE HERE 10 YEARS LATER. 
  WHILE WE DISAGREE WITH THE POLICIES OF THE GOVERNMENT, WE 
  CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY. WE DO NOT USE FOOD AS 
  A WEAPON. AS OUR FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN ONCE SAID: 
  `A HUNGRY CHILD KNOWS NO POLITICS;' 
-    GOZ HAS MADE THE RIGHT DECISION TO ALLOW THE 
  IMPORTATION OF U.S.-DONATED BIOTECH FOODS. THIS FOOD IS 
  DESPERATELY NEEDED." 
 
------------------------------- 
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
------------------------------- 
 
¶10. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST KEEP UP THE "DRUM BEAT" 
THAT ZIMBABWE'S GRAIN MARKETING SYSTEM NEEDS DRASTIC 
REVAMPING TO ALLOW MORE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN THE 
HANDLING AND DISTRIBUTION OF MAIZE AND OTHER STAPLE FOODS TO 
INCREASE SUPPLIES, LOWER PRICES, AND ENSURE GREATER 
AVAILABILITY TO THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TO PURCHASE. 
 
¶11. WFP NEEDS TO ACCELERATE ITS CEREALS FOOD AID IMPORTS TO 
THE PROMISED 55,000 MTS/MONTH LEVEL. MONITORING IS PRESENTLY 
INADEQUATE; WFP SHOULD LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF DIRECT 
IMPLEMENTATION OR SECONDING OF NGO STAFF TO WFP, IN ORDER TO 
OVERCOME PROBLEMS OF NGO REGISTRATION AND LIMITED 
IMPLEMENTING PARTNER CAPACITY. ALSO NEEDED IS A UN 
CONTINGENCY PLAN TO ENSURE THAT FUEL IS AVAILABLE TO MOVE 
HUMANITARIAN CARGOES (LACK OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE WILL RESULT 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05058  03 OF 04  171003Z 
IN A FUEL CRISIS IF LIBYA, KUWAIT AND SOUTH AFRICA REFUSE TO 
EXTEND MORE CREDIT TO GOZ). 
 
¶12. A NUTRITION SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PLACE 
TO TRACK TRENDS IN NUTRITIONAL STATUS, FOOD SECURITY AND 
RELATED ISSUES. SPECIFIC ATTENTION MAY BE PAID TO MONITORING 
THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN UNDER FIVE AND CRUDE 
MORTALITY RATE (CMR). IN GENERAL, THERE IS A NEED TO 
STRENGTHEN UN INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. UN IS 
STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO COMMENCE POST-DISTRIBUTION 
MONITORING, RAPIDLY MAKING USE OF DONOR SUPPORT. SUCH 
MONITORING SHOULD DRAW FROM ZIMBABWEAN AND OTHER SOURCES AND 
ITS RESULTS SHOULD BE DISSEMINATED TO DONORS AND OTHER 
STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL AS TO THE UN. 
 
¶13. WFP AND ITS NGO PARTNERS ARE ADVISED TO USE GENERAL 
RELIEF FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS TO IMPART KEY MESSAGES IN HIV/AIDS 
AWARENESS, HEALTH AND NUTRITION.  THE CAPTIVE AUDIENCES 
PRESENT AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY TO REITERATE IMPORTANT LESSONS. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ8852 
 
PAGE 01        ROME  05058  04 OF 04  171003Z 
ACTION SSO-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AF-00    AID-00   ANHR-00  E-00     UTED-00  TEDE-00 
      IO-00    NSCE-00  OIC-02   P-00     SS-00    TEST-00  PRM-00 
      SAS-00     /002W 
                  ------------------F8FB7C  171035Z /38 
P 170920Z OCT 02 
FM AMEMBASSY ROME 
TO AMEMBASSY HARARE PRIORITY 
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6367 
USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2333 
INFO AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 
AMEMBASSY LILONGWE 
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA 
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
USEU BRUSSELS 2849 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 ROME 005058 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
AMEMBASSY HARARE FOR AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN AND USAID DIRECTOR 
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        ROME  05058  04 OF 04  171003Z 
DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH 
STATE FOR P U/S GROSSMAN, E U/S LARSON, IO ACTING A/S WOOD, 
A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/SA 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN AND RTILSWORTH 
USDA/FAS PRETORIA FOR RHELM 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL IN ZIMBABWE - "NO FAMINE - 
YET. A MAJOR HUMANITARIAN DISASTER ON THE HORIZON." 
 
¶14. USAID SHOULD CONSIDER SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR THE 
ZIMBABWE ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH-RELATED HOSPITALS (WHICH WORK 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY). THESE HOSPITALS, WITH TIMELY 
SUPPORT, COULD RAPIDLY EXPAND THEIR OUTREACH. NOTE: THE TEAM 
VISITED ST. ALBERT'S HOSPITAL IN MASHONALAND CENTRAL 
PROVINCE AND WAS IMPRESSED BY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR 
DEDICATED STAFF WORKING UNDER LESS THAN OPTIMUM CONDITIONS. 
END NOTE. 
 
¶15. THE UNITED STATES SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE INTERNATIONAL 
COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) TO ASSUME IMPLIMENTATIONAL 
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COUNTY'S INTERNALLY DISPLACED 
POPULATIONS. 
 
¶16. WITH DOMESTIC WHEAT PRODUCTION ESTIMATED TO BE FALLING 
FROM 240,000 MTS TO AN EXPECTED 100,000 MTS OR LESS THIS 
YEAR, WFP MIGHT DIALOGUE WITH GOVERNMENT ON THE FEASIBILITY 
OF WHEAT IMPORTS FOR SELECTED TARGETED GROUPS OR "SWAPPING" 
ARRANGEMENTS. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        ROME  05058  04 OF 04  171003Z 
 
¶17. WITH A GOVERNMENT AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SYSTEM IN TOTAL 
DISARRAY, FAO IS ADVISED TO ACCELERATE ITS LINKAGES WITH 
NGOS THROUGH SPECIFIC MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING. PLANS FOR 
THE SOURCING AND MOVEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL INPUTS TO LOCAL 
DISTRIBUTION POINTS ARE IMMEDIATELY NEEDED.  WITHOUT SEEDS 
AND INPUTS IN THE NEXT MONTH, THE 2003 HARVEST WILL BE 
ABYSMAL. 
 
¶18. SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING IS NEEDED FOR ALL UNDER-FIVES AND 
PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. NOTE: THE SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE IS ON 
A PRECIPITOUS INCREASE. AT ONE SCHOOL THAT THE TEAM VISITED 
IN MUZARABANI DISTRICT (CHIWESHE), WE WERE INFORMED THAT 
ABSENTEEISM HAD INCREASED TO FIFTY PERCENT OF ENROLLMENT. 
"SOME KIDS HAD NOT EATEN AT ALL THAT DAY.  OTHERS HAD A CUP 
OF TEA FOR BREAKFAST AND NOTHING FOR LUNCH.  SOME WERE 
SHOWING CLEAR SIGNS OF MALNUTRITION - WITH THEIR HAIR 
TURNING ORANGE AND THEIR LIMBS LIKE TWIGS." END NOTE. 
 
¶19. WHEREVER FEASIBLE, FORTIFICATION OF STAPLE FOOD PROVIDED 
IS RECOMMENDED.  PROPER NUTRITION (PROTEIN AND 
MICRONUTRIENTS) IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR HIV-POSITIVE 
PERSONS IN ORDER TO SLOW THE ONSET OF AIDS. 
 
¶20. FURTHER TRAINING EFFORTS BY THE UN AGENCIES AND NGOS ARE 
NEEDED ON THE PREVENTION OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN 
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS SITUATIONS. 
 
¶21. THE UN IS USING A GENERAL POPULATION FIGURE OF 13 
MILLION PLUS FOR THIS PRESENT CRISIS IN ZIMBABWE. WHILE 
ESTIMATES VARY AS TO HOW MANY ZIMBABWEANS ARE OUTSIDE THE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        ROME  05058  04 OF 04  171003Z 
COUNTRY (IN ZAMBIA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, 
MOZAMBIQUE, BOTSWANA, UK AND NORTH AMERICA), THESE NUMBERS 
SHOULD BE FACTORED INTO OVERALL ASSESSMENT CALCULATIONS. 
HALL 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 
 2002ROME05058 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED