Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 64621 / 251,287

Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen Thailand

Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05 2011/06 2011/07 2011/08

Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 03HARARE2421, GOZ to seize equipment on resettled farms

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #03HARARE2421.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
03HARARE2421 2003-12-17 04:53 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Harare 
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
 
UNCLAS HARARE 002421 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR AF/S 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER 
USDOC FOR 2037 DIEMOND 
TREASURY FOR OREN WYCHE-SHAW 
PASS USTR FLORIZELLE LISER 
STATE PASS USAID FOR MARJORIE COPSON 
 
E. O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ECON EINV ETRD PGOV ZI
SUBJECT: GOZ to seize equipment on resettled farms 
 
 
1. (U) Summary:  The GOZ has taken fast track land reform 
to the next level, authorizing its agents to seize 
equipment such as tractors, sprinklers and ploughs from 
former commercial farmers.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) Statutory Instrument 273A of 2003 allows the 
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement to 
assign to any agent the responsibility to "enter any land 
or premises at any reasonable time" and "acquire any farm 
equipment or material not currently being used for 
agricultural purposes."  Since it has the effect of a 
Presidential decree, the GOZ may act upon it immediately, 
in advance of Parliamentary deliberation.  It calls for 
former commercial farmers who sell or damage their farm 
equipment to be fined or imprisoned.  While the 
instrument lays out a compensation timetable, it will be 
the responsibility of the Ministry to determine fair 
valuation. 
 
3. (SBU) Comment:  Efforts by former, mostly white 
farmers to stash farm equipment around the country have 
irritated the GOZ and some land reform beneficiaries. 
However, movable farm equipment and supplies (such as 
fertilizer) have remained the property of the ex-farmer, 
who retained the right to sell but not export these 
implements.  Some held on to equipment because they hoped 
to return to their land - others because they could not 
get what they considered a fair price due to the glut of 
equipment on the market.  This legislation will permit 
many beneficiaries to seize equipment, perhaps through 
force.  The GOZ has increasingly moved beyond the idea 
that land reform should be limited to redistribution of 
arable white farms.  Conservancies and certain businesses 
are also now included.  We expect the GOZ will establish 
very low values for seized equipment, applying the 
official exchange rate or an amount that does not reflect 
Zimbabwe's high inflation. 
 
Sullivan