VZCZCXRO0514
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0095/01 0411301
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 101301Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0039
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0020
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0020
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0020

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000095 
 
SIPDIS 
AF/S FOR BRIAN WALCH 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/10 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KTIP ASEC PINR ZI
SUBJECT: Ambassador Meets with Zim Home Affairs Co-Ministers 
 
REF: 2009 HARARE 340 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Charles A. Ray, Ambassador, STATE, EXEC; REASON: 
1.4(B), (D) 
 
¶1.  (SBU The Ambassador met February 8 with Khembo Mohadi (ZANU-PF) 
and Giles Mutsekwa (MDC-T), the co-ministers of Home Affairs, at 
their office.  The meeting was friendly, especially when contrasted 
with Ambassador McGee's meeting with the two ministers in April 
2009 (Ref). 
 
 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Mohadi expressed interest in police assistance, including 
exchange programs and training. 
 
 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The Ambassador asked about continuing reports of violence 
and intimidation in rural areas.  Mohadi replied that there were 
isolated incidents.  He said that the Joint Monitoring and 
Implementation Committee (of which he is a member), established 
under the Global Political Agreement (GPA) to monitor the GPA, was 
working at the provincial level to preach tolerance.  It would 
continue doing so at the district level.  Mutsekwa added that the 
three main political parties were holding meetings in anticipation 
of the constitutional outreach process throughout the country. 
Frequently, they had not notified the police of their meetings, as 
required by law, and police were therefore not present to exercise 
control. 
 
 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The Ambassador raised the issue of trafficking, 
explaining that it is a scourge the U.S. takes seriously throughout 
the world.  We should not let our differences get in the way of 
fighting transnational crime.  He stated that Zimbabwe's Tier 3 
status could potentially complicate U.S. assistance efforts in 
Zimbabwe, and that the Embassy would support Zimbabwe's efforts to 
fight trafficking and move from Tier 3 status.  Mutsekwa replied 
that trafficking was a regional problem and was topical in regional 
meetings.  Zimbabwe, according to Mutsekwa, was primarily a country 
of transit between the Great Lakes and the Horn, and South Africa. 
Police had difficulty investigating traffickers because many posed 
as refugees.  Mohadi added that the government wanted to do more in 
education and advocacy, but was constrained by resources. 
Mutsekwa noted  there is a draft anti-trafficking law currently 
being vetted within the Ministry of Home Affairs. (NOTE: An 
official from the Prime Minister's office told us last week that 
they hope to introduce the bill in Cabinet this year. END NOTE.) 
The Ambassador left with the ministers the 2009 worldwide 
Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, the TIP report specific to 
Zimbabwe, and the action plan for Zimbabwe.  We agreed that the 
Embassy would follow up with the Ministry on Zimbabwe's efforts to 
comply with the action plan. 
 
 
 
¶5.  (SBU) We asked the ministers about police involvement in the 
Marange diamond fields.  Mutsekwa, who is from Mutare (not far from 
the area), said police had nothing to do with mining.  At one 
point, they had removed illegal panners to maintain law and order, 
but it was up to the companies to provide security. 
 
 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Mohadi and Mutsekwa said they worked well together, 
perhaps because they were both ex-military.  As a  result, the 
ministry was functioning smoothly. 
 
 
 
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COMMENT 
 
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HARARE 00000095  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶7.  (C) Mutsekwa has been under fire from MDC-T for being too 
conciliatory with Mohadi.  We continue to receive reports of 
intimidation of MDC-T members in rural areas and there is a sense 
that police have been passive observers and that Mutsekwa has not 
taken action.  Part of the problem may be systemic.  The 
Commissioner of Police, Augustine Chihuri, who has direct control 
of the police, is supposed to report to Home Affairs.  He does not 
do so.  He sits on the Joint Operations Command (JOC) where many 
police actions are coordinated.  Also, the permanent secretary in 
the Ministry is a ZANU-PF apparatchik who has no interest in 
supporting any MDC-T minister. END COMMENT. 
 
 
 
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Bio Notes 
 
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¶8.  (SBU) Mohadi fought with ZAPU in the independence struggle.  He 
was arrested in 1975 and sentenced to 15 years in custody.  After 
his release at independence in 1980, he became an education officer 
in Beitbridge and became active politically with  PF-ZAPU.  He 
became a member of the party's Central Committee and was elected to 
Parliament in 1985.  After the Unity Accord in 1987, he continued 
his political activity with ZANU-PF as a parliamentarian and 
Central Committee member.  In 1999, he was investigated for the 
murder of his wife's lover.  In 2000, President Mugabe appointed 
him Minister of Home Affairs and the investigation was dropped. 
Because he is from Matabeleland, one of the few ZANU-PF 
parliamentarians from that region, Mugabe considers him an 
important ally. 
 
 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Mutsekwa fought with the Rhodesian army and, after 
independence, served with the Zimbabwean army.  He retired in the 
late 1980s with the rank of Major.  Before MDC-T entered into 
government, he served as the party's shadow minister of defense. 
He continues to run an insurance business in Mutare.  Mutsekwa was 
arrested in 2006 in the treason case on which Roy Bennett is now 
standing trial.  He was released on bail and charges were 
ultimately dropped.  END BIO NOTES. 
RAY