A member of the pro-senate faction of the Movement for Democratic Change Trudy Stevenson was attacked by some youths who she claimed where from the Morgan Tsvangirai faction of the MDC.
Tsvangirai’s party denied the allegations but pro-senate spokesman Gabriel Chaibva said one of the cars used was owned by Tsvangirai faction spokesman Nelson Chamisa.
He said Stevenson knew several of the attackers and identified them as belonging to the Tsvangirai faction.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 06HARARE791, PRO-SENATE MDC MP LLEGEDLY ATTACKED BY
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO9443
RR RUEHMR
DE RUEHSB #0791/01 1861619
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 051619Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0285
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1265
RUHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1110
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS BABA 1269
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0043
RUEHBY/MEMBASSY CANBERRA 0530
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0895
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1323
RUEHNR/AMEMBASS NAIROBI 3694
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1092
RUEHO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1731
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUFGNOA/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCNDT/USISSION USUN NEW YORK 1480
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000791
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
F/S FOR B. NEULING
SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COUVILLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2015
SUBJECT: PRO-SENATE MDC MP LLEGEDLY ATTACKED BY
ANTI-SENATE FACTION
Clasified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell for reasons .5 b/d
——-
Summary
——-
¶1. (SBU)MDC pro-Senate faction MP Trudy Stevenson was
severely assaulted on July 2 along with four other pro-Senate
faction officials. Stevenson, who was reportedly attacked
with a machete and rocks, has alleged that youths aligned to
the anti-Senate MDC faction of Morgan Tsvangirai carried out
the assault. In response, the anti-Senate leadership has
denied involvement and established a commission of three
lawyers to investigate Stevenson,s claims. For its part,
the state-controlled media has given the incident front-page
coverage and is exploiting the situation to reinforce its
portrayal of the opposition as violent. See action request
in paragraph 6. End Summary.
———-
The Attack
———-
¶2. (SBU) Upon leaving a meeting in one of Harare’s
historically volatile high-density suburbs on Sunday,
Stevenson and four provincial faction officials were
assaulted by about 10 youths. Recounting the attack to
reporters and diplomats on July 5, a visibly weakened
Stevenson said the youths attacked her using large stones and
a machete. Stevenson suffered a deep gash on the back of her
head, a fractured cheekbone, and injuries to her arm. The
faction’s acting organizing secretary for Harare, Linos
Mushonga, suffered injuries to his hand and arm, while the
others sustained only minor injuries. The attackers also
stole a number of items from the victims, including cell
phones and wedding rings. (N.B. Accompanying Stevenson to
the briefing was her son, who had met with Tsvangirai on July
¶3. The son made no comment regarding the meeting, but we
will attempt to get a read out of what transpired.)
———————————————
Allegations of Anti-Senate Faction Complicity
———————————————
¶3. (SBU) Stevenson and pro-Senate spokesman Gabriel Chaibva
asserted that the attackers were aligned with the anti-Senate
MDC faction. Stevenson said that attackers chanted, “Trudy,
you are rebelling against Tsvangirai.” Before the press
conference, Chaibva told poloff that Stevenson knew several
of the attackers and had identified them as loyal to Morgan
Tsvangirai. Indeed, he claimed that the attack was
SIPDIS
controlled and directed from Tsvangirai’s headquarters at
Harvest House. Supporting this claim, Chaibva noted that
Nelson Chamisa, the anti-Senate spokesperson, owned one of
the vehicles used in the attack. The other vehicle,
according to Chaibva, had been seized by Tsvangirai’s faction
earlier this year as the two camps fought over party
resources. At the press conference, Chaibva criticized both
civil society and the diplomatic community for not
immediately condemning the violence.
—————————-
Anti-Senate Faction Response
—————————-
¶4. (SBU) The anti-Senate faction of the MDC has publicly
condemned the attack and denied its leadership was involved.
Anti-Senate faction Deputy Treasurer Elton Mangoma told
poloff on July 4 that Secretary General Tendai Biti and
others earlier that day had attempted to visit Stevenson in
HARARE 00000791 002 OF 002
the hospital to express their sympathies, but were turned
away by hospital staff. Mangoma conceded that youths
affiliated with the party could have carried out the
unsanctioned attacks. To this end, Biti on July 4 publicly
announced the formation of an independent group of three
lawyers to investigate the pro-Senate claims on behalf of the
anti-Senate faction. One of the lawyers, Irene Petras of
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, told poloff that the
commission had been established but had yet to set a time for
its first meeting.
—————-
State Media Spin
—————-
¶5. (SBU) The state-controlled daily media has seized on the
attack, granting it front-page coverage in the Herald, which
on July 4 also carried a large picture of a visibly battered
Stevenson. The government press has highlighted the
allegations that Tsvangirai’s camp orchestrated the assault.
ZANU-PF secretary for information Nathan Shamuyarira has also
used the attack to deflect criticism of the ruling party’s
track record of violence, noting that “the incident confirms
the violent nature” of the MDC. The Herald also reported
that the assault contradicted the State Department’s Human
Rights Report, which noted that the GOZ was perpetrating
violence but purportedly absolved the opposition. (N.B. the
Human Rights Report in fact notes the reported implication of
MDC elements in political violence.)
———————————
Comment and Action Recommendation
———————————
¶6. (C) It is too soon to tell who ultimately bears
responsibility for the attack on Stevenson and the other
pro-Senate officials. Although it seems unlikely that the
anti-Senate leadership would have ordered the attack, we
cannot rule out the possibility that youths associated with
the faction carried out the attack on one of the pro-Senate’s
highest profile officials in Harare. That said, the
anti-Senate’s quick response and formation of an independent
inquiry are encouraging signs that the party is determined to
tackle potential violent elements within its ranks.
Chaibva’s criticism of the lack of condemnation of the attack
is not without merit, and Washington may wish to consider
issuing a statement condemning political violence from all
parties in Zimbabwe.
DELL
(20 VIEWS)
