Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai had to hold a low key funeral for the party treasurer for Mashonaland East Shepherd Jani after he was brutally murdered in the run-up to the presidential elections run-off of 2008.
Jani owned a general store at Murehwa Centre and was abducted from the sidewalk near his family’s store and pushed into a truck on 22 May.
He had called a United States embassy contact that morning to request assistance, as he had had an argument with a local military official the day before. Help did not arrive in time, however.
Jani’s body was found two days later.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08HARARE474, VIOLENCE BEATING DOWN VOTER OPTIMISM
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Reference ID |
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VZCZCXRO8783
OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0474/01 1541228
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 021228Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2962
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2010
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2131
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0673
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1408
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1766
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2187
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4618
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1271
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000474
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2018
SUBJECT: VIOLENCE BEATING DOWN VOTER OPTIMISM
Classified By: Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Glenn Warren for reasons 1.4 (b,
d)
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During a visit to Mashonaland East, scene
of post-election violence, Embassy officers interviewed
religious leaders, doctors, and one victim of the
post-election violence. While reluctant to speak freely,
these Zimbabweans expressed dismay and frustration at the
growing violence in the area, which they said was being
instigated by the ZANU-PF chairman who was voted out of
office on March 29. In this area, violence is largely being
carried out by youths who are known in the community. MDC
candidate Morgan Tsvangirai visited the area capital, Murewa,
on May 28 for the funeral of the murdered regional MDC
treasurer for Mashonaland East, Shepherd Jani. Nuns in
Murewa intimated that turnout at the funeral and Tsvangirai’s
rally was low, as people now fear open association with the
MDC. END SUMMARY.
——————————————–
Violence and ZANU-PF meetings in Murewa West
——————————————–
¶2. (SBU) On May 29, eight Embassy staff, one local NGO
worker, and a member of the Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) visited the city of Murewa and the rural village of
Musami in Mashonaland East, approximately 60 miles east of
Harare, to survey the recent violence in the area. While the
region was previously a ZANU-PF stronghold, the MDC won by a
wide margin in the March 29 presidential and parliamentary
elections.
¶3. (C) At St. Paul’s Mission, a Jesuit institution in the
village of Musami that includes schools and a hospital,
priest Felix Majichi expressed concern with the escalating
violence since the announcement of the election results on
May 2. Father Majichi related stories of several incidents
of violence, all involving attacks against people at their
homes during the night. In one incident, a village chief’s
home was attacked by brick-throwing youths. One of the
bricks injured his 13-year-old son. The chief fought back;
he met his attackers with a spear, injuring one in the leg.
The attackers left his home and did not return.
¶4. (C) In addition to known incidents of violence, residents
have been forced or coerced to attend pro-ZANU-PF rallies.
On approximately May 15, the local ZANU-PF chairman held a
meeting, against the objections of the local and national
church structures and the governor, on St. Paul’s grounds.
At the meeting, the chairman, who had lost the March 29
election for Counselor to his ex-wife, threatened that if “it
happened again” they would be beaten up. Hospital staff at
St. Paul’s and clergy in Murewa concurred that those who had
not attended such meetings had been threatened that if they
did not come, they “will be dealt with later.”
¶5. (C) Father Majichi also reported that nearby residents
had approached St. Paul’s Mission seeking food. Harvest has
just ended, and there is still not enough food. Driving
through the region, we noted many fields that were not
planted to their full capacity and observed few livestock.
——————————————-
Hospital ill-equipped if violence escalates
——————————————-
¶6. (C) Doctors at the Mission hospital at St. Paul’s
reported seeing 10 victims of political violence, all since
the May 2 announcement of election results. They opined that
most wounds they have seen were ‘not serious’ and mostly
intended to intimidate and frighten. The doctors believed
those with the more serious injuries travel to Harare
HARARE 00000474 002 OF 003
directly for care. The worst case at St. Paul’s involved a
man who was beaten with a hot iron rod on his back. The
doctors concurred with Father Majichi and estimated that
about 30 local youths, who are known in the community – and
who can usually be found near Murewa Town Hall – were
primarily responsible for the attacks. They told us that the
hospital, serving a population of about 30,000 residents in
the surrounding area, was struggling to maintain medical
supplies and equipment.
¶7. (C) At the hospital, we met with 37-year-old Sarah who
was beaten, along with her husband, by a group of about 20
people who came to their home late at night on May 23. Both
are known MDC supporters. She was visibly in pain as she
tried to walk, and she had not received pain medication due
to a shortage at the hospital. Her husband, whose leg may be
broken, could not be properly diagnosed because the
hospital’s x-ray machine is broken and needs imported parts
to function. She and her neighbors knew about half of her
attackers. MDC and local NGOs plan to bring the couple to
Harare for additional treatment.
———————————–
Murewa mourns MDC leader in silence
———————————–
¶8. (U) The day before our arrival, MDC Presidential
candidate Morgan Tsvangirai visited the town of Murewa and
presided over the funeral of Shepherd Jani. Jani was
well-known in the community. His family owns a general store
in the heart of town, and he was Treasurer for the MDC in
Mashonaland East. According to press reports and Embassy
contacts, at about noon on Thursday May 22, Jani was abducted
from the sidewalk near his family’s store and pushed into a
truck. He had called an Embassy contact that morning to
request assistance, as he had had an argument with a local
military official the day before. Help did not arrive in
time, however. Jani’s body was found two days later,
brutally murdered. The Jani funeral was the second
Tsvangirai has attended since his return to Zimbabwe on May
¶18.
—————————-
Nuns and Priests Intimidated
—————————-
¶9. (C) In Murewa, Embassy staff visited the Murewa Catholic
Mission and met briefly with the Assistant Priest and four
nuns. They appeared anxious throughout the brief visit,
glancing across the street to the adjacent field where
ZANU-PF holds meetings. They described the atmosphere in
town as “unhealthy” and said they had been asked why they
weren’t attending ZANU-PF meetings. The nuns also reported
that turnout at Morgan Tsvangirai’s rally and at Shepherd
Jani’s funeral the day before had been very poor, in contrast
with Tsvangirai’s well-attended rally before the March 29
election.
——-
COMMENT
——-
¶10. (C) Mashonaland East, and Murewa in particular, is one of
many traditional ZANU-PF areas that dramatically voted out
ZANU-PF in the March 29 elections in favor of the MDC. While
the voters have spoken, ZANU-PF leadership remains unwilling
to graciously – or ungraciously – accept defeat. ZANU-PF
leaders in Murewa retain significant control and ability to
instill fear in local residents. The tense atmosphere on the
streets and the nuns’ hesitance to meet with American
officials demonstrate the degree to which this fear has
permeated local society. As MDC leaders themselves are
HARARE 00000474 003 OF 003
targeted by the violence, it is unclear how the MDC
leadership will protect themselves and their voters from
these attacks. The larger question is whether the people of
Murewa and towns like it will come out and vote again for
Morgan Tsvangirai on June 27, or if the campaign of
intimidation will work at the ballot box. Regardless of the
election outcome, these instances of community-based violence
will have chilling effects for years to come and may spark
additional violence as victims seek retribution. END COMMENT.
Warren
(121 VIEWS)
