When President Robert Mugabe heard that British Minister Clare Short had said that the labour government was not interested in colonial matters and would not honour obligations undertaken by the previous government, including land reform, he said: “If they won’t honour their obligations, we won’t either”.
This was stated by Minister of State Security Nicholas Goche to United States acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Mark Bellamy who had expressed Washington’s concern about the breakdown in the rule of law in Zimbabwe and American unwillingness to look the other way when democratic principles and human rights were at stake.
Goche, Home Affairs Minister John Nkomo, and Secretary for Foreign Affairs Willard Chiwewe, in separate meetings told Bellamy that Britain was to blame for Zimbabwe’s problems because it was trying to thwart the country’s land reform.
Nkomo said the government felt betrayed by the British and was prepared to fight them because they were essentially making a racial issue out of their condemnation of Zimbabwe, and simply wanted to protect their “kith and kin”.
Chiwewe said that the land issue was the “unfinished business” of the liberation struggle. He said if donors were not going to help with land, then “let us be the poorest country in the world if it means Zimbabweans have their own land. If we fail (to give them land), then let the people turn us out”.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 01HARARE1023, AF A/PDAS BELLAMY HEARS DEFIANCE, VILIFICATION
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
150815Z Mar 01
CONFIDENTIAL PTO5984
PAGE 01 HARARE 01023 01 OF 03 150818Z
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FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8429
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 001023
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/11
SUBJECT: AF A/PDAS BELLAMY HEARS DEFIANCE, VILIFICATION
OF THE BRITISH AND LITTLE GIVE-AND-TAKE IN MEETINGS WITH
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE OFFICIALS
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D’AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: ON MARCH 8 AND 9, ACTING PRINCIPAL
DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY MARK BELLAMY MET WITH
MINISTER OF STATE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY NICHOLAS GOCHE,
THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS’ PERMANENT SECRETARY
WILLARD CHIWEWE, AND HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER JOHN NKOMO.
BELLAMY REITERATED U.S. CONCERN FOR THE BREAKDOWN IN THE
RULE OF LAW AND AMERICAN UNWILLINGNESS TO LOOK THE OTHER
WAY WHEN DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND HUMAN RIGHTS ARE AT
STAKE. ALL THREE SEEMED TO RESPOND FROM THE SAME
SCRIPT. THE MEETINGS WERE CHARACTERIZED BY A GOVERNMENT
VILIFICATION OF THE UK FOR ZIMBABWE’S PROBLEMS, A
LABELING OF THE MDC AS AN ILLEGITIMATE PARTY BANKROLLED
BY FOREIGN INTERESTS, AN EXPLANATION OF THE “FAST-TRACK”
LAND PROGRAM AS THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF THE
LIBERATION STRUGGLE, AND AN UNAPOLOGETIC ATTITUDE ABOUT
THE VIOLENCE PERPETRATED BY WAR VETERANS. END SUMMARY.
U.S. CONCERN GROWING
——————–
¶2. (C) IN ALL THREE OF HIS MEETINGS WITH GOZ OFFICIALS,
ACTING PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY BELLAMY
STATED THAT THE NEW U.S. ADMINISTRATION WILL BE LOOKING
MORE CLOSELY AT ZIMBABWE. THERE IS GROWING CONCERN IN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 01023 01 OF 03 150818Z
WASHINGTON OVER THE WORSENING POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC
CRISES IN ZIMBABWE, BELLAMY POINTED OUT, AND THAT THE
USG IS CONSIDERING WHAT SHOULD BE ITS ROLE IN OVERCOMING
THESE CRISES. THE EROSION OF THE RULE OF LAW IN
ZIMBABWE IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE ENTIRE REGION, AS
FOREIGN INVESTORS STEER CLEAR OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. THE
HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION, WITH ATTACKS ON THE JUDICIARY,
MEDIA, AND OPPOSITION, ARE OF PARTICULAR CONCERN, THE
ACTING PDAS SAID. HE FURTHER STRESSED THAT THE U.S.
DOES NOT SEEK AN ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ZIMBABWE,
BUT IT CANNOT LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHEN BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS
ARE ABUSED AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH IMPUNITY.
THE UK IS TO BLAME FOR OUR PROBLEMS
———————————–
¶3. (C) EVERY MINISTER WITH WHOM BELLAMY MET RESPONDED
BY VILIFYING THE UK IN THE MOST STRIDENT LANGUAGE AND
PLACED THE BLAME FOR ZIMBABWE’S TROUBLES AT THEIR FEET.
IN A LONG, RAMBLING DISCOURSE, GOCHE BLAMED THE BRITISH
FOR THWARTING ZIMBABWE’S ATTEMPTS AT LAND REFORM SINCE
DAY ONE. HE CITED THE 1997 LETTER BY MINISTER CLARE
SHORT TO THE ZIMBABWEAN MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE THAT
STATED THE LABOR GOVERNMENT WAS NOT INTERESTED IN
COLONIAL MATTERS AND WOULD NOT HONOR OBLIGATIONS
UNDERTAKEN BY THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT. GOCHE REPORTED
THAT MUGABE, UPON HEARING THE LETTER READ ALOUD, SAID,
“IF THEY WON’T HONOR THEIR OBLIGATIONS, WE WON’T
EITHER.” THE SECURITY MINISTER PROFESSED THE BELIEF
THAT THE BRITISH DID NOT WANT ZANU-PF TO DELIVER LAND TO
ITS SUPPORTERS IN THE RURAL AREAS, AND THAT IT WANTED TO
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 01023 01 OF 03 150818Z
CAPITALIZE ON DISAFFECTION IN THE URBAN AREAS IN ORDER
TO OUST MUGABE.
¶4. (C) MINISTER NKOMO SAID THE GOZ FELT “BETRAYED” BY
THE UK, AND THAT IT IS “PREPARED TO FIGHT” THEM. THE
BRITISH ARE ESSENTIALLY MAKING A RACIAL ISSUE OUT OF
THEIR CONDEMNATION OF ZIMBABWE, AND SIMPLY WANT TO
PROTECT THEIR “KITH AND KIN,” I.E. WHITE ZIMBABWEANS, HE
ARGUED. NKOMO COMPLAINED THAT THE BRITISH WOULD NOT
ALLOW THE GOZ TO USE LAND ROVERS THEY HAD SOLD TO THEM
TO EXPEL WAR VETERANS FROM OCCUPIED FARMS. NKOMO AND
MFA PERMSEC CHIWEWE CASTIGATED THE UK (AND THE U.S. AS
WELL) FOR FAILING TO DELIVER ON PROMISES TO FUND LAND
REFORM IN ZIMBABWE. CHIWEWE ITERATED THE GOZ’S GREAT
CONCERN THAT THE U.S. IS FALLING UNDER THE SWAY OF THE
UK’S POLICY ON ZIMBABWE, AND URGED THE U.S. TO PROVIDE
LEADERSHIP IN HELPING ZIMBABWE. BELLAMY RESPONDED THAT
THE U.S. WILL MAKE ITS OWN DECISIONS ON ZIMBABWE AND
WILL NOT BE “SWAYED” BY OTHER NATIONS.
MDC A STOOGE OF FOREIGN INTERESTS
———————————
¶5. (C) ALL THREE INTERLOCUTORS CHARACTERIZED THE
OPPOSITION MDC AS A CREATION OF FOREIGN INTERESTS FUNDED
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTO5985
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——————D1F66F 150818Z /38
O 150815Z MAR 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8430
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 001023
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/11
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 01023 02 OF 03 150818Z
SUBJECT: AF A/PDAS BELLAMY HEARS DEFIANCE, VILIFICATION
OF THE BRITISH AND LITTLE GIVE-AND-TAKE IN MEETINGS WITH
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE OFFICIALS
ALMOST ENTIRELY WITH FOREIGN MONEY. CHIWEWE STATED THAT
ZIMBABWEANS HAVE STRUGGLED TO UPHOLD HUMAN RIGHTS WITH
THOSE THAT ONCE POINTED GUNS AT THEM, BUT WHEN THEY
START GETTING MONEY FROM OUTSIDE TO THREATEN ZIMBABWE’S
VALUES AND PRINCIPLES, IT BECOMES A DIFFERENT STORY. HE
FLATLY ACCUSED THE U.S. AND UK OF “FANNING” THE MDC SO
THAT IT COULD OUST PRESIDENT MUGABE. HE SAID THE U.S.
NOT ONLY WANTS TO SEE ZANU-PF OUT OF POWER, IT WANTS TO
SEE THE MDC IN STATE HOUSE. BELLAMY ASSURED THE PERMSEC
THAT THE U.S. HAS NO INTEREST IN WHICH PARTY GOVERNS
ZIMBABWE, ONLY IN HOW IT ATTAINS POWER. NKOMO STATED
THAT ZIMBABWE WAS “UNDER SIEGE” AND HAD TO PROTECT ITS
SOVEREIGNTY FROM THE FOREIGN-FUNDED LACKEYS OF THE MDC.
GOCHE CLAIMED THAT THE BRITISH HAD CHANNELED A LARGE
AMOUNT OF MONEY THROUGH THEIR HIGH COMMISSION IN MALAWI
TO FUND THE START-UP OF THE OPPOSITION PARTY.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE
——————————————— –
¶6. (C) CHIWEWE STATED THAT THE LAND ISSUE IS THE
“UNFINISHED BUSINESS” OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE, THAT
THE MASSES ARE STILL LIVING AS THEY WERE IN 1980, OR
EVEN IN 1890, WHEN THE BRITISH FIRST ARRIVED. IF THE
DONORS ARE NOT GOING TO HELP US WITH LAND, CHIWEWE
BLUSTERED, THEN “LET US BE THE POOREST COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD IF IT MEANS ZIMBABWEANS HAVE THEIR OWN LAND. IF
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 01023 02 OF 03 150818Z
WE FAIL (TO GIVE THEM LAND), THEN LET THE PEOPLE TURN US
OUT.” NKOMO BLAMED IMF AND WORLD BANK FOR CAUSING THE
FAILURE OF THE 1998 DONORS CONFERENCE AGREEMENT, AND THE
COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU) FOR STALLING PROGRESS
SINCE THEN. NKOMO SAID HE WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH HIS
FRIENDS IN THE CFU, THAT THEY HAD BETRAYED HIS TRUST.
MANY IN THE CFU ARE NOT “SERIOUS-MINDED” AND ONLY MAKE
OFFERS FOR A SETTLEMENT AS A DELAYING TACTIC, NKOMO
OPINED. GOCHE ADMITTED THAT THE GOZ HAD MADE MISTAKES
IN THE LAND RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE, BUT IF IT FINDS A
SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE, ITS PROBLEMS WILL BE SOLVED.
NO PROBLEM WITH THE WAR VETS
—————————-
¶7. (C) THE GOZ OFFICIALS GENERALLY TOOK AN UNAPOLOGETIC
ATTITUDE TOWARD THE WAR VETERANS’ RAMPAGE ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. CHIWEWE ARGUED THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S LAND
RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE AND THE FARM OCCUPATIONS BY WAR
VETERANS ARE SEPARATE ISSUES. THE POLICE AND ARMY
SHOULD NOT BE ASKED TO FIGHT THEIR FELLOW LIBERATION
FIGHTERS, THE PERMSEC CONTENDED. THE HOME AFFAIRS
MINISTER IMPLIED THAT THE WAR VETERANS ARE “WORKING TO
MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT SECURE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION.” IN THE PAST, AFTER THE POLICE REMOVED WAR
VETS FROM OCCUPIED FARMS, THEY WOULD SIMPLY RETURN A FEW
DAYS LATER, NKOMO REMARKED. “WE ARE NOW IN CONTROL OF
THE WAR VETS,” HE CLAIMED. A LOT OF CRIMINALS ARE
RUNNING AROUND CLAIMING TO BE WAR VETERANS, BUT THE GOZ
IS CRACKING DOWN ON THEM WITH A NEW CONSTABULARY FORCE
THAT WILL HAVE ENOUGH PERSONNEL TO FIGHT THE CRIMINALS,
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 01023 02 OF 03 150818Z
THE MINISTER ASSERTED. HIS MINISTRY HAS COMPILED A LIST
OF 740 CASES OF VIOLENT ACTS TO BE PROSECUTED, ONE OF
WHICH HAS ALREADY SEEN THE CONVICTION OF A COP-KILLER,
NKOMO REPORTED. GOCHE REPORTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND
THE WAR VETS HAD REACHED AN UNDERSTANDING ON MARCH 7
THAT WOULD SOON SEE THE OCCUPIERS MOVE OFF UNLISTED
FARMS GAZETTED FOR COMPULSORY ACQUISITION.
COMMENT
——-
¶8. (C) BELLAMY’S MEETINGS WITH GOCHE, CHIWEWE, AND
NKOMO LEFT THE IMPRESSION OF A WELL-COORDINATED
PROPAGANDA ASSAULT ORCHESTRATED FROM ON HIGH. THE
THEMES CONVEYED BY ALL THREE WERE REMARKABLY SIMILAR,
AND THE LANGUAGE USED WAS SOME OF THE MOST STRIDENT WE
HAVE HEARD TO DATE. THE OFFICIALS’ COMMENTS AND TONE
STRUCK A NOTE OF DESPERATION IN THEIR EFFORT TO CONVINCE
THE U.S. OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE ZIMBABWEAN
POSITION. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE GIVE-AND-TAKE, AND THEY
CONCEDED VERY FEW POINTS. IT IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT THAT
NONE OF THE OFFICIALS SEEMED VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
STATE OF THE ECONOMY OR WHAT THE OUTSIDE WORLD MIGHT DO
TO HELP WITH IT. THE ECONOMY JUST DOES NOT SEEM TO BE
PART OF THEIR POLITICAL CALCULUS. BASED ON WHAT THESE
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTO5986
PAGE 01 HARARE 01023 03 OF 03 150818Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 USNW-00 DINT-00
DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00
FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
R-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
SWCI-00 /007W
——————D1F671 150818Z /38
O 150815Z MAR 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8431
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 001023
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/11
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 01023 03 OF 03 150818Z
SUBJECT: AF A/PDAS BELLAMY HEARS DEFIANCE, VILIFICATION
OF THE BRITISH AND LITTLE GIVE-AND-TAKE IN MEETINGS WITH
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE OFFICIALS
OFFICIALS TOLD US, THE ZANU-PF LEADERSHIP APPEARS TO BE
DIGGING IN ITS HEELS FOR A FIGHT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY, AND APPEARS EVER MORE READY TO SACRIFICE THE
INTERESTS OF THE COUNTRY FOR ITS OWN INTEREST OF STAYING
IN POWER. END COMMENT.
¶9. (U) A/PDAS BELLAMY CLEARED THIS MESSAGE.
IRVING
CONFIDENTIAL
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