Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism Edward Chindori-Chininga told United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Tom McDonald that although tourism was one of Zimbabwe’s major foreign currency exchange earners, President Robert Mugabe was so obsessed with the land question that this was not important to him.
Chindori-Chininga was briefing the ambassador on plans by his ministry to improve the protection of wildlife and the proposed creation of a transfrontier national park.
Asked if, given the importance of tourism as a foreign exchange earner for Zimbabwe, and the past history of Zimbabwe having a reputation as a country that protected its wildlife and natural areas, President Mugabe was interested in these issues, Chindori-Chininga implied that Mugabe no longer had real interest in these issues.
He said that he had he recently met with Mugabe to discuss these aspects of his portfolio, and while Mugabe would pay attention as he spoke, when it came time for Mugabe to talk, his comments invariably returned to the issue of land for the landless.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 00HARARE6126, DEPUTY ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM MINISTER BRIEFS
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
311718Z Oct 00
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6251
PAGE 01 HARARE 06126 01 OF 02 311720Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 COME-00
INL-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
EB-00 EUR-00 E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 JUSE-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 NSF-01 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01
OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00
SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 IIP-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /012W
——————98FCBD 311729Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7488
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 006126
SIPDIS
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD – DWELLER, AND AFR/SA – CPALMA,
NNEWMAN
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
PASS USTR – ROSA WHITAKER
PASS DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR FOR THE FISH AND WILDLIFE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 06126 01 OF 02 311720Z
SERVICE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/10
SUBJECT: DEPUTY ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM MINISTER BRIEFS
AMBASSADOR ON PLANS TO PROTECT WILDLIFE AND RESOLVE
CONSERVANCY LAND OCCUPATIONS
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5
(B) AND (D).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: EDWARD CHINDORI-CHININGA, DEPUTY
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM AND ZANU-PF MEMBER
OF PARLIAMENT, PAID A CALL ON AMBASSADOR MCDONALD ON
OCTOBER 30 TO INFORM HIM OF HIS MINISTRY’S PLANS TO
IMPROVE PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE, RESOLVE THE OCCUPATIONS
OF CONSERVANCY LANDS, AND REACH AGREEMENT WITH
NEIGHBORING STATES ON THE JOINT MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL
PARKS THAT CROSS BORDERS. CHINDORI-CHININGA
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HIS MINISTRY HAS BEEN UNABLE TO
PREVENT POACHING OF WILDLIFE ON OCCUPIED LANDS. HE
CLAIMED HIS OFFICE HAS DEVELOPED A PLAN FOR RESOLVING
OCCUPATIONS OF LANDS DESIGNATED AS NATURE CONSERVANCIES,
BUT POLITICAL CORRUPTION IS AFFECTING THIS PROCESS.
TALKS BETWEEN ZIMBABWE AND ITS NEIGHBORS FOR JOINT
MANAGEMENT OF PARK LANDS THAT SHARE COMMON BORDERS IS
MOVING FORWARD, AND A TREATY IS READY TO BE PRESENTED TO
PARLIAMENT FOR THE JOINT MANAGEMENT OF A NATIONAL PARK
AREA THAT ZIMBABWE SHARES WITH MOZAMBIQUE AND SOUTH
AFRICA. FINALLY, PRESIDENT MUGABE IS SO OBSESSED WITH
THE LAND QUESTION, THAT NONE OF THESE ISSUES ARE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 06126 01 OF 02 311720Z
IMPORTANT TO HIM, ACCORDING TO THE DEPUTY MINISTER. END
SUMMARY
———————————————
A MINISTRY UNABLE TO PREVENT RAMPANT POACHING
———————————————
¶2. (C) CHINDORI-CHININGA ADMITTED THAT THERE HAS BEEN
POACHING ACROSS ZIMBABWE, ON COMMERCIAL FARMS AS WELL AS
NATURE CONSERVANCIES THAT HAVE BEEN OCCUPIED BY WAR
VETERANS AND LANDLESS PEOPLE SINCE FEBRUARY. THE DEPUTY
MINISTER’S ASSERTION CONFIRMS THE NUMEROUS PRESS REPORTS
AND COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION UPDATES THAT HAVE DETAILED
THIS PROBLEM. HE STATED THAT HIS MINISTRY’S SCOUTS, WHO
HAVE TRADITIONALLY CONTROLLED POACHING OF WILDLIFE IN
ZIMBABWE, HAVE BEEN PREVENTED FROM DOING THIS THROUGH
INTIMIDATION, THREAT OF VIOLENCE, AND IN A FEW CASES,
PHYSICAL ASSAULT BY WAR VETERANS. A JOINT COMMAND OF
THE ZIMBABWE MILITARY AND POLICE ARE NOW BEING USED TO
ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE POACHING SITUATION. HE
BLAMED THE PROBLEM ON A LACK OF COMMUNICATION, ARISING
FROM THE FACT THAT HIS MINISTRY HAD NOT MET WITH
OCCUPIERS TO ESTABLISH THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH HIS
SCOUTS COULD SAFELY PATROL OCCUPIED LANDS TO
PREVENT/CONTROL POACHING.
——————————————
A SOLUTION FOR THE OCCUPIED CONSERVANCIES?
——————————————
¶3. (C) THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND TOURISM MINISTRY IS WORKING
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 06126 01 OF 02 311720Z
ON A PLAN FOR RESOLVING THE OCCUPATION OF LANDS
DESIGNATED AS NATURE CONSERVANCIES TO WHICH, HE CLAIMS,
THE CABINET HAS AGREED. THIS PLAN INVOLVES SECURING THE
AGREEMENT OF PRIVATE CONSERVANCY LANDOWNERS TO ALLOW THE
RESIDENTS OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES THAT BORDER THESE
CONSERVANCIES TO BUY INTO THE OPERATION OF THESE AREAS,
SO THEY MAY BENEFIT DIRECTLY FROM THE TOURISM TRADE THEY
GENERATE. THE DETAILS OF SUCH A PLAN, INCLUDING
PERCENTAGE OF OWNERSHIP, FINANCING, AND THE JOINT
MANAGEMENT OF THESE CONSERVANCIES, WITH THEIR PRIVATELY
OWNED LAND, GOVERNMENT OWNED LAND, AND INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN A
WORKSHOP THAT THE MINISTRY IS PLANNING. HE SAID HE HAD
TWO PROBLEMS: WHERE TO MOVE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE OCCUPIED
THESE LANDS; AND HOW TO FEND OFF THE POLITICIANS WHO
WILL SEEK A CUT IN SUCH DEALS. THE AMBASSADOR ASKED THE
DEPUTY MINISTER SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE CASE OF THE SAVE
CONSERVANCY AND RUMORS THAT JOSIAH HUNGWE, THE GOVERNOR
OF THE MASVINGO PROVINCE, WHERE THIS CONSERVANCY IS
LOCATED, IS INSISTING ON GETTING A PIECE OF THE ACTION.
CHINDORI-CHININGA CONFIRMED THAT HE HAS ALSO HEARD SUCH
RUMORS ABOUT HUNGWE, AND THAT THIS COULD PROVE A
HINDRANCE TO RESOLVING THE SAVE CONSERVANCY SITUATION.
——————————————— —–
TRANSFRONTIER MANAGEMENT OF PARKS CLOSE TO REALITY
——————————————— —–
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6252
PAGE 01 HARARE 06126 02 OF 02 311721Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 COME-00
INL-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
EB-00 EUR-00 E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 JUSE-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 NSF-01 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01
OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00
SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 IIP-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /012W
——————98FCCA 311729Z /38
P 311718Z OCT 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7489
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 006126
SIPDIS
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD – DWELLER, AND AFR/SA – CPALMA,
NNEWMAN
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
PASS USTR – ROSA WHITAKER
PASS DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR FOR THE FISH AND WILDLIFE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 06126 02 OF 02 311721Z
SERVICE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/10
SUBJECT: DEPUTY ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM MINISTER BRIEFS
AMBASSADOR ON PLANS TO PROTECT WILDLIFE AND RESOLVE
CONSERVANCY LAND OCCUPATIONS
¶4. (C) THE DEPUTY MINISTER STATED THAT ZIMBABWE,
MOZAMBIQUE, AND SOUTH AFRICA HAVE REACHED AGREEMENT ON A
PLAN TO MANAGE JOINTLY THE AREA THAT CONSISTS OF THE
GONAREZHOU NATIONAL PARK IN ZIMBABWE, THE COUTADO 16
NATIONAL PARK IN MOZAMBIQUE, AND THE KRUGER NATIONAL
PARK IN SOUTH AFRICA. THIS AGREEMENT WOULD SOON BE
PRESENTED TO THE ZIMBABWEAN PARLIAMENT FOR APPROVAL. HE
ALSO REPORTED THERE IS PROGRESS TOWARDS AGREEMENTS
BETWEEN/AMONG ZIMBABWE, BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA, ZAMBIA, AND
MOZAMBIQUE FOR THE JOINT MANAGEMENT OF OTHER NATIONAL
PARKS THAT SHARE BOUNDARIES.
—————————–
NONE OF THIS INTERESTS MUGABE
—————————–
¶5. (C) THE DEPUTY MINISTER WAS ASKED IF, GIVEN THE
IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM AS A FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNER FOR
ZIMBABWE, AND THE PAST HISTORY OF ZIMBABWE HAVING A
REPUTATION AS A COUNTRY THAT PROTECTED ITS WILDLIFE AND
NATURAL AREAS, PRESIDENT MUGABE WAS INTERESTED IN THESE
ISSUES. WITHOUT SAYING SO EXPLICITLY, CHINDORI-CHININGA
IMPLIED THAT MUGABE NOW HAS NO REAL INTEREST IN THESE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 06126 02 OF 02 311721Z
ISSUES. THE DEPUTY MINISTER EXPLAINED THAT HE RECENTLY
MET WITH MUGABE TO DISCUSS THESE ASPECTS OF HIS
PORTFOLIO, AND WHILE MUGABE WOULD PAY ATTENTION AS HE
SPOKE, WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR MUGABE TO TALK, HIS
COMMENTS INVARIABLY RETURNED TO THE ISSUE OF LAND FOR
THE LANDLESS.
——————————-
LAND CASES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS
——————————-
¶6. (C) THE AMBASSADOR TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY OF THIS
MEETING TO RAISE THE SPECIFIC CASES OF AMERICAN CITIZENS
RESIDENT IN ZIMBABWE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR LANDS LISTED FOR
COMPULSORY ACQUISITION BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE
(GOZ). IT WAS POINTED OUT TO THE DEPUTY MINISTER THAT
ALL OF THESE CASES INVOLVE LANDS THAT WERE PURCHASED BY
THE AMERICAN CITIZENS IN ORDER TO PURSUE NATURE
CONSERVATION AND TOURISM. IT WAS MADE CLEAR TO
CHINDORI-CHININGA THAT IF THESE LANDS ARE EVENTUALLY
FORCIBLY ACQUIRED BY THE GOZ WITHOUT APPROPRIATE
COMPENSATION, IT WOULD HAVE A REAL ADVERSE AFFECT ON
U.S.-ZIMBABWE RELATIONS. THE DEPUTY MINISTER PROMISED
HE WOULD LOOK INTO THESE CASES.
¶7. (C) COMMENT: WHILE THE DEPUTY MININSTER’S COMMENTS
WERE GENERALLY IN A POSITIVE VEIN REGARDING STEPS THAT
THE GOZ SHOULD CLEARLY TAKE ON THE ISSUES DISCUSSED, THE
ACTIONS THAT THE GOZ TAKES WILL BE WHAT COUNT. WHILE HE
IS AN UP-AND-COMING ZANU-PF POLITICIAN WITH POLITICAL
ACUMEN, THE DEPUTY MINISTER ALSO HAS UNCLEAN HANDS.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 06126 02 OF 02 311721Z
POST HAS HEARD CREDIBLE ACCOUNTS THAT CHINDORI-CHININGA
WAS INVOLVED IN PLANNING AND EXECUTING THE POLITICAL
VIOLENCE IN HIS HOME AREA IN THE PERIOD LEADING UP TO
THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. HE THUS SHARES BLAME FOR
THE MINDLESS POACHING OF WILDLIFE, CUTTING OF TREES, AND
SETTING OF FIRES THAT HAS OCCURRED ON ZIMBABWE’S PRIVATE
NATURE CONSERVANCIES, RANCHES, AND COMMERCIAL FARMS.
END COMMENT.
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
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