The permanent secretary for Foreign Affairs Willard Chiwewe on 3 November 2000 asked United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Tom McDonald to ask his government to stop a civil lawsuit that had been filed against President Robert Mugabe in New York.
He said that the Zimbabwe government was not going to defend itself in the case. It was therefore up to the United States government to live up to its “sovereign responsibility” in this connection.
McDonald declined to comment on the subject but undertook to transmit the text of Chiwewe’s note immediately to the department of state.
Although the cable or Chiwewe’s note did not state what the case was about, it is believed that the cable was referring to a lawsuit that had been filed by Movement for Democratic Change officials or activists who had lost relatives or had been victims of the violence in the run-up to the 2000 parliamentary elections.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 00HARARE6219, SENIOR MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OFFICIAL
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
031419Z Nov 00
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ7856
PAGE 01 HARARE 06219 01 OF 02 031420Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00
USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
/005W
——————9A7912 031421Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7549
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 006219
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2010
SUBJECT: SENIOR MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OFFICIAL
REQUESTS DEPARTMENT’S ASSISTANCE IN SUPPRESSING LAWSUIT
AGAINST PRESIDENT MUGABE
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5
(B) AND (D).
¶1. (C) MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (MFA) PERMANENT
SECRETARY WILLARD CHIWEWE REQUESTED THAT AMBASSADOR
SIPDIS
MCDONALD COME TO THE MFA ON NOVEMBER 3 TO RECEIVE THE
TEXT OF A DIPLOMATIC NOTE, WHEREIN THE GOZ ASKS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT’S INTERVENTION TO PREVENT A CIVIL SUIT FILED
AGAINST PRESIDENT MUGABE IN THE UNITED STATES, ON THE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 06219 01 OF 02 031420Z
BASIS OF “ALLEGATIONS,” FROM GOING FORWARD. THE
PERMANENT SECRETARY STATED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN
NOTE OF THE ABSENCE OF CRITICAL STATEMENTS AGAINST
ZIMBABWE FROM THE USG IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS,
COMPLIMENTED THE ADMINISTRATION FOR MAKING NO PUBLIC
CALLS FOR ENACTMENT OF THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY ACT, AND,
WITH RESPECT TO RESOLVING THE CONFLICT IN THE DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, OBSERVED THE TWO COUNTRIES AGREED
ON 90% OF ALL MATTERS PERTAINING THERETO. IT WAS IN
THIS SPIRIT, THE PERMANENT SECRETARY OBSERVED, THAT HE
HANDED THE NOTE TO THE AMBASSADOR. HE CONTINUED THAT
HIS GOVERNMENT WAS CONFIDENT, BASED ON STATEMENTS MADE
BY DEPARTMENT OF STATE PERSONNEL, THAT THE USG HAD THE
“APPARATUS” TO BLOCK PROSECUTION OF THE SUIT IN THE
FEDERAL OR ANY OTHER COURT. HE STATED CATEGORICALLY,
MAKING “THE FUNDAMENTAL POINT,” THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF
ZIMBABWE WILL NOT DEFEND ITSELF IN THE CASE. HE CLOSED
BY STATING THAT HE HOPED THAT THE USG WOULD LIVE UP TO
ITS “SOVEREIGN RESPONSIBILITY” IN THIS CONNECTION.
¶2. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD RESPONDED THAT HE HAD NOTED
THE PERMANENT SECRETARY’S CONCERNS BUT WAS ENJOINED FROM
MAKING FURTHER SUBSTANTIVE COMMENT, DESPITE HIS OWN
BACKGROUND AS A LAWYER. HE OBSERVED THAT, WHEN THE CASE
FIRST BECAME PUBLIC, THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HAD SAID IT
WAS WILLING TO ASSIST THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE IN THE
MATTER. HE UNDERTOOK TO TRANSMIT THE TEXT OF THE NOTE
IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
¶2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT OF DIPLOMATIC NOTE.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 06219 01 OF 02 031420Z
THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF
ZIMBABWE PRESENTS ITS COMPLIMENTS TO THE EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND HAS THE HONOUR TO REQUEST
THAT THE FOLLOWING URGENT COMMUNICATION BE TRANSMITTED
TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE NOTES WITH
GRAVE CONCERN REPORTS THAT A CIVIL SUIT HAS BEEN FILED
IN A COURT IN THE TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST
THE PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF STATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF
ZIMBABWE, HIS EXCELLENCY MR. ROBERT GABRIEL MUGABE, AND
TWO MINISTERS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE HON. I.S.G.
MUDENGE, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND HON. J. MOYO,
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY BY PLAINTIFFS FROM
ZIMBABWE ALLEGING THAT WRONGS WERE COMMITTED AGAINST
THEM IN THE TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE.
THE GOVERNMENT STRONGLY PROTESTS THE ENTERTAINING OF
SUCH A SUIT BY COURTS OF LAW IN THE TERRITORY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS SUCH ACTION CONSTITUTES AN
ATTEMPT BY COURTS IN THE UNITED STATES TO ASSERT EXTRA-
TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION AND AUTHORITY OVER ZIMBABWE.
THE ATTENDANT HARASSMENT OF THE PERSON AND OFFICE OF THE
PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF STATE OF ZIMBABWE, HIS EXCELLENCY
ROBERT GABRIEL MUGABE AND OF THE HONOURABLE MINISTERS
ACCOMPANYING HIM DURING AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO NEW YORK TO
ATTEND THE UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM (SIC) VIOLATES
INTERNATIONAL NORMS, PRACTICE AND OBLIGATIONS RELATING
TO THE DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY AND THE PROTECTION OF
VISITING HEADS OF SOVEREIGN STATES WHILE IN THE
TERRITORY OF ANOTHER STATE.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 06219 01 OF 02 031420Z
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE TAKES A DIM
VIEW OF THE HARASSMENT AND PURPORTED PROSECUTION OF THE
HEAD OF STATE OF ZIMBABWE AND HIS ENTOURAGE ON THE
TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DURING THE UN
MILLENNIUM SUMMIT THIS SEPTEMBER.
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE STRONGLY
URGES THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO
FULFIL ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW AND
EFFECTIVELY PROHIBIT THE COURTS OF LAW IN THE UNITED
STATES FROM EXERCISING JURISDICTION OR SERVING ANY
PROCESS OR COMMENCING OR CONDUCTING ANY AUTHORITY, POWER
OR CLAIM AGAINST HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT R.G. MUGABE
AND THE TWO MINISTERS IN HIS ENTOURAGE.
THE U.S. COURTS SHOULD BE MADE TO UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT
THE FACT AND PRINCIPLE THAT H.E. PRESIDENT R.G. MUGABE
WAS COVERED FULLY UNDER DIPLOMATIC AND STATE IMMUNITY, A
CARDINAL PRINCIPLE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW TO WHICH THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS A PARTY.
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE PROCEEDS UPON
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ7857
PAGE 01 HARARE 06219 02 OF 02 031420Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01
NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /005W
——————9A7914 031421Z /38
O 031419Z NOV 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7550
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 006219
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2010
SUBJECT: SENIOR MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OFFICIAL
REQUESTS DEPARTMENT’S ASSISTANCE IN SUPPRESSING LAWSUIT
AGAINST PRESIDENT MUGABE
THE CONVICTION THAT IT SHALL NOT DEFEND ITSELF, AND
THEREFORE HOLDS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO BE SOLELY
RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FURTHER EMBARRASSMENT WHICH H.E.
PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE MAY STILL FACE IN THE REGARD.
ACCORDINGLY, THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE CALLS UPON THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO UNDERTAKE
THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:
¶1. INTERVENE TO ENSURE THAT UNITED STATES COURTS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 06219 02 OF 02 031420Z
FORTHWITH CEASE AND DESIST FROM ANY ACTION AGAINST THE
PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF STATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE
AND MINISTERS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE.
¶2. ENSURE THAT INCIDENTS AND PROCESSES WHICH INFRINGE
UPON THE INVIOLABILITY AND IMMUNITY OF THE HEAD OF STATE
OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE FROM PROSECUTION OR UNDUE
HARASSMENT BY UNITED STATES COURTS IN THE TERRITORY OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BE PREVENTED IN THE FUTURE.
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE SEEKS FIRM
ASSURANCES FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA IN BOTH INSTANCES.
THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF
ZIMBABWE AVAILS ITSELF OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RENEW TO
THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THE
ASSURANCES OF ITS HIGHEST CONSIDERATION.
HARARE
NOVEMBER 2000
END TEXT.
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
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