The Movement for Democratic Change began its impeachment proceedings against President Robert Mugabe on 25 October 2000 but Mugabe immediately hit back saying the reconciliation policy with whites was in jeopardy and could be revoked.
He threatened to arrest white MDC members and to put former Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith and other leaders of the Rhodesian regime on trial for war crimes.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 00HARARE6082, PROCESS TO IMPEACH ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT BEGINS
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
261438Z Oct 00
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ1837
PAGE 01 HARARE 06082 01 OF 02 261438Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-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
NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /006W
——————972735 261439Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7459
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 02 HARARE 006082
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/10
SUBJECT: PROCESS TO IMPEACH ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT BEGINS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 06082 01 OF 02 261438Z
REFS: A) HARARE 5951, B) HARARE 5692 (NOTAL)
CLASSIFIED BY DCM EARL M. IRVING FOR REASONS: 1.5 (B)
AND (D).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: THE OPPOSITION MDC TABLED A MOTION IN
PARLIAMENT OCTOBER 25 THAT BEGINS THE PROCESS FOR
PRESIDENT MUGABE’S IMPEACHMENT. THE DOCUMENT CITED IN
DETAIL “VIOLATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION” AND “GROSS
MISCONDUCT” RELATED TO THE PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE, AMONG
OTHER THINGS, AS THE GROUNDS FOR IMPEACHMENT. IN
RESPONSE, MUGABE ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT HIS
GOVERNMENT’S RECONCILIATION POLICY WITH WHITES IS IN
JEOPARDY AND COULD BE REVOKED. MUGABE ALSO THREATENED
TO ARREST WHITE MDC MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND PUT ON
TRIAL IAN SMITH AND OTHER LEADERS OF THE WHITE RHODESIAN
REGIME FOR WAR CRIMES. THERE HAS BEEN NO DISCERNIBLE
PUBLIC REACTION TO THESE EVENTS IN THE FORM OF PROTESTS
OR CELEBRATIONS. IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THE MDC IS DUE
TO TABLE A SECOND MOTION THAT WOULD ESTABLISH THE
PROCEDURE FOR IMPEACHMENT, WHICH IS NOT CLEARLY
STIPULATED IN THE CONSTITUTION. THE IMPEACHMENT
MEASURES RAISE THE LEVEL OF POLITICAL TENSION ANOTHER
NOTCH AND SET THE STAGE FOR A FINAL SHOWDOWN BETWEEN
MUGABE AND THE OPPOSITION. END SUMMARY.
¶2. (C) GIBSON SIBANDA, MDC VICE-PRESIDENT AND MP FOR
THE NKULUMANE SECTION OF BULAWAYO, INTRODUCED IN
PARLIAMENT OCTOBER 25 A MOTION THAT SEEKS TO INVESTIGATE
THE GROUNDS FOR THE IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT MUGABE.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 06082 01 OF 02 261438Z
THE MDC PRESENTED THE DOCUMENT ALONG WITH THE SIGNATURES
OF 56 MDC PARLIAMENTARIANS, THEREBY OBVIATING THE NEED
FOR A FLOOR VOTE (ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION, 51
VOTES, OR MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF PARLIAMENT, ARE
REQUIRED TO BEGIN IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS). ACCORDING
TO EDDIE CROSS, THE MDC’S SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC
AFFAIRS, THE FLOOR ERUPTED INTO AN UPROAR WHEN SPEAKER
MNANGAGWA ACCEPTED THE PETITION AND PROMISED TO “STUDY
ITS CONTENTS.” ACCORDING TO ONE OUR PRESS CONTACTS,
MNANGAGWA ANNOUNCED IN PARLIAMENT OCTOBER 26 THAT HE
WOULD FORM AN IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK TO
INVESTIGATE THE CHARGES. TENDAI BITI, MDC MP FOR HARARE
EAST, HINTED TO US THAT IF MNANGAGWA OBSTRUCTS THE
OPERATION OF THE COMMITTEE, THE MDC WILL TAKE HIM TO
COURT.
¶3. (U) DESPITE MNANGAGWA’S WARNING NOT TO PUBLISH THE
CONTENTS OF THE MOTION, ITS DETAILS APPEARED IN OCTOBER
26’S EDITION OF THE “DAILY NEWS.” THE MOTION STIPULATES
THAT MUGABE HAS WILLFULLY VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION BY
FAILING TO UPHOLD THE LAWS OF ZIMBABWE AND HAS
“DELIBERATELY, AND IN SOME CASES CALLOUSLY, ENCOURAGED,
CONDONED, INCITED, AND SUPPORTED BREACHES OF THE LAW.”
IT CITES MUGABE’S FAILURE TO ENFORCE THE APRIL HIGH
COURT RULING TO EXPEL FARM INVADERS, AS WELL
COUNTERMANDING HIS MINISTERS’ ORDERS TO THE POLICE TO
UPHOLD THE COURT RULING. THE DOCUMENT ALLEGES THAT
MUGABE MASTERMINDED THE CAMPAIGN OF PRE-ELECTION
VIOLENCE AND CITES HIS PUBLIC THREATS OF DEATH TO THOSE
WHO WOULD OPPOSE HIM. THE DOCUMENT STATES THAT SHOULD A
COMMITTEE FIND THAT THESE ACTIONS DO NOT WARRANT A
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 06082 01 OF 02 261438Z
“WILLFUL VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION,” THEN MUGABE
SHOULD BE IMPEACHED ON THE GROUNDS OF “GROSS MISCONDUCT”
FOR ABUSING HIS POWER OF CLEMENCY (REFERRING TO HIS
RECENT PARDON OF THE PERPETRATORS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE-
-SEE REF B), FOR DEPLOYING TROOPS TO THE DRC, AND FOR
CORRUPTION.
¶4. (U) PRESIDENT MUGABE’S REACTION WAS SWIFT AND
BELLICOSE. THE ZANU-PF YOUTH WING ASSEMBLED A GROUP OF
ABOUT 200 DEMONSTRATORS IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT LATE ON
OCTOBER 25 TO DENOUNCE THE MDC. IN ADDRESSING THE CROWD
AFTER THE IMPEACHMENT MOTION WAS TABLED, MUGABE BLASTED
ZIMBABWE’S WHITES AND THEIR WESTERN SUPPORTERS, SAYING
THAT HE MAY REVOKE THE GOVERNMENT’S RECONCILIATION
POLICY. HE THREATENED TO PUT ON TRIAL IAN SMITH AND
OTHER WHITES FOR GENOCIDE AND OTHER WAR CRIMES COMMITTED
DURING THE LIBERATION WAR STRUGGLE OF THE 1960S AND
1970S. MUGABE FURTHER STATED THAT WHITES, SUCH AS MPS
DAVID COLTART AND MICHAEL AURET, WOULD “NOT BE FREE FROM
ARREST.” HE ALSO BLAMED THE BRITISH AND AMERICANS FOR
HELPING THEIR WHITE FRIENDS TO DERAIL LAND REFORM AND
FOR TRYING TO “RE-COLONIZE” ZIMBABWE.
¶5. (C) BITI TOLD US OCTOBER 26 THAT THE MDC WILL
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ1838
PAGE 01 HARARE 06082 02 OF 02 261439Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-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
NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /006W
——————972747 261439Z /38
O 261438Z OCT 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7460
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 02 HARARE 006082
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/10
SUBJECT: PROCESS TO IMPEACH ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT BEGINS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 06082 02 OF 02 261439Z
APPROACH LEADER OF THE HOUSE PATRICK CHINAMASA TO SEE IF
THE ZANU-PF SIDE WILL WORK WITH THE MDC IN ESTABLISHING
THE PROCEDURE FOR IMPEACHMENT BEHIND THE SCENES. (THE
PROCEDURE IS NOT SPELLED OUT IN DETAIL IN THE
CONSTITUTION.) IF THEY WILL NOT AGREE, THEN THE MDC
WILL TABLE A SECOND MOTION ON OCTOBER 31 ASKING THE
STANDING RULES COMMITTEE FOR THE FOLLOWING: 1) AN
IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF HOUSE MEMBERS IN
PROPORTION TO THE NUMBER OF EACH PARTY’S ELECTED SEATS,
2) THAT THE COMMITTEE THAT OPERATES IN A QUASI-JUDICIAL
MANNER BY CALLING WITNESSES TO A PUBLIC HEARING, 3) THAT
THE COMMITTEE RELEASE A REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS BY
DECEMBER 31, 2000 AND THAT THE FINDINGS BE OPENED UP FOR
DEBATE TO THE FULL HOUSE, AND 4) THAT THE VOTE OF
IMPEACHMENT BE CARRIED OUT BY SECRET BALLOT RATHER THAN
BY DIVISION (WHERE MPS STAND AND MOVE TO THE “YEA” OR
“NAY” SIDE OF THE CHAMBER).
¶6. (C) SHOULD AN IMPEACHMENT VOTE REACH THE FLOOR AND
PASS WITH A MINIMUM OF 100 VOTES, MUGABE WOULD
IMMEDIATELY CEASE TO HOLD OFFICE. THE SENIOR VICE-
PRESIDENT (SIMON MUZENDA) WOULD BECOME ACTING PRESIDENT
UNTIL A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION COULD BE HELD WITHIN 90
DAYS. BITI SAID THAT HE DOES NOT EXPECT MANY ZANU-PF
MPS TO CROSS THE AISLE AND VOTE FOR IMPEACHMENT (AT
LEAST 43 WOULD HAVE TO DO SO FOR THE MEASURE TO PASS)
BECAUSE MUGABE MOST LIKELY ISSUED VEILED THREATS AT HIS
CAUCUS WITH THEM OCTOBER 25. THE MDC DOES NOT
REALISTICALLY EXPECT PARLIAMENT TO REMOVE MUGABE FROM
OFFICE, BITI REITERATED, BUT ITS OBJECTIVES IN PURSUING
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 06082 02 OF 02 261439Z
IMPEACHMENT ARE TO BRING PRESSURE AGAINST MUGABE TO
RESIGN, TO EXPOSE HIS MISDEEDS OF THE LAST YEAR, AND TO
FORMALLY SPELL OUT THE PROCEDURE FOR PRESIDENTIAL
IMPEACHMENT. EDDIE CROSS, ONE OF THE MDC’S MORE RADICAL
MEMBERS, TOLD US THAT IF MUGABE DOES NOT AGREE TO STEP
DOWN BY THE END OF THE YEAR AND CALL NEW ELECTIONS, THE
MDC WILL ORGANIZE MASS PROTESTS TO FORCE HIM OUT.
¶7. (C) COMMENT: ALTHOUGH WE HAVE SEEN NO DISCERNIBLE
PUBLIC REACTION TO THESE EVENTS IN THE FORM OF PROTESTS
OR CELEBRATIONS, THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE IN HARARE HAS
BECOME MORE TENSE. PERHAPS AGAINST THE WISHES OF ITS
MORE MODERATE MEMBERS, THE MDC APPEARS TO BE
ACCELERATING TO ITS END-GAME OF FORCING MUGABE FROM
OFFICE. BY PURSUING IMPEACHMENT NOW, IT LEAVES ITSELF
FEW ALTERNATIVES TO MASS ACTION IF IT WISHES TO HOLD ON
TO ITS CREDIBILITY BEFORE THE SCHEDULED 2002
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. IT RISKS RAISING PUBLIC
EXPECTATIONS TO A DANGEROUSLY HIGH LEVEL WHEN MUGABE
SHOWS NO SIGNS OF RELINQUISHING POWER. MUGABE’S PUBLIC
STATEMENTS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY EXTREME AS HE
BECOMES MORE ISOLATED DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY,
AND CONVEY AN AIR OF DESPERATION. IT WOULD NOT BE VERY
PRACTICAL FOR MUGABE TO ABROGATE THE 1979 AMNESTY
AGREEMENT THAT PARDONED BOTH SIDES, HIMSELF INCLUDED, OF
CRIMES COMMITTED IN THE LIBERATION WAR STRUGGLE. IT
REMAINS UNCLEAR HOW FAR MUGABE IS WILLING TO GO TO HOLD
ONTO POWER, BUT THE LAST TWO MONTHS OF THIS YEAR COULD
POTENTIALLY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT IN DETERMINING
ZIMBABWE’S FUTURE.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 06082 02 OF 02 261439Z
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
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