Former Midlands governor Cephas Msipa said President Robert Mugabe and then Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa together with Security Minister Sydney Sekeramayi were behind the violence by war veterans as it was an election strategy to intimidate people into voting for the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front.
Msipa, who was Minister for Indigenisation at the time, said the party had formed a special committee of cabinet ministers to orchestrate the occupation of white-owned commercial farms by war veterans.
He said the special committee was responsible for the care and feeding of the war vets on the occupied farms.
Msipa said Mugabe was personally involved in overseeing the work of this “special committee” and had called out the war veterans to occupy primarily white-owned commercial farms.
He also said Mnangagwa had organised a campaign against him in the primary elections for the Midlands Province because Msipa had supported John Nkomo for chairman at the party’s congress.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 00HARARE2953, MINISTER OF STATE TELLS AMBASSADOR POLITICAL
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
021052Z Jun 00
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ1179
PAGE 01 HARARE 02953 01 OF 02 021048Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 COME-00
INL-01 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 ANHR-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01
NRRC-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
/012W
——————5E4A12 021048Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6197
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 002953
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR AFRICA GAYLE SMITH
DEPARTMENT FOR PDAS POWELL, DAS SCHNEIDMAN, AF/S
DIRECTOR RENDER AND ZIMBABWE DESK OFFICER GURNEY
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2010
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02953 01 OF 02 021048Z
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM EAGR PINR ZI ZANU PF
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF STATE TELLS AMBASSADOR POLITICAL
VIOLENCE IS ZANU-PF ELECTION STRATEGY
CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL OFFICER MAKILA JAMES, REASONS
1.5 (B) AND (D).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: MINISTER OF STATE IN THE OFFICE OF THE
PRESIDENT RESPONSIBLE FOR INDIGENIZATION (BLACK ECONOMIC
EMPOWERMENT), CEPHAS MSIPA, TOLD AMBASSADOR MCDONALD
JUNE 1 THAT ZANU-PF’S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION STRATEGY IS
TO USE THE “WAR VETERANS” TO INTIMIDATE THE PUBLIC INTO
SUPPORTING THE RULING PARTY CANDIDATES. A “SPECIAL
COMMITTEE” OF CABINET MINISTERS EXISTS TO ORCHESTRATE
THE WAR VETS COMMERCIAL FARM OCCUPATIONS, WHICH INCLUDES
THE MINISTERS OF JUSTICE AND STATE SECURITY. THE ZANU-
PF ORGANIZED POLITICAL VIOLENCE COULD RESULT IN A
PROTEST VOTE FOR THE MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE
(MDC), ACCORDING TO MSIPA. AMBASSADOR MCDONALD STRONGLY
CONDEMNED THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS PRESENTLY
OCCURRING, EMPHASIZED THE DAMAGE THE ONGOING POLITICAL
VIOLENCE WAS DOING TO INVESTOR CONFIDENCE IN ZIMBABWE,
AND URGED THE MINISTER TO CONVEY THAT MESSAGE TO OTHER
SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. END SUMMARY.
¶2. (C) MINISTER OF STATE FOR INDIGENIZATION, CEPHAS
MSIPA, HAD A CANDID AND CORDIAL CONVERSATION WITH
AMBASSADOR MCDONALD, ACCOMPANIED BY POLOFF, ON JUNE 1 IN
WHICH HE EXPLAINED ZANU-PF’S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION
STRATEGY. MINISTER MSIPA BEGAN BY EXPLAINING HIS OWN
RECENT DEFEAT AS THE RULING PARTY’S PARLIAMENTARY
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 02953 01 OF 02 021048Z
CANDIDATE, AFTER SEVERAL PRIMARY RERUNS, WHICH HE
ATTRIBUTED TO THE WORK OF JUSTICE MINISTER, EMMERSON
MNANGAGWA. MNANGAGWA HAD ORGANIZED A CAMPAIGN AGAINST
THE INDIGENIZATION MINISTER IN THE MIDLANDS PROVINCE,
WHERE MSIPA IS FROM, IN RETALIATION FOR MSIPA HAVING
SUPPORTED THE CURRENT ZANU-PF CHAIRMAN, JOHN NKOMO,
DURING THE PARTY’S DECEMBER CONVENTION, HE SAID.
(COMMENT: MSIPA IS REPORTEDLY CLOSE TO PRESIDENT MUGABE,
HOWEVER, MNANGAGWA ENLISTED THE SUPPORT OF SEVERAL KEY
POLITBURO MEMBERS TO DEFEAT MSIPA AND THE PRESIDENT
COULD NOT OVERRIDE THAT DECISION. END NOTE).
¶3. (C) IN RESPONSE AMBASSADOR MCDONALD’S CONDEMNATION
OF THE ONGOING PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE, THE MINISTER TOLD
US THAT ZANU-PF’S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION STRATEGY WAS TO
INTIMIDATE THE PUBLIC INTO BACKING THE RULING PARTY AND
TO CRUSH ANY OPPOSITION. SPECIFICALLY, MSIPA SAID EVERY
ZANU-PF CANDIDATE WAS ALLOCATED A NUMBER OF “WAR
VETERANS” IN THEIR AREA TO COERCE PEOPLE INTO SUPPORTING
THE RULING PARTY’S CANDIDATE. MSIPA SAID HE TOO WAS
GIVEN A GROUP OF OSTENSIBLE WAR VETS (I.E. THUGS) TO
HELP HIM WIN HIS ELECTION. SOME SENIOR PARTY MEMBERS
SOUGHT TO WITHDRAW THEM, HOWEVER, AFTER MNANGAGWA BEGAN
ORGANIZING OPPOSITION TO MSIPA’S CANDIDACY.
¶4. (C) MOREOVER, MSIPA SAID THERE WAS A “SPECIAL
COMMITTEE” OF SELECT CABINET MINISTERS WHO WERE TASKED
WITH ORCHESTRATING THE COMMERCIAL FARM OCCUPATIONS WHICH
HAD GIVEN RISE TO MUCH OF THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE. MSIPA
SAID THAT DURING THE REGULAR WEEKLY CABINET MEETINGS
MENTION WOULD BE MADE OF THIS “SPECIAL COMMITTEE” TAKING
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 02953 01 OF 02 021048Z
UP SENSITIVE ISSUES, SUCH AS THE CARE AND FEEDING OF THE
WAR VETS ON THE OCCUPIED FARMS. MSIPA SAID HE BELIEVED
MNANGAGWA AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY,
SYDNEY SEKERAMAYI, WERE ON THIS COMMITTEE. THE MINISTER
OF HOME AFFAIRS, DUMISO DABENGWA, HAD SPOKEN OUT AGAINST
THE GOVERNMENT-CONDONED POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN CABINET
MEETINGS, BUT HAD BEEN OVERRULED AND EFFECTIVELY
SIOELINED ON THIS ISSUE.
¶5. (C) MSIPA ALSO SAID MUGABE WAS PERSONALLY INVOLVED
IN OVERSEEING THE WORK
OF THIS “SPECIAL COMMITTEE” AND
HAD CALLED OUT THE WAR VETERANS TO OCCUPY PRIMARILY
WHITE-OWNED COMMERCIAL FARMS. MSIPA ALSO NOTED THAT
SINCE THE CONTENTIOUS RULING PARTY’S FEBRUARY CENTRAL
COMMITTEE MEETING, IN WHICH PRESIDENT MUGABE WAS TOLD
THAT HE HAD BECOME A PARTY LIABILITY ANO SHOULD PREPARE
TO LEAVE OFFICE, THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANOTHER MEETING OF
THAT BODY. MSIPA SAID MUGABE THEN ENLISTED THE HELP OF
THE WAR VETERANS TO SHORE UP THE PARTY’S CHANCES OF
WINNING A MAJORITY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SEATS AND TO
CRUSH THE OPPOSITION MDC PARTY AND ITS SUPPORTERS.
MSIPA SAID HE HAD URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT THE 118
COMMERCIAL FARMS OFFERED FOR RESETTLEMENT IN 1998, BUT
THAT THE GOVERNMENT DELAYED IN TAKING ANY SERIOUS
ACTION. CONSEQUENTLY, NO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES HAD BEEN
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ1180
PAGE 01 HARARE 02953 02 OF 02 021048Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 COME-00
INL-01 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 ANHR-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NRRC-00
NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /011W
——————5E4A18 021049Z /38
P 021052Z JUN 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6198
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 002953
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR AFRICA GAYLE SMITH
DEPARTMENT FOR PDAS POWELL, DAS SCHNEIDMAN, AF/S
DIRECTOR RENDER AND ZIMBABWE DESK OFFICER GURNEY
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM EAGR PINR ZI ZANU PF
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02953 02 OF 02 021048Z
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF STATE TELLS AMBASSADOR POLITICAL
VIOLENCE IS ZANU-PF ELECTION STRATEGY
ACQUIRED FOR RESETTLEMENT BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT’S
FAILURE TO PURSUE THAT OFFER. THIS VIOLENCE COULD,
HOWEVER, RESULT IN A PROTEST VOTE AGAINST ZANU-PF, THE
MINISTER SPECULATED. MSIPA NOTED THAT SOUTH AFRICA AND
SOME NORDIC COUNTRIES WERE REPORTEDLY TRYING TO IDENTIFY
FUNDS TO ASSIST ZIMBABWE IN ITS LAND REFORM PROGRAM.
AMBASSADOR, HOWEVER, INFORMED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD FROM
THE NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR THAT HIS COUNTRY HAD NO SUCH
BAILOUT IN THE WORKS FOR ZIMBABWE AT THIS TIME.
¶6. (C) ADDITIONALLY, THE MINISTER SAID HE OBJECTED TO
THE OCCUPATION OF VACANT BUILDINGS IN URBAN AREAS BY A
BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT ORGANIZATION, THE AFFIRMATIVE
ACTION GROUP (AAG), WHO WERE TAKING THEIR CUE FROM THE
WAR VETERANS. MSIPA SAID HE OECLINED TO GET INVOLVED,
HOWEVER, NOW THAT MINISTER DABENGWA WAS TRYING TO
RESOLVE THAT SITUATION AND THE AAG WAS NEGOTIATING WITH
THE LANDLORDS TO PAY A MOOEST RENTAL FEE FOR THOSE
PROPERTIES.
¶7. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE
POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND WIDESPREAD HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. HE ALSO URGED MSIPA TO
CONVEY TO HIS GOVERNMENT HOW DAMAGING THE POLITICAL
VIOLENCE, FARM OCCUPATIONS, AND URBAN SQUATTING WERE TO
ZIMBABWE’S INVESTMENT CLIMATE, TOURISM, AND OVERALL
ECONOMY.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 02953 02 OF 02 021048Z
COMMENT
¶8. (C) MSIPA IS A REASONABLE, COMMITTED, AND HIGHLY
CREDIBLE GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WHO HAS BEEN FRUSTRATED IN
DOING HIS JOB AND WHOSE ADVICE HAS APPARENTLY BEEN
SHUNNED BY THE MORE RAOICAL RULING PARTY MEMBERS. THUS,
HE IS POLITICALLY WEAK. NEVERTHELESS, MSIPA RETAINS
MUGABE’S CONFIDENCE AND MAY RETAIN A POSITION IN THE
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AFTER THE PARLIAMENTARY
ELECTION. MSIPA HAS CONFIRMED THE WIDESPREAD BELIEF
THAT PERPETUATING VIOLENCE IS ZANU-PF’S ELECTION
STRATEGY AND THAT IT IS DIRECTED BY MUGABE. THE
MINISTER’S COMMENTS ALSO TRACK THE EMBASSY’S POSITION
THAT THE PRESENT FARM OCCUPATIONS ARE NOT ABOUT LAND
REFORM, BUT RATHER POLITICS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO
DELIVER A STRONG MESSAGE THAT THE ELECTION VIOLENCE AND
ECONOMIC SUICIDE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS PURSUING WILL
MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO RETURN TO BUSINESS AS USUAL AFTER
THE ELECTION. END COMMENT.
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
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