President Robert Mugabe told several high ranking United States officials, including ambassador Tom McDonald, that he was not going back on the land issue.
He said Britain, which had promised to pay for land, had never honoured its promises but may now be forced to.
The Margaret Thatcher government was lukewarm. John Major’s administration was cold; and Tony Blair’s labour leadership outright icy.
War veterans who had invaded commercial farms were simply in self-help mode and were taking what was rightfully theirs.
“The war vets are protestors,” he said “and while the Brits view it as a violation of the rule of law I will never send in the army and police against our own people.”
“It would cause more bloodshed and remember that there are still plenty of war veterans in the army, though fewer in the police,” he said.
When ambassador McDonald said Zimbabwe needed a practical solution to the land problem and there were 800-1 000 farms being voluntarily offered for sale, Mugabe said war vets had already come up with a practical solution.
Asked about the damage to Zimbabwe’s image as a wonderful country, not characterised by violence or standoffs, Mugabe said Zimbabwe had only been wonderful for the white colonisers not the blacks.
On the money that was in the budget but was still unspent, Mugabe said: “We will never use our money for land – just development. The Brits will pay or there will be no payment. Those taking actions against us today have never supported us since 1980, like the Brits and the white farmers. I am called Hitler in the British press. They never called Ian Smith a Hitler. They do this because they want to keep us a colony.”
On the damage to the economy, Mugabe answered: “We will resolve it now. If the CFU farmers want to leave they should go now. They are embittered old Rhodies who have never repented, saddened that they have lost their power since independence. They are sabotaging the economy, having been raised and lived in the days of dishonesty as sanctions busters. They are the wealthiest class but pay the least taxes.”
Full cable:
Viewing cable 00HARARE2205, THE GUERILLA WAR FOR LAND IN ZIMABABWE
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241252Z Apr 00
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6075
PAGE 01 HARARE 02205 01 OF 04 241249Z
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/009W
——————4F30E1 241252Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5827
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 002205
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF A/S SUSAN RICE, OAS POWELL, AF/S
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/10
SUBJECT: THE GUERILLA WAR FOR LAND IN ZIMABABWE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02205 01 OF 04 241249Z
CONTINUES
CLASSIFIEO BY AMBASSAOOR TOM MCDONALD, REASONS
1.5 (B), (0)
REF: HARARE 2202
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: IN A THREE HOUR MEETING NEARLY
HALF OF WHICH WAS SPENT ON LANO, PRESIDENT MUGABE
TOLD US THAT LANO ACQUISITION WAS AN OVERDUE
MATTER OF ACHIEVING JUSTICE AND ESCAPING FROM
UNOER THE YOKE OF COLONIALISM THAT THE PEOPLE OF
ZIMBABWE NOW OEMANO. THE WAR VET’S OCCUPATIONS,
WHICH HE SUPPORTS BUT OID NOT INITIATE, ARE A
DEMONSTRATION OF “PRACTICAL SELF-HELP.” WE
BELIEVE THAT IN CONDONING THE VET’S ACTIONS HE
HAS UNLEASHEO A FORCE THAT IS POWERFUL,
DANGEROUS, EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND A
THREAT TO THE PRESIDENT’S IRON GRIP. ZIMBABWE’S
GUERILLAS ARE OPERATING AGAIN IN ZIMBABWE.
HAVING UNCHAINED SUCH A FORCE, HE NOW NEEDS TO
BUY IT OFF, MOST LIKELY WITH LAND HAVING ALREADY
EXERCISED THE CASH OPTION, IF HE IS TO MAINTAIN
CONTROL OVER THE REINS OF POWER.
¶2. (C) THE PRESIDENT IS ADAMANT THAT BRITAIN
MUST PAY FOR LAND ACQUISITION AS, ACCORDING TO
HIM, THEY COMMITTED TO IT AT LANCASTER HOUSE IN
¶1980. IF THEY DO NOT PROVIDE FUNDS, COMPULSORY
ACQUISITION WITHOUT COMPENSATION WILL GO AHEAD.
THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS, WHO RETAIN THE MENTALITY
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 02205 01 OF 04 241249Z
OF BRITISH COLONIZERS ACCOROING TO PRESIDENT
MUGABE, HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY NEED TO OFFER UP
AS A GOOD FAITH GESTURE ALL 841 FARMS PREVIOUSLY
DESIGNATED BY THE GOZ FOR ACQUISITION. NEITHER
THE POLICE NOR MILTTARY WILL BE USED TO EVICT THE
FARM INVADERS, ACCOROING TO MUGABE, AS THEY ARE
MERELY “FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE.” END SUMMARY.
WE HAVE WAITED TOO LONG
¶3. (C) DURING THE EVENING OF APRIL 22 PRESIDENT
ROBERT MUGABE, UNACCOMPANIED BUT FOR A NOTETAKER,
SPENT THREE HOURS PLUS DISCUSSING THE PRIOR DAYS
MINI-SUMMIT OF REGIONAL LEADERS AT VICTORIA
FALLS, THE CONGO PEACE PROCESS AND ZIMBABWE’S
LAND ISSUE WITH U.S. OFFICIALS. THE U.S. GROUP
CONSISTED OF S/E HOWARD WOLPE, AMBASSADOR
MCDONALD, LT. COL. GADDIS, SPECIAL ADVISOR
PRENDERGAST AND ECONOFF NOTETAKER. AFTER THE
INITIAL 20 MINUTES SPENT DESCRIBING THE VICTORIA
FALLS GATHERING AND PROGRESS MADE THERE ON THE
CONGO ISSUE MUGABE, WITHOUT A PROMPT FROM US,
LAUNCHED INTO A 45-MINUTE HISTORICAL TOUR OF
ZIMBABWE’S LAND ISSUE COVERING THE PRE-RHODES’
DAYS TO THE PRESENT. DETAILED AND FULL OF
MINUTIA (THE PRESIDENT WAS A SCHOOLTEACHER FOR
YEARS BEFORE AND DURING THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE),
THE MESSAGE WAS THAT HISTORY SAW THE LAND STOLEN
FROM THE BLACKS WITH CONTROL CONSOLIDATED BY THE
BRITISH WITH VICIOUS DISREGARD FOR THE RIGHTS OF
BLACKS, A STATE THAT CONTINUES TODAY WITH ACTIVE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 02205 01 OF 04 241249Z
BRITISH SPONSORSHIP.
BRITAIN TO BLAME
¶4. (C) DURING THE LANCASTER HOUSE NEGOTIATIONS A
WEEK WAS SPENT STUCK ON THE LAND COMPENSATION
ISSUE. PRESIDENT CARTER HELPED BREAK THE
DEADLOCK, AND THE RESULT WAS A 10-YEAR PERIOD
WHEN THE PROSCRIBED RULE OF WILLING SELLER-
WILLING BUYER WAS IN EFFECT, WITH BRITAIN
SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING FOR THE LAND. THE PROBLEM
IS THE ENGLISH NEVER HONORED THEIR OBLIGATIONS,
MUGABE TOLD US: THE THATCHER GOVERNMENT WAS
LUKEWARM; JOHN MAJOR’S ADMINISTRATION WAS COLD;
AND BLAIR’S LABOR LEADERSHIP OUTRIGHT ICY. THE
ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT LAMENTED TO US THAT THE
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BLAIR HAD NEVER SPENT
QUALITY ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH HIM (HAVING STIFFED
MUGABE ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT AFTER INVITING HIM),
AND COULD ONLY SPARE THE SENIOR AFRICAN STATESMAN
10-15 MINUTES ONCE ON A PRODUCTION LINE BASIS
DURING A EUROPE/AFRICA SUMMIT. “I HAVE SPENT
MORE TIME WITH CLINTON” HE SNIFFED, “AND HAVE
EVEN MET WITH CHIRAC FOUR TIMES — THOUGH HIS
TIME IN OFFICE IS LESS THAN BLAIR’S.” THE LONG
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6076
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/009W
——————4F30F3 241252Z /38
P 241252Z APR 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5828
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 002205
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF A/S SUSAN RICE, OAS POWELL, AF/S
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/10
SUBJECT: THE GUERILLA WAR FOR LAND IN ZIMABABWE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02205 02 OF 04 241249Z
CONTINUES
AND SHORT OF IT, PRESIDENT MUGABE ADVISED US, IS
HIS CONCLUSION THAT BRITAIN HAS NEVER SUPPORTED
ZIMBABWE’S EFFORTS AT INDEPENDENCE AND LAND
REFORM, STILL VIEWS HIS COUNTRY A COLONY, AND
WILL ONLY HONOR ITS OBLIGATIONS TO PAY FOR LAND
IN ZIMBABWE IF FORCED. “THIS IS WHAT WE ARE NOW
CARRYING OUT,” HE TOLD US, “WITH THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT I SIGNED LAST WEEK.”
¶5. (C) ZIMBABWE HAS NO MONEY TO PAY FOR LAND,
MUGABE TOLD US. BRITAIN DOES HAVE THE MONEY, AND
IS REQUIRED TO PAY BY BOTH ITS PROMISE TO, AND
THE FACT THAT ITS CITIZENS STOLE THE LAND FROM
AFRICANS. THE LAND ACQUISITION CLAUSE WAS PLACED
IN THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION TO ENABLE THE
COMMERCIAL FARMERS “TO GET PAID SOMETHING FOR
THEIR LAND”, HE EXPLAINED. (COMMENT: THIS IS
THE LINE MUGABE TOOK LAST WEEK IN HIS MEETING THE
CFU, WHERE HE LECTURED THEM THAT THE
CONSTITUTIONAL CLAUSE WAS IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS
AND REMONSTRATING THEM FOR FIGHTING SO ACTIVELY
AGAINST IT. END COMMENT.) THE CONSTITUTION WAS
REJECTED BECAUSE THE FARMERS ORGANIZED THEIR
LABOR TO VOTE NO, IN EFFECT CONSPIRING AGAINST
THE GOVERNMENT, HE TOLD US, AND BECAUSE THE PARTY
DID NOT CAMPAIGN ENOUGH FOR IT. THE WAR VETS
REACTED TO THE REFERENDUM VOTE BY SPRINGING INTO
ACTION IN A “SELF-HELP MODE”, MUGABE STATED, “AND
WE WANTED IT TO BE A DEMONSTRATION MARK ON THE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 02205 02 OF 04 241249Z
MINDS OF THE FARMER’S AND THE BRITS.”
¶6. (C) “THE WAR VETS ARE PROTESTORS,” HE
CONTINUED “AND WHILE THE BRITS VIEW IT AS A
VIOLATION OF THE RULE OF LAW I WILL NEVER SEND IN
THE ARMY AND POLICE AGAINST OUR OWN PEOPLE.” “IT
WOULD CAUSE MORE BLOODSHED AND REMEMBER THAT
THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF WAR VETERANS IN THE
ARMY, THOUGH FEWER IN THE POLICE,” HE STATED
WHILE LOOKING AT US OVER HIS EYEGLASSES. THE
PRESIDENT ALSO REITERATED THE DILEMMA CONFRONTING
THE GOZ WERE IT TO TRY TO ENFORCE THE COURT’S
ORDER TO EVICT THE INVADERS. HIS ARGUMENTS WERE
THE SAME AS THOSE LAID OUT BY HIS FOREIGN
MINISTER TO US EARLIER IN THE DAY (IN ESSENCE THE
POLICE’S LACK OF CAPACITY TO ACT AND THE
EXECUTIVE NON-INTERFERENCE RULING, SEE REF A).
WE PUSH BACK
¶7. (C) WHEN AMBASSADOR MCDONALD RAISED A NUMBER
OF POINTS REGARDING RECENT DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDING
THE VIOLENCE OCCURRING ON THE FARMS, DISREGARD OF
THE RULE OF LAW, THE USG’S COMMITMENT AND
ASSISTANCE FOR LAND REFORM AND THE NEED FOR A
PRACTICAL SOLUTION, PRESIDENT MUGABE RESPONDED
WITH SOME OF HIS TRADEMARK EMOTION AND POINTED
RHETORIC. SOME OF THE POINTS AND COUNTERPOINTS
ARE (U.S. AND ZIMBABWE RESPECTIVELY):
WE NEED TO RETURN TO THE PRINCIPALS OF THE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 02205 02 OF 04 241249Z
1998 LAND REFORM CONFERENCE. RESPONSE: THE
COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU) OPPOSED THE 841
DESIGNATED FARM LIST, AND WITH BRITAIN’S HELP
STYMIED IMPLEMENTATION.
THE WORLD BANK AND OTHERS CAN FUND SOME LAND
ACQUISITION. RESPONSE: WE WILL NOT GO AHEAD ANY
MORE ON FAITH. FOR 20 YEARS WE HAVE DONE THIS
AND THE LAND ISSUE WILL NOT BE SOLVED UNTIL
BRITAIN GIVES US THE MONEY TO BUY IT. THE PEOPLE
WILL SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS.
WE NEED A PRACTICAL SOLUTION. THERE ARE 800 –
1000 FARMS BEING VOLUNTARILY OFFERED FOR SALE.
RESPONSE: THE WAR VETS HAVE ALREADY COME UP WITH
A PRACTICAL SOLUTION. THEY ARE ON THE FARMS AND
WE HAVE A LAW THAT WILL ALLOW US TO MOVE AHEAD ON
ACQUIRING THE FARMS WE NEED.
WHAT OF THE DAMAGE TO ZIMBABWE’S IMAGE AS A
WONDERFUL COUNTRY, NOT CHARACTERIZED BY VIOLENCE
OR STANDOFFS? THE COUNTRY HAS SUFFERED A BLACK
EYE. RESPONSE: ZIMBABWE HAS ONLY BEEN WONDERFUL
FOR THE WHITE COLONIZERS NOT THE BLACKS. THAT
HAS NOT CHANGED FOR 20 YEARS SINCE INDEPENDENCE
BUT WILL NOW. MORE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN SOUTH
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6082
PAGE 01 HARARE 02205 03 OF 04 241250Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 COME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
EB-00 EUR-01 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-01 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 L-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01
PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 TRSE-00
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/009W
——————4F3109 241253Z /38
P 241252Z APR 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5829
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 002205
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF A/S SUSAN RICE, OAS POWELL, AF/S
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/10
SUBJECT: THE GUERILLA WAR FOR LAND IN ZIMABABWE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02205 03 OF 04 241250Z
CONTINUES
AFRICA ON THE LAND ISSUE WITH A LOT LESS
PUBLICITY. BRITAIN IS TO BLAME, WE ARE NO LONGER
THEIR COLONY. BRITISH MP’S ARE ABSENTEE OWNERS
OF FARMS, THEY SEEK TO PROTECT TOO. FINALLY WE
HAVE THE BRITS ATTENTION.
WHAT OF THE 841 FARMS THAT YOU HAVE DEMANDED
FROM THE CFU? WHAT OF THE PROPERTIES THE
GOVERNMENT ALREADY OWNS THAT ARE NOT UTILIZED?
RESPONSE: THEY WILL SAY NO AT FIRST (THE CFU),
BUT ON THAT THEY MUST AGREE. WE NEED THOSE 841
FARMS BECAUSE OF THEIR LOCATION. THEY ARE NEXT
TO THE COMMUNAL AREAS, THE ONES WE OWN ARE NOT.
IN WRITING WE HAVE ASSURED THE CFU THAT THE
DISPLACED COMMERCIAL FARMERS CAN BUY A
REPLACEMENT PROPERTY. WE WILL NOT DEVIATE FROM
THE PLAN.
WHAT OF THE MONEY FOR LAND IN THIS YEAR’S
BUDGET STILL UNSPENT? RESPONSE: WE WILL NEVER
USE OUR MONEY FOR LAND – JUST DEVELOPMENT. THE
BRITS WILL PAY OR THERE WILL BE NO PAYMENT.
THOSE TAKING ACTIONS AGAINST US TODAY HAVE NEVER
SUPPORTED US SINCE 1980, LIKE THE BRITS AND THE
WHITE FARMERS. I AM CALLED HITLER IN THE BRITISH
PRESS. THEY NEVER CALLED IAN SMITH A HITLER.
THEY DO THIS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KEEP US A
COLONY.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 02205 03 OF 04 241250Z
– WHAT ABOUT YOU MAKING A STATEMENT IN THE
SPIRIT OF VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA’S — TO WITHDRAW?
RESPONSE: I DID NOT SEE THAT STATEMENT AND HAVE
ONLY HEARD OF IT. HE DENIES TO ME THAT HE MADE
IT.
WHAT ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THE INVASION OF THE
ECONOMY? THIS IS THE HARVEST SEASON FOR TOBACCO.
RESPONSE: THE TIME HAS COME AFTER 20 YEARS. WE
WILL RESOLVE IT NOW. IF THE CFU FARMERS WANT TO
LEAVE THEY SHOULD GO NOW. THEY ARE EMBITTERED
OLD RHOADIES WHO HAVE NEVER REPENTED, SADDENED
THAT THEY HAVE LOST THEIR POWER SINCE
INDEPENDENCE. THEY ARE SABOTAGING THE ECONOMY,
HAVING BEEN RAISED AND LIVED IN THE DAYS OF
DISHONESTY AS SANCTIONS BUSTERS. THEY ARE THE
WEALTHIEST CLASS BUT PAY THE LEAST TAXES.
BUT WHAT OF THE MORAL ARGUMENTS AGAINST WHAT
IS OCCURRING? YOU ARE THE HEAD OF STATE AND THE
MORAL LEADER OF THE COUNTRY. IF YOU CAME OUT
STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THE RULE OF LAW AND TOLD THE
WAR VETS TO LEAVE THE FARM, MOST WOULD.
RESPONSE: THE AMOUNT OF VIOLENCE IS EXAGGERATED
BY THE BBC AND CNN. TWO DAYS AGO CNN STAGED AN
EVICTION OF THE WAR VETS. BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE
THE MEDIA ON OUR SIDE DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE
NOT RIGHT OR JUST. I WILL NOT SEND THE POLICE OR
ARMY AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE.
COMMENT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 02205 03 OF 04 241250Z
¶8. (C) MUGABE DISPLAYED LUCIDITY AND A
REMARKABLE MEMORY ANO RECALL THROUGHOUT THE
CONVERSATION. HIS MOOO ANO EMOTION SWINGS
MATCHEO THE RHETORIC ANO WHEN WE RETURNEO TO
CONGO MATTERS AFTER THE LAND ISSUE HE WAS A
CHANGEO MAN. AMBASSAOOR MCOONALO IN A TELEPHONE
CALL BEFORE THE MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT AND
DURING THE LONG SESSION THOUGHT THE MOOD WAS
CORDIAL EVEN WHEN THE ISSUES GOT DIFFICULT. WE
ARE THE ONLY WESTERN COUNTRY THAT MUGABE HAS MET
WITH ON THE TOPIC OF LAND. WE BELIEVE WE WERE
HEARD, BUT MUGABE WAS NOT PERSUADED. THE
AMBASSADOR PLANS TO CONTINUE HIS CONVERSATION
WITH THE PRESIDENT ON THE ISSUE.
¶9. (C) IT IS CLEAR THAT MUGABE IS STILL FIGHTING
THE GUERILLA STRUGGLE HE WON 20 YEARS AGO. HE
HAS DRAWN A LINE IN THE SAND AND SAID, “LAND NOW
AT ALL COSTS.” THE PRESIDENT REALIZES HE IS IN A
FIGHT FOR HIS POLITICAL LIFE, A BATTLE HE MUST
WIN. UNLEASHING THE WAR VETS IS A DANGEROUS
TACTIC, REEKING OF DESPERATION. THEY ARE A PIT
BULL LOOSE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE AND GETTING THEM
BACK IN THE CAGE OR ON A STOUT CHAIN WILL REQUIRE
OFFERINGS AND THE PROMISE OF REGULAR FEEDINGS.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6086
PAGE 01 HARARE 02205 04 OF 04 241250Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 COME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
EB-00 EUR-01 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-01 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 L-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01
PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 TRSE-00
USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
/009W
——————4F311C 241253Z /38
P 241252Z APR 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5830
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 002205
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF A/S SUSAN RICE, OAS POWELL, AF/S
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/10
SUBJECT: THE GUERILLA WAR FOR LAND IN ZIMABABWE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02205 04 OF 04 241250Z
CONTINUES
EVENTS IN THE 24 HOURS SINCE OUR MEETING SHOW
THAT THE MESSAGE OF NON-VIOLENCE ESPOUSED BY THE
PRESIDENT IN HIS EARLIER MEETINGS WITH THE
FARMERS AND THE VETS HAVE NOT SUNK IN FOR THE
LATTER.
¶10. (C) MUGABE, BY UNLEASHING THE GUERILLAS, IS
PLAYING WITH FIRE. THOUGH SO FAR ONLY THE
FARMERS HAVE BEEN BURNED, THE CONSEQUENCES FOR
THE COUNTRY ARE EXTREMELY NEGATIVE AND THE
LEADERSHIP MAY FIND THAT THE COST TO ITSELF IS
HIGH. ALL OF THIS DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR THE
MEETINGS TO BEGIN IN LONDON ON APRIL 27. IF THIS
ATTITUDE AND POSITION CONTINUES, NOTHING WILL BE
ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE BRITISH. FOR NOW THE
COUNTRY IS IN LULL, AND SEMI-ATTENTIVE DURING THE
LONG EASTER HOLIDAY CHARACTERIZED BY CELL PHONES
TURNED OFF AND RETREATS INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE.
THOUGH PRIVATELY MUGABE MAY OFFER A MORE TEMPERED
MESSAGE, THE REALITY ON THE GROUND WITNESSED SO
FAR IN NOT ENCOURAGING. END COMMENT.
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
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