President Robert Mugabe said he wanted democracy for every Zimbabwean and the British should read the country’s history to see who respected human rights better himself or former Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith.
Mugabe, who described then British Prime Minister Tony Blair as the “madman at number 10 Downing Street”, said Blair described Zimbabwe as a violator of the rule of law and human rights but he should “read out history”.
He said he spent 11 years in prison during the Ian Smith regime and his mother did not even understand why. There was no respect for human rights then but the British did not seem concerned.
“Do you think I can listen to such criticism from Tony Blair,” Mugabe asked, “when I know the history of Britain in this country?”
Full cable:
Viewing cable 01HARARE3131, PRESIDENT MUGABE AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS TERRORISM, LAND,
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CONFIDENTIAL PTO1928
PAGE 01 HARARE 03131 01 OF 04 191134Z
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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 LAB-01
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——————31BCF0 191134Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0072
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 003131
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL. 10/19/11
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT MUGABE AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS TERRORISM, LAND,
AND ELECTION OBSERVERS
CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF MATT HARRINGTON. REASONS:
1.5 (B) AND (D).
SUMMARY
——-
¶1. (C) IN AN HOUR-LONG MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN ON
OCTOBER 18, PRESIDENT MUGABE THANKED THE U.S. FOR ITS ROLE IN
SUPPORTING ZIMBABWEAN INDEPENDENCE AND FOR ITS SIGNIFICANT
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SINCE 1980. HE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE
SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS IN NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON AND PROMISED
ZIMBABWE’S COOPERATION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM. MUGABE
DELIVERED A 40-MINUTE HISTORY LESSON ON THE LAND QUESTION, IN
WHICH THE BRITISH WERE THE PRIMARY VILLAINS. HE REJECTED
CRITICISM THAT ZIMBABWE IS PLAGUED BY LAWLESSNESS, BLAMING THAT
PERCEPTION ON BRITISH PROPAGANDA, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THE OCCURRENCE
OF “ISOLATED INCIDENTS.”
¶2. (C) THE ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT RECALLED THAT ELECTION OBSERVERS
HAD BEEN WELCOMED IN EVERY ELECTION SINCE INDEPENDENCE, BUT HE WAS
SUSPICIOUS THAT SOME IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SEEMED “TOO
EAGER” TO OBSERVE THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL VOTE. HE SAID THE GOZ
WOULD ALSO WELCOME OBSERVERS THIS TIME, BUT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE
IMPARTIAL, AND SAID THE ELECTION WOULD BE HELD ON TIME, BEFORE THE
END OF MARCH 2002. AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN PRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF
NON-VIOLENCE IN LAND REFORM AND THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, AND
EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF PERMITTING THE PARTICIPATION OF
INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVERS. HE DESCRIBED THE BONA FIDES OF
THE U.S.-BASED INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ELECTION SYSTEMS
(IFES), AND ADVOCATED THAT ITS ADMISSION TO ZIMBABWE WELL IN
ADVANCE OF THE ELECTION WOULD DEMONSTRATE THE GOZ’S COMMITMENT TO
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03131 01 OF 04 191134Z
CONDUCTING A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION. PRESIDENT MUGABE CLEARLY
MADE AN EFFORT TO BE FRIENDLY, POSITIVE, SEPARATE US FROM THE
BRITISH, AND OPEN CHANNELS OF DIALOGUE. END SUMMARY.
¶3. (U) AFTER PRESENTING HIS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT MUGABE ON
OCTOBER 18, AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN MET WITH THE ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT
FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR. THE PRESIDENT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY FOREIGN
MINISTER MUDENGE, MFA DIRECTOR OF PROTOCOL NGONI CHIDEYA, AND MFA
AMERICAS DESK OFFICER RICHARD CHIBUWE. THE AMBASSADOR WAS JOINED
BY THE DCM, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, DATT, ACTING USAID DIRECTOR,
AND POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF.
U.S. – ZIMBABWE RELATIONSHIP
—————————-
¶4. (C) PRESIDENT MUGABE WELCOMED AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN TO ZIMBABWE
AND CONGRATULATED HIM ON HIS APPOINTMENT. HE PRAISED THE UNITED
STATES’ ROLE IN HELPING FOSTER ZIMBABWEAN INDEPENDENCE, AND
EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR U.S. SUPPORT SINCE 1980. AMBASSADOR
SULLIVAN AGREED THAT THE UNITED STATES AND ZIMBABWE HAVE ENJOYED
GOOD RELATIONS OVER THE YEARS. WE HAD OPPOSED THE IAN SMITH
REGIME, HE RECALLED, AND HAVE PROVIDED MORE THAN $700 MILLION IN
ASSISTANCE TO ZIMBABWE SINCE INDEPENDENCE. THE USG, HE CONTINUED,
WAS CURRENTLY WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE GOZ IN THE AREAS OF
INFECTIOUS DISEASES, DEMINING, AND PARLIAMENTARY STRENGTHENING.
WAR AGAINST TERRORISM
———————
¶5. (C) MUGABE EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN OVER THE SEPTEMBER 11
TERRORIST ATTACKS. THE GOZ, HE SAID, HAD WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03131 01 OF 04 191134Z
EMBASSY TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY AFTER THE 1998 ATTACKS ON EMBASSIES
NAIROBI AND DAR ES SALAAM, AND STILL HAS THE SAME INCLINATION TO
COOPERATE. MUGABE ACKNOWLEDGED THE PRESENCE IN ZIMBABWE OF SOME
INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT WANT TO ENGAGE IN UNSAVORY ACTIVITIES, BUT
HE URGED THAT “WE WATCH THEM CLOSELY TOGETHER.” HE EXPRESSED
WORRY ABOUT THE GROWING ANTHRAX THREAT, NOTING THAT SEVERAL
MEMBERS OF HIS OWN FAMILY HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN INFECTED WITH THE
DISEASE. AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN THANKED MUGABE FOR THE OUTSTANDING
SUPPORT THE EMBASSY HAS RECEIVED FROM THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
ORGANIZATION (CIO) AND THE ZIMBABWE REPUBLIC POLICE (ZRP)IN HELPING
US FEEL MORE SECURE IN OUR FACILITIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE AFTERMATH OF
SEPTEMBER 11. HE URGED THE GOZ TO TAKE OTHER CONCRETE STEPS IN
THE BROADER WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, SUCH AS RATIFYING THE REMAINING
NINE UN COUNTERTERRORISM CONVENTIONS IT HAS NOT YET RATIFIED.
MUGABE WAS NONCOMMITTAL, NOTING THAT RATIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTIONS REQUIRED A PROTRACTED AND TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS.
LAND
—-
¶6. (C) MUGABE BEGAN WITH HIS DETAILED PERSPECTIVE ON THE HISTORY
OF ZIMBABWE’S LAND QUESTION. HE NOTED THAT “WE WEREN’T QUITE
HAPPY” WITH THE LANCASTER HOUSE CONSTITUTION FOR SEVERAL REASONS,
INCLUDING ITS PROVISIONS ON LAND. FOR INSTANCE, IT REQUIRED THAT
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTO1931
PAGE 01 HARARE 03131 02 OF 04 191134Z
ACTION AF-00
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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 LAB-01
L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 PA-00
PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00
IRM-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 R-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /008W
——————31BD14 191134Z /38
P 191101Z OCT 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0073
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 003131
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL. 10/19/11
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT MUGABE AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS TERRORISM, LAND,
AND ELECTION OBSERVERS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03131 02 OF 04 191134Z
THE ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR THE PURPOSES OF RESETTLEMENT BE
IMPLEMENTED ON A “WILLING SELLER, WILLING BUYER” BASIS, WHICH
PLACED SERIOUS CONSTRAINTS ON THE GOVERNMENT’S CAPACITY TO
IMPLEMENT LAND REFORM. THE UNITED STATES, MUGABE SAID, HAD HELPED
BREAK THE DEADLOCK IN NEGOTIATIONS BY PROMISING TO SUPPLEMENT
BRITISH ASSISTANCE FOR LAND REFORM AND TO ENCOURAGE OTHER DONORS
TO CONTRIBUTE. IN THE EARLY 1990’S, GOVERNMENT PASSED THE LAND
ACQUISITION ACT, WHICH ALLOWED THE GOVERNMENT TO ACQUIRE LAND SO
LONG AS IT WAS IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST. IT DID NOT “TAMPER” WITH
THE REQUIREMENT FOR COMPENSATION, AS GOVERNMENT EXPECTED THE
UNITED KINGDOM TO HONOR ITS LANCASTER HOUSE COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE
THE NECESSARY FUNDS.
¶7. (C) ACCORDING TO MUGABE, MARGARET THATCHER DID HER BEST TO
HONOR THE BRITISH COMMITMENT BY PROVIDING SOME ASSISTANCE, BUT
THOSE FUNDS SOON RAN OUT. ZIMBABWE WAS THEN FACED WITH HAVING TO
COMPENSATE FARMOWNERS WHO HAD NEVER BOUGHT THEIR LAND IN THE FIRST
PLACE. OUR VIEW, MUGABE EMPHASIZED, WAS AND REMAINS THAT
PROVIDING SUCH COMPENSATION IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BRITISH.
FORMER BRITISH PM JOHN MAJOR RECOGNIZED THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND
WAS WORKING ON A GOOD ASSISTANCE PACKAGE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF
ZIMBABWE WHEN HE WAS DEFEATED FOR REELECTION. HIS SUCCESSOR TONY
BLAIR REFUSED TO HONOR THE COMMITMENTS OF HIS CONSERVATIVE PARTY
PREDECESSORS. IN A FURTHER SLAP TO THE GOZ, BLAIR’S DEVELOPMENT
MINISTER CLARE SHORT DISMISSED THE IDEA THAT BRITAIN WAS OBLIGATED
TO PAY COMPENSATION, POINTING OUT THAT, AS AN IRISHWOMAN, SHE HAD
HAD HER OWN EXPERIENCES WITH COLONIALISM.
¶8. (C) AT THAT POINT, MUGABE EXPLAINED, THE GOZ DECIDED TO
PROCEED ON ITS OWN TERMS. IT WOULD PROVIDE COMPENSATION ONLY FOR
IMPROVEMENTS TO ACQUIRED LAND AND WOULD APPROPRIATE THE FARMS ONLY
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03131 02 OF 04 191134Z
OF THOSE OWNERS POSSESSING MULTIPLE PROPERTIES. IN MOST CASES,
NEITHER OWNERS OF SINGLE FARMS NOR OF AGRO-INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS
WOULD BE AFFECTED. IN RARE CIRCUMSTANCES, SINGLE FARM-OWNERS
MIGHT HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR PROPERTY IF IT IS ADJACENT TO A
COMMUNAL AREA, BUT THOSE WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN THIS SITUATION
WOULD BE GIVEN ANOTHER FARM ELSEWHERE. NO FARMER, MUGABE
INSISTED, WOULD BE LEFT WITHOUT ANY PROPERTY.
¶9. (C) THE AMBASSADOR CONVEYED THE USG’S STRONG BELIEF IN THE
NEED TO ADDRESS THE HISTORICAL INEQUITIES IN LAND OWNERSHIP, AND
SAID WE WOULD LIKE TO BE SUPPORTIVE. THE USG, HOWEVER, COULD ONLY
SUPPORT A NON-VIOLENT LAND REFORM PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED WITHIN A
LEGAL FRAMEWORK SUCH AS THE ABUJA AGREEMENT.
RULE OF LAW
———–
¶10. (C) PRESIDENT MUGABE HAD HOSTILE WORDS FOR THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT AND TONY BLAIR IN PARTICULAR, WHOM HE CALLED THAT
“MADMAN AT NUMBER 10 DOWNING STREET.” BLAIR, HE SAID, DESCRIBES
ZIMBABWE AS A VIOLATOR OF THE RULE OF LAW AND OF HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT
THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER SHOULD “READ OUR HISTORY.” DURING THE
IAN SMITH REGIME, MUGABE RECALLED, HE HAD SPENT ELEVEN YEARS IN
PRISON, AND HIS MOTHER NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE REASON WHY. THERE WAS
NO RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS THEN, BUT THE BRITISH DID NOT SEEM
CONCERNED. “DO YOU THINK I CAN LISTEN TO SUCH CRITICISM FROM TONY
BLAIR,” THE PRESIDENT ASKED, “WHEN I KNOW THE HISTORY OF BRITAIN
IN THIS COUNTRY?” BLAIR AND HIS ADVISORS, MUGABE SAID
DISMISSIVELY, WERE IN SCHOOL WHEN HE WAS FIGHTING FOR
INDEPENDENCE, AND “NOW THEY THINK THEY ARE OUR MASTERS.”
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03131 02 OF 04 191134Z
¶11. (C) MUGABE SAID HE WANTED DEMOCRACY FOR EVERY ZIMBABWEAN. HE
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE MIGHT BE ISOLATED INCIDENTS OF LAWLESSNESS
“HERE AND THERE” AND THAT HE DISAPPROVED OF THEM. THE PEOPLE
RESPONSIBLE WOULD BE PROSECUTED WHENEVER POSSIBLE. IT WAS A
MISTAKE, HOWEVER, TO CHARACTERIZE ISOLATED INCIDENTS AS
GENERALIZED LAWLESSNESS. ZIMBABWE, HE SAID, FELT UNFAIRLY TREATED
BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. ZIMBABWE’S DIFFICULTIES WERE
RELATED TO LAND, PURE AND SIMPLE. HE SAID HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND
WHY THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE PERSUADED TO TAKE THE SIDE OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM WITHOUT DOING ITS OWN ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION
ON THE GROUND. THERE WAS STILL TIME TO DO SUCH AN ASSESSMENT, HE
DECLARED. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE MIGHT BE TIMES WHEN THE GOZ
NEEDS TO “ADJUST” ITS ACTIONS.
ELECTION OBSERVATION
——————–
¶12. (C) TURNING TO THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, MUGABE
SAID SOME IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ARE PUSHING TO
“SUPERVISE” IT. THE GOZ FEELS INSULTED BY THIS, BECAUSE ZIMBABWE
HAS HELD ELECTIONS REGULARLY SINCE INDEPENDENCE. WHY, HE ASKED,
WOULD WE SUDDENLY TURN UNDEMOCRATIC SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE IS AN
OPPOSITION PARTY, WHEN THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OPPOSITION PARTIES
IN ZIMBABWE. MUGABE INSISTED THAT THE GOZ HAD NEVER CHEATED IN
ITS ELECTIONS — THERE IS NO HISTORY OF THAT.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ7804
PAGE 01 HARARE 03131 03 OF 04 191135Z
ACTION AF-00
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FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01
L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 PA-00
PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00
IRM-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 R-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /008W
——————31BD34 191135Z /38
P 191101Z OCT 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0074
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 003131
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL. 10/19/11
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT MUGABE AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS TERRORISM, LAND,
AND ELECTION OBSERVERS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03131 03 OF 04 191135Z
¶13. (C) THE USG IS NOT INTERESTED IN LECTURING ZIMBABWE ABOUT HOW
TO RUN ITS ELECTIONS, THE AMBASSADOR REPLIED. HE INFORMED
PRESIDENT MUGABE THAT THE UNITED STATES WELCOMES OBSERVERS FOR
MOST OF OUR NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ELECTIONS, AS DO ALMOST ALL
SADC COUNTRIES. INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS, HE CONTINUED, CAN PLAY
AN EXTREMELY POSITIVE ROLE, INCLUDING IN HELPING DISCOURAGE
VIOLENCE ON ALL SIDES. THE WESTMINSTER FOUNDATION IN LONDON,
MUGABE RETORTED, IS GIVING FUNDS TO THE OPPOSITION MDC, WHILE THE
BRITISH GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGES OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS
IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DO THE SAME. HOW, THEN, CAN THE
GOZ ALLOW THE BRITISH TO OBSERVE ZIMBABWE’S ELECTION? THE GOZ
WILL WELCOME OBSERVERS, HE SAID, BUT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE IMPARTIAL.
¶14. (C) THE AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED THAT THE U.S. NGO INTERESTED IN
OBSERVING ZIMBABWE’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION — THE INTERNATIONAL
FOUNDATION FOR ELECTION SYSTEMS (IFES) — IS NON-PARTISAN AND IS
WELL-KNOWN FOR ITS EXPERTISE IN ELECTION ADMINISTRATION. IT
TYPICALLY HAS EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS
IN MANY COUNTRIES, AND HAD RECENTLY INVITED ZIMBABWE’S REGISTRAR-
GENERAL TO OBSERVE THE UPCOMING STATE-WIDE ELECTIONS IN VIRGINIA.
THE AMBASSADOR EXPRESSED HIS HOPE THAT THE GOZ WOULD BE RECEPTIVE
TO THE PARTICIPATION OF IFES IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. IF IT WAS
THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO HOLD A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION
WITHOUT VIOLENCE, AND IT HAD NOTHING TO HIDE, IT COULD DEMONSTRATE
THIS IN A POWERFUL WAY BY WELCOMING THE PARTICIPATION OF GROUPS
SUCH AS IFES.
¶15. (C) FOREIGN MINISTER MUDENGE INTERJECTED THAT ZIMBABWE HAS
ALWAYS WELCOMED INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS. WHY HAS THIS BECOME SUCH
AN IMPORTANT CONCERN FOR THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION, HE ASKED? YES,
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03131 03 OF 04 191135Z
MUGABE AGREED, CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS SEEM “TOO EAGER” TO SEND
OBSERVERS THIS TIME. WHY IS THIS ELECTION SO SPECIAL, HE
WONDERED? THE MDC, HE SAID, WON A NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS LAST YEAR, BUT ARE CHALLENGING 37 SEATS
THEY LOST ON “SMALL TECHNICALITIES.” THE OPPOSITION PARTY, HE
INSISTED, IS PURSUING THAT APPROACH PURELY AS A POLITICAL GIMMICK
TO CONVEY THE IMPRESSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT THE
JUNE 2000 ELECTIONS WERE NOT FREE AND FAIR. WE HAVE NOTHING TO
HIDE, THE PRESIDENT ASSERTED. WE KNOW THE “DIRTY TRICKS” THE MDC
PLAYED TO WIN AS MANY PARLIAMENTARY SEATS AS THEY DID, SUCH AS
WORKING CLANDESTINELY THROUGH NGOS AND BRIBING TRADITIONAL CHIEFS
TO ENSURE THAT THEIR SUBJECTS VOTED FOR THE OPPOSITION PARTY.
MUGABE DISMISSED THE MDC AS A PARTY IN DISARRAY.
¶16. (C) PRESIDENT MUGABE STRESSED THAT THE GOZ HAS NEVER
POSTPONED ELECTIONS, AND NOTED THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE MUST BE
HELD IN 2002 PRIOR TO THE END OF MARCH. HE SAID THE RULING PARTY
WOULD WALK “CLEAR, TRANSPARENT STEPS” IN THE ELECTION SO LONG AS
THE OTHER SIDE DOES THE SAME.
DRC
—
¶17. (C) ON THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC), MUGABE SAID HE
WAS BAFFLED BY THE CRITICISM ZIMBABWE HAS ENDURED BECAUSE OF ITS
INVOLVEMENT IN THAT CONFLICT. HE FELT STRONGLY AS THOUGH ZIMBABWE
HAD DONE THE RIGHT THING BY GOING TO THE AID OF A FELLOW SADC
GOVERNMENT UNDER THREAT. THE AMBASSADOR REPLIED THAT THE UNITED
STATES IS WORKING WITH ALL INVOLVED PARTIES, INCLUDING JOSEPH
KABILA’S GOVERNMENT, TO HELP FORGE A LASTING PEACE IN THE DRC.
THE INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE APPEARED TO BE MOVING IN THE RIGHT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03131 03 OF 04 191135Z
DIRECTION. ANOTHER CRITICAL ELEMENT IN THE SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION
IS THE DISARMING AND DEMOBILIZATION OF THE EX-FAR/INTERAHAMWE, AND
THE AMBASSADOR URGED THE GOZ TO COOPERATE ON THIS ISSUE AND TO
PRESS PRESIDENT KABILA TO DO THE SAME.
COMMENT
——-
¶18. (C) PRESIDENT MUGABE CLEARLY MADE AN EFFORT TO BE FRIENDLY,
POSITIVE, SEPARATE US FROM THE BRITISH, AND OPEN CHANNELS AS HE
WOULD PUT IT “TO CORRECT THE DISTORTED VIEWS OF ZIMBABWE WHICH THE
BRITS ARE SELLING TO THE WORLD.” HIS MIND REMAINS AS SHARP AS
EVER AND HIS MEMORY UNFAILINGLY SELECTIVE. HE IS MUCH MORE
INTERESTED WHEN HE IS TALKING HIMSELF THAN WHEN HE IS LISTENING,
BUT DID FOCUS IN WHENEVER THE CONVERSATION TURNED TO LAND OR
ELECTIONS. HE APPEARED PHYSICALLY VIGOROUS AS WELL, PARTICULARLY
IMPRESSIVE GIVEN THAT HE HAD BEEN CONDUCTING CREDENTIALING
CEREMONIES WITHOUT A BREAK SINCE EARLY MORNING (WE COMPLETED OUR
MEETING IN MID-AFTERNOON, AND I WAS THE SEVENTH OF EIGHT
AMBASSADORS TO PRESENT CREDENTIALS THAT DAY.)
¶19. (C) MUGABE’S COMMENTS ON LAND WERE NOTHING NEW. I WAS
ENCOURAGED BY HIS PROMISE OF COOPERATION ON TERRORISM, AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO PRESS THE GOZ TO IMPLEMENT CONCRETE STEPS IN THIS
REGARD. MUGABE’S COMMENTS ON ELECTION OBSERVATION WERE LESS
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ7805
PAGE 01 HARARE 03131 04 OF 04 191135Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 USNW-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 LAB-01
L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 PA-00
PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00
IRM-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 R-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /008W
——————31BD3E 191135Z /38
P 191101Z OCT 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0075
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 003131
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL. 10/19/11
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT MUGABE AND AMBASSADOR DISCUSS TERRORISM, LAND,
AND ELECTION OBSERVERS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03131 04 OF 04 191135Z
ENCOURAGING AND REVEALED A PARANOIA, SHARED BY MOST SENIOR
OFFICIALS IN THIS GOVERNMENT, THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS
OUT TO GET THEM AND IS ONLY INTERESTED IN OBSERVING THIS ELECTION
BECAUSE IT WANTS THE MDC TO WIN.
SULLIVAN
CONFIDENTIAL
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