State Security Minister said planned protests by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions would be a “grave mistake” and security forces would not hesitate to “crush” the protestors.
The ZCTU had announced plans to lead processions in 35 cities and towns throughout the country on 13 September to protest against poor wages, high taxes, weak economic conditions, lack of access to HIV/Aids drugs and continuing harassment of civil society groups.
Despite the hype, labour leaders told United States embassy officials that only 1 000 people were likely to participate in the Harare marches and 3 000 nationwide.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 06HARARE1130, PREVIEW OF LABOR’S PLANS FOR NATIONWIDE
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO0588
RR RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #1130/01 2551421
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 121421Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0590
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1312
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1162
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1316
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0073
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0577
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0942
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1370
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 3744
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1139
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1787
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUFGNOA/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1533
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 001130
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL, M.HARPOLE
SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR M. COPSON AND E.LOKEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2016
SUBJECT: PREVIEW OF LABOR’S PLANS FOR NATIONWIDE
DEMONSTRATIONS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 13.
REF: A. A) HARARE 0077
¶B. B) HARARE 1067
¶C. C) HARARE 1078
Classified By: Charge d’Affaires, a.i., Eric T. Schultz
for reasons 1.5 b/d
——-
Summary
——-
¶1. (C) The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) plans to
lead processions in 35 cities and towns throughout the
country on Wednesday, September 13 to protest against poor
wages, high taxes, weak economic conditions, lack of access
to HIV/AIDS drugs, and continuing harassment of civil society
groups. The government has responded with stern warnings
that security forces will crush any demonstrations and
preemptively arrested numerous civil society leaders and
students. Labor leaders are playing down expectations;
privately they are hoping for about 1000 participants in
Harare and 3000 nation-wide. The opposition Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) has pledged its support but will not
formally participate. End Summary.
————————-
Taking It To The Streets
————————-
¶2. (U) The ZCTU announced plans last week for mass
demonstrations throughout the country to demand wages and
salaries linked to the Poverty Datum Line (PDL) (ref A); a
reduction in taxes; full availability and free access to
anti-retro virals (ARVs) to fight HIV/AIDS; and for the
police to stop harassing the informal sector workers. In
Harare plans call for the ZCTU leadership to lead a
procession through the city center to deliver a petition with
ZCTU demands to the Ministries of Labor and Finance, as well
as, the Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ), a large
business association. In the other targeted cities and
towns, local labor delegates will lead demonstrators to
deliver petitions to the offices of the Chief Labor Relations
Officers.
———————————-
With a little help from my friends
———————————-
¶3. (U) ZCTU announced plans for the demonstration two weeks
ago, and has attempted to spread the word through the weekly
opposition Standard, and through affiliates throughout the
country. ZCTU also consulted with key civil society leaders.
Many of the most active civil society groups, including the
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, the National Constitutional
Assembly (NCA), and Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), have
voiced their support for the ZCTU protest. The MDC has
pledged its public support but has stated it will not
officially participate. ZCTU leaders have told us they hope
for about 1000 participants in Harare and about 3000
nation-wide.
———————–
Government Intimidation
———————–
¶4. (U) With ample notice of the protest, the GOZ has used
state-run newspapers to discourage participation. In the
Sunday Mail for example, State Security Minister Didymus
Mutasa was quoted as saying that the protest would be a
HARARE 00001130 002 OF 002
&grave mistake,8 and that security forces would not
hesitate to &crush8 the protesters. The papers have also
alleged that the protest is an attempt to divert attention
from MDC illegal business activities. Finally, the
government has argued through the newspapers, that it is
willing to discuss economic demands at the negotiating table.
¶5. (SBU) The government has also taken preemptive actions to
thwart participation. Police arrested 15 student union
leaders over the weekend, and then arrested 107 women and
babies gathering in Harare for a WOZA organized demonstration
on Monday which could have served as a building block for the
ZCTU march. Roadblocks have been set up around Harare to
control the movement of potential marchers.
——–
Comment
——–
¶6. (C) Caught by surprise by an MDC demonstration on
September 1 (Ref B), the GOZ appears determined to snuff out
the opposition’s momentum before it starts. ZCTU,s
announcement of the protest two weeks in advance, while
perhaps intended to mobilize its supporters, may aid the
government in forestalling the protest. However, if a
demonstration does occur, whatever its size it will help to
maintain focus on the government’s incompetence in dealing
with the country’s deepening economic and political woes.
Moreover, if the police overreact in their efforts to break
up the marches, it could serve to fuel further protests. End
Comment.
SCHULTZ
(34 VIEWS)
