Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo, Mashonaland Central governor Border Gezi and Mashonaland West governor Peter Chanetsa embarked on an unprecedented wave of violence in the run-up to the 2000 parliamentary elections to gain favour with President Robert Mugabe, a cable released by Wikileaks says.
In its critique of the violence leading up to the elections, which were marred by violence following the first national defeat of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front when people voted against the new constitution in a referendum in February, United States embassy officials said the political violence in Mashonaland was being systematically organised by key ZANU-PF officials, including Border Gezi, who was in competition with Chanetsa and Chombo “for turf and political favour with President Mugabe”.
Business people from the area said Gezi personally spearheaded the violence in the two provinces, and others, though not as violent as Gezi, were encouraging their supporters to forcefully assure the party of victory in the elections.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 00HARARE3078, POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE: SHOCKING
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CONFIDENTIAL PTQ7570
PAGE 01 HARARE 03078 01 OF 04 071608Z
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COME-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 ANHR-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
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/011W
——————602F4F 071608Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6235
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY ROME
NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 003078
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/00
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM EAGR PINR ZI
SUBJECT: POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE: SHOCKING
PERSONAL TESTIMONIALS FROM COMMERCIAL FARMERS,
BUSINESSPEOPLE, AND MDC ACTIVISTS
DEPT FOR A/F PDAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN, AF/S RENDER
AND GURNEY
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03078 01 OF 04 071608Z
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
DEPT PASS TO USTR FOR ROSA WITAKER
ROME PASS VATICAN
CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL OFFICER MAKILA JAMES, REASONS
1.5 (B) AND (D).
REFTEL: A) HARARE 2961, B) HARARE 2560
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: SEVERAL WHITE COMMERCIAL FARMERS AND
BUSINESSPEOPLE TOLD AMBASSADOR MCDONALD JUNE 5 OF THE
CONTINUING POLITICAL VIOLENCE ON THEIR OCCUPIED
PROPERTIES AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS, DURING PRIVATE
MEETINGS WITH THEM IN MASHONALAND WEST PROVINCE. A
BLACK MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) OFFICIAL ALSO
INFORMED THE AMBASSADOR ABOUT THE LEVEL OF POLITICAL
VIOLENCE IN THIS AREA, WHICH HE SAID WAS ORCHESTRATED BY
SENIOR OFFICIALS OF ZANU-PF AND CARRIED OUT BY HIRED
THUGS ON BEHALF OF THE RULING PARTY. THE BASIC MESSAGE
WAS THAT THE FARM OCCUPATIONS HAVE NOTING TO DO WITH
LAND REFORM, BUT MERELY PROVIDED A PRETEXT UNDER WHICH
TO MOVE “WAR VETERANS” ON TO COMMERCIAL AND COMMUNAL
LANDS IN ORDER TO TERRORIZE PEOPLE INTO SUPPORTING ZANU-
PF DURING THE RUN-UP TO THE JUNE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION.
THE CONSENSUS WAS THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO PURSUE
SERIOUS LAND REFORM DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03078 01 OF 04 071608Z
UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION. NEVERTHELESS, THESE CONTACTS
MAINTAIN THAT THE MDC CONTINUES TO HAVE BROAD SUPPORT IN
THESE COMMUNITIES AND WILL WIN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF
SEATS. THE GOVERNMENT, HOWEVER, IS MOVING TO
DISENFRANCHISE PRIMARILY WHITE VOTERS BY OMITTING THEIR
NAMES FROM THE VOTERS’ ROLLS AND MISINFORMING THEM ABOUT
THEIR RIGHT TO CORRECT SUCH OMISSIONS. END SUMMARY.
¶2. (C) ON JUNE 5 AMBASSADOR MCDONALD, ACCOMPANIED BY
POLOFF AND THE RSO ASSISTANT, TRAVELED TO SOME OF
ZIMBABWE’S MOST PRODUCTIVE COMMERCIAL FARMLAND, IN THE
MASHONALAND WEST PROVINCE IN THE TOWNS OF BANKET,
CHINOYI AND DOMA. MANY OF THESE FARMS ARE ON THE LIST
OF 804 PROPERTIES PROPOSED FOR IMMINENT GOVERNMENT
ACQUISITION (REFTEL A). THIS PROVINCE HAS ALSO SEEN
SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME POLITICAL VIOLENCE, INCLUDING
THE DEATH OF TWO MDC ORGANIZERS IN KARIBA TOWN, AND
BRUTALIZATION OF FARM WORKERS IN RAFFINGORA AND OTHER
AREAS (REFTEL B). AMBASSADOR MCDONALD MADE UNANNOUNCED
CALLS ON SEVERAL BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO WERE EAGER AND
PLEASED TO TALK ABOUT THE ONGOING POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN
THE AREA. IN BANKET WE STOPPED AT ITICON IRRIGATION
CONSULTANTS, WHICH SUPPLIES IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT TO MOST
OF THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS IN THE AREA. THE MANAGERS
WITH WHOM WE SPOKE SAID THERE HAD BEEN WIDESPREAD
POLITICAL INTIMIDATION IN THE AREA, PARTICULARLY THE
COMMUNITY OF RAFFINGORA. SIMILARLY, WE HEARD OF MORE
POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE OWNER
OF THE BANKET FARMERS’ CENTER, A PROSPEROUS LOOKING FARM
EQUIPMENT SUPPLY COMPANY, WHO IS AN ADMITTED MDC
ORGANIZER AND FINANCIAL BACKER IN THAT COMMUNITY. YET
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03078 01 OF 04 071608Z
MORE ATTACKS AND INCIDENTS OF HUMILIATION OF FARM OWNERS
AND WORKERS WERE DESCRIBED TO US DURING A CALL ON
OFFICIALS AT THE ELECTRO-ELECT COMPANY IN CHINHOYI,
WHICH PROVIDES ELECTRICAL FIXTURES AND REPAIRS
AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE AREA’S COMMERCIAL FARMS.
¶3. (C) ACCORDING TO THESE BUSINESSPEOPLE AND COMMERCIAL
FARMERS:
— COMMERCIAL AND COMMUNAL FARM WORKERS ARE FORCED TO
ATTEND ALL NIGHT ZANU-PF POLITICAL RALLIES AND BEATEN
FOR ANY SIGNS OF RESISTANCE OR OPPOSITION PARTY SUPPORT.
WHILE THOSE BEATINGS OCCURRED ON ALL OCCUPIED
PROPERTIES, THE CURRENT STRATEGY IS FOCUSED ON THE MORE
ISOLATED WORKERS IN THE COMMUNAL AREAS, TEACHERS AND
NURSES;
— MANY FARM WORKER WOMEN HAVE BEEN RAPED ON THE FARMS,
AS WELL AS AT LEAST ONE MDC SUPPORTER WHO WAS TAKEN TO A
NOW NOTORIOUS HOTEL IN KARIBA, THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY HOTEL,
WHERE SHE WAS GANG RAPED BY ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS. THE
FEMALE MAYOR OF KARIBA AND HER HUSBAND, WHO WERE FORCED
TO ALLOW THEIR PREMISES TO BE USED BY ZANU-PF THUGS,
REPORTEDLY OWN THIS HOTEL. THESE RAPE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN
GENERALLY AFRAID TO REPORT THEIR ORDEAL.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ7571
PAGE 01 HARARE 03078 02 OF 04 071608Z
ACTION AF-00
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COME-00 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
NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
/011W
——————602F5A 071608Z /38
P 071612Z JUN 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6236
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY ROME
NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 003078
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/00
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM EAGR PINR ZI
SUBJECT: POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE: SHOCKING
PERSONAL TESTIMONIALS FROM COMMERCIAL FARMERS,
BUSINESSPEOPLE, AND MDC ACTIVISTS
— FARM OWNERS AND MANAGERS ARE HUMILIATED BY FORCING
THEM TO COVER THEMSELVES IN WATER AND DIRT AND ROLL
AROUND ON THE GROUND, MEN WERE MADE TO WEAR DRESSES,
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03078 02 OF 04 071608Z
FARMERS AND THEIR WIVES FORCED TO DANCE TO REVOLUTIONARY
SONGS, DENOUNCE THE MDC AND PLEDGE LOYALTY TO ZANU-PF,
AND FARMERS WERE FORCED TO FEED THE OCCUPYING VETS AND
TO FERRY THEIR WORKERS TO ZANU-PF RALLIES;
— WHITE FARMERS AND BUSINESSPEOPLE WHO ARE BELIEVED TO
BE SUPPORTERS OF THE MDC HAVE HAD THEIR BUSINESSES
ATTACKED BY STONE-THROWING CROWDS, HAVE BEEN THREATENED
WITH PHYSICAL HARM IF THEY FAILED TO STOP SUPPORTING THE
OPPOSITION, HAD THEIR PHONES ARE TAPPED, AND CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION (CIO) MEMBERS FOLLOW THEM.
WHILE SOME OF THESE BUSINESS PEOPLE WILL TEMPORARILY
LEAVE ZIMBABWE OR CLOSE UP DURING THE VOTING AND POST-
ELECTION PERIOD, MOST HAVE NO PLACE TO GO PERMANENTLY
AND WILL REMAIN;
— NON-ZIMBABWEAN FARM LABORERS HAVE BEEN THREATENED
WITH DEPORTATION BACK TO THEIR COUNTRIES OR DEATH IF
THEY VOTE AGAINST ZANU-PF IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION.
THREATS AGAINST MDC
——————-
¶4. (C) THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE HAS BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY
ORGANIZED BY KEY ZANU-PF OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE
GOVERNOR FOR MASHONALAND CENTRAL, BORDER GEZI, WHO HAS
BEEN IN COMPETITION WITH THE MASHONALAND WEST GOVERNOR,
PETER CHANESTA, AND THE MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND
TECHNOLOGY, IGNATIUS CHOMBO, FOR TURF AND POLITICAL
FAVOR WITH PRESIDENT MUGABE, ACCORDING TO THESE
MASHONALAND BUSINESSPEOPLE. CONSEQUENTLY, GEZI HAS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03078 02 OF 04 071608Z
PERSONALLY SPEARHEADED VIOLENCE ON THE BORDER OF THE TWO
PROVINCES, WHICH HAS SPILLED OVER TO RAFFINGORA AND
CENTENARY, SITES OF THE MOST BRUTAL POLITICAL VIOLENCE
IN THE AREA. THE OTHER RULING PARTY POLITICIANS, WHILE
NOT AS VIOLENT AS GEZI, HAVE ENCOURAGED THEIR SUPPORTERS
TO FORCEFULLY ASSURE THE PARTY’S VICTORY IN THE
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION. THE MANAGER OF THE BANKET
FARMERS’ CENTER GAVE US A COPY OF A LETTER WRITTEN BY A
LOCAL CATHOLIC PARISH PRIEST TO THE ZANU-PF CANDIDATE
FOR BANKET, PLEADING WITH HIM TO STOP ADVOCATING
VIOLENCE, SPECIFICALLY THE CANDIDATE’S CALL FOR DEATH TO
MDC SUPPORTERS. THE BUSINESSPEOPLE URGED OUR STRONG
SUPPORT FOR DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ELECTION MONITORS
TO ENSURE THAT THE VOTE WAS NOT STOLEN.
¶5. THE BANKET MANAGER TOLD US THAT DESPITE THE VIOLENCE
AND INTIMIDATION, HE AND OTHER WHITE BUSINESSMEN
CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE MDC. HE SAID HE HELPED MDC
CANDIDATES GET ON THE BALLOT FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY VOTE
AND SOLICITED FUNDS FOR THE OPPOSITION PARTY. THE MDC
OFFICIAL WHO WAS TO APPROVE THE CANDIDACY OF MDC
REPRESENTATIVES AT THE NOMINATING CENTER ON JUNE 3 WAS
RUN OFF THE ROAD THAT MORNING, BUT SURVIVED AND ARRIVED
IN TIME TO ENSURE THE REGISTRATION OF THE OPPOSITION
PARTY CANDIDATES, HE INFORMED. BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF
EACH CONSTITUENCY IN THE AREA, THE MDC ORGANIZER
ESTIMATED THAT THE MDC WOULD TAKE BETWEEN 75 TO 80
PERCENT OF THE KEY AREAS IN MASHONALALAND WEST, WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF ZVIMBA SOUTH, MUGABE’S HOME AREA. MDC
CANDIDATES IN THE AREA CANNOT CAMPAIGN, HOWEVER, BECAUSE
OF THE THREATS AGAINST THEM AND THEIR SUPPORTERS BY WAR
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03078 02 OF 04 071608Z
VETERANS, ACCORDING TO THIS BUSINESSMAN.
REGISTRATION AND CAMPAIGN CONCERNS
———————————-
¶6. (C) ALL THE BUSINESS PEOPLE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT
WHETHER THEY WOULD BE INCLUDED ON THE VOTERS’ ROLLS.
THEY NOTED THAT NO REGISTRATION RECEIPTS HAD BEEN
ISSUED, AS WAS THE NORM IN PREVIOUS ELECTIONS. THERE IS
HOWEVER, NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO ISSUE SUCH RECEIPTS SO
COURT CHALLENGES TO THE OMISSION OF THEIR NAMES WOULD BE
DIFFICULT. ADDITIONALLY, IT WAS WIDELY BELIEVED THAT
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO REMOVE EUROPEAN SOUNDING NAMES
FROM THE ROLLS, AND HAS STATED THAT IT WILL UNILATERALLY
STRIKE THE NAMES OF ANYONE BELIEVED TO STILL HOLD A
BRITISH PASSPORT. SOME OF THE WHITE BUSINESS PEOPLE
SAID THEIR NAMES WERE NOT ON THE ROLLS WHEN THEY
INSPECTED IT RECENTLY, DESPITE HAVING SIGNED UP ALONG
WITH ALL THEIR BLACK EMPLOYEES AT THEIR WORK PLACE.
THESE WHITES SAID THE INSPECTION OFFICIALS SAID THEY
COULD NOT VOTE IN THE UPCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION
AND THAT ANY CORRECTION WOULD ONLY APPLY TO FUTURE
ELECTIONS. THIS INFORMATION CONTRADICTS THE REGISTRAR
GENERAL’S PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE VOTERS’ ROLLS,
WHICH ARE OPEN FOR INSPECTION FORM JUNE 1 TO 13 ACROSS
THE COUNTY, WILL BE AMENDED DURING THE ELEVEN DAYS
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ7574
PAGE 01 HARARE 03078 03 OF 04 071608Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00
COME-00 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
NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
/011W
——————602F6D 071609Z /38
P 071612Z JUN 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6237
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY ROME
NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 003078
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/00
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM EAGR PINR ZI
SUBJECT: POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE: SHOCKING
PERSONAL TESTIMONIALS FROM COMMERCIAL FARMERS,
BUSINESSPEOPLE, AND MDC ACTIVISTS
BEFORE VOTING TO CORRECT OMISSIONS. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN
ONLY A LIMITED CAMPAIGN ON THE NEED FOR ALL VOTERS TO
INSPECT THE ROLLS, CONSEQUENTLY, IT IS HARD TO TELL AT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03078 03 OF 04 071608Z
THIS POINT HOW WIDESPREAD VOTER DISENFRANCHISEMENT MAY
BE OR WHETHER PEOPLE ARE BEING ALLOWED TO CORRECT
ERRORS. EVEN SOME MDC CANDIDATES WERE ORIGINALLY
OMITTED FROM THE ROLLS AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY ALLOWED TO
HAVE THEIR NAMES ADDED. THIS MAY NOT, HOWEVER, BE THE
CASE FOR THE AVERAGE VOTER.
¶7. (C) AN MDC EXECUTIVE MEMBER WHO IS EMPLOYED AT ONE
OF THE COMPANIES WE VISITED TOLD US THAT HIS PARTY IS
UNABLE TO CAMPAIGN IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, SPECIFICALLY
MASHONALAND WEST AND CENTRAL, BECAUSE OF THE ATTACKS ON
THEIR CANDIDATES AND VOTERS. THE MDC CAN NO LONGER GO
INTO CERTAIN RURAL AREAS TO ADDRESS THE WIDESPREAD VOTER
INTIMIDATION OR TO CORRECT MISINFORMATION BEING SPREAD
ABOUT ITS PARTY, HE ADDED. THE MDC OFFICIAL THEN
RECITED A HORRIFIC STORY OF AN MDC ORGANIZER IN KARIBA
BEING DRAGGED FROM HIS WORKPLACE AND BEATEN TO DEATH BY
ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS, DRIVEN AROUND TOWN, AND THEN HIS
CORPSE HAVING BEEN DUMPED AT HIS HOME. SIMILARLY, THE
MDC OFFICIAL AND OTHERS IN THE AREA ECHOED STORIES OF
TORTURE OF OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS AT THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY
HOTEL IN KARIBA, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A LOCAL WARLORD,
“REX JESUS.” REX JESUS AND 14 OTHERS WERE ARRESTED FOR
THE MURDER OF THE KARIBA MDC OFFICIAL, BUT FEW EXPECT
HIM TO BE PROSECUTED. THE MDC REPRESENTATIVE SAID EVEN
SENIOR POLICE OFFICIALS IN KARIBA WERE INVOLVED IN
COVERING UP THE ATTACKS ON OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS IN THE
AREA. MDC SUPPORTERS WERE EVEN FREQUENTLY BEATEN IN ONE
POLICE STATION IN KARIBA BY ZANU-PF OFFICIALS, UNTIL
COMPLAINTS WERE MADE TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS AND THE
COMMISSIONER, IDENTIFIED BY THE SURNAME “MBUNDU” WAS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03078 03 OF 04 071608Z
TRANSFERRED. THE MDC OFFICIAL SAID THE VICTIMIZATION
CAMPAIGN HAD SHIFTED FROM GROUPS, I.E., WHITE FARMERS,
TO INDIVIDUALS FARM WORKERS OR OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS.
SECRECY OF BALLOT QUESTIONED
—————————-
¶8. (C) AN ADDITIONAL AREA OF GREAT CONCERN WAS THE
CONFIDENTIALLY OF THE BALLOT. SEVERAL OF THE WHITE
SIPDIS
BUSINESSMEN EXPRESSED FEARS THAT THE BALLOT PAPERS WOULD
BE NUMBERED TO CORRESPOND WITH THE NAMES OF THE VOTERS,
THUS PINPOINTING THEM FOR RETRIBUTION AFTER THE
ELECTION. OTHERS NOTED THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND
RULING PARTY SUPPORTERS WERE TELLING ILLITERATE RURAL
VOTERS THAT THEIR VOTE WOULD BE MONITORED AND THAT
ENTIRE COMMUNITIES WOULD BE PUNISHED IF ANY OF ITS
MEMBERS VOTED FOR THE OPPOSITION. WHILE SOME CIVIL
SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS ARE PLANNING A MODEST CIVIC
EDUCATION EXERCISE TO UNDERSCORE THE SECRECY OF THE
BALLOT, THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA,
PARTICULARLY THE STATE-OWNED RADIO, AND WILL HAVE ONLY A
LIMITED REACH IN THE RURAL AREAS. THE LEGAL RESOURCES
FOUNDATION (LRF) IS ONE SUCH GROUP THAT HAS PREPARED A
MILLION COPIES OF A CARTOON FLYER TO PROMOTE THE SECRET
BALLOT. THIS IDEA WAS PROPOSED TO LRF BY CAMBODIAN
HUMAN RIGHTS LEADER, DR. KEK GALABRU, ONE OF THE EXPERTS
WHO VISITED ZIMBABWE LAST MONTH UNDER THE EMBASSY’S
“EMINENT PERSONS PROGRAM.”
FARM INVASIONS NOT ABOUT LAND REFORM
————————————
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03078 03 OF 04 071608Z
¶9. (C) IN DOMA, THE AMBASSADOR HAD A LUNCHEON WITH
SEVEN TOBACCO AND OTHER COMMERCIAL FARMERS WHO
REPRESENTED PROPERTY OWNERS FROM A SUBSTANTIAL AREA
NORTH OF HARARE, COVERING TWO PROVINCES, AND FROM
OCCUPIED FARMS IN THOSE AREAS. THE LUNCHEON HOST’S FARM
WAS NOT OCCUPIED, HOWEVER, A FACT THAT HIS FAMILY
ATTRIBUTED TO LUCK AND PERHAPS A REPUTATION FOR GOOD
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, BUT ADMITTED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW
HOW THEY ESCAPED THE SQUATTERS. THE UNEQUIVOCAL
CONSENSUS OF EVERYONE WITH WHOM WE SPOKE WAS THAT THE
FARM INVASIONS WERE NOT ABOUT LAND REFORM AT ALL, BUT A
MERE PRETEXT FOR MOVING WAR VETERANS AND ZANU-PF
SUPPORTERS INTO THE RURAL AREAS TO INTIMIDATE PEOPLE
INTO SUPPORTING THE RULING PARTY DURING THE
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION. LAND REFORM DISCUSSIONS CANNOT
BEGIN IN EARNEST UNTIL AFTER THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS MORE LIKELY TO ABANDON ITS
STRATEGY OF OCCUPATIONS TO GET OUT THE VOTE, THESE
CONTACTS OPINED. THEY SAID THEY HAD ALREADY OFFERED
SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF FARMS TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR LAND
REFORM THROUGH THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU), BUT
THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO DESIRE TO SETTLE THE LAND QUESTION
DURING THIS POLITICAL SEASON. THEY ANTICIPATED THAT
THESE DISCUSSIONS WOULD MOVE FORWARD AFTER THE ELECTION.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ7577
PAGE 01 HARARE 03078 04 OF 04 071609Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00
COME-00 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
NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
/011W
——————602F7F 071609Z /38
P 071612Z JUN 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6238
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY ROME
NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 003078
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/00
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM EAGR PINR ZI
SUBJECT: POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE: SHOCKING
PERSONAL TESTIMONIALS FROM COMMERCIAL FARMERS,
BUSINESSPEOPLE, AND MDC ACTIVISTS
¶10. (C) ONE TOBACCO FARMER RECOUNTED HOW HE HAD BEEN
INVADED AND EVICTED OFF HIS FARM ON THREE SEPARATE
OCCASIONS BY WAR VETS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ANOTHER
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03078 04 OF 04 071609Z
WARLORD, “JESUS TWO.” DURING THESE SESSIONS, HE WAS
BEATEN AND DEMEANED. COMMERCIAL FARMERS NATIONALLY HAVE
ESTABLISHED A RADIO NET ON WHICH THEY PROVIDE EMERGENCY
INFORMATION ON OCCUPATIONS AND A NIGHTLY SITUATION
REPORT. THE BANKET FARMERS SAID THEIR NET ALONE HAS 200
CALL SIGNS. DURING SEVERAL OCCUPATIONS IN THE AREA, THE
BESIEGED FARMER WOULD RADIO FOR HELP AND OTHER FARMERS
CALLED FOR POLICE HELP AND THEN DROVE TO THE LOCATION TO
MONITOR THE SITUATION AS IT DEVELOPED. THE ASSISTING
FARMERS SAID THEY ALWAYS CAME UNARMED AND GENERALLY
REFRAINED FROM DIRECT INVOLVEMENT, AS THE 100 TO 200 WAR
VETS WHO COME OUTNUMBER THEM. ONE OF THE INVADED
FARMERS TOLD US MOST OF THE OCCUPIERS WERE COMMUNAL FARM
WORKERS WHO WERE FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INVASIONS
OUT OF FEAR OF REPRISAL AGAINST THEM. HE HELD NO ILL
WILL AGAINST THEM, HE SAID. THE OCCUPIERS MAKE THEIR
DEMANDS KNOWN, NEGOTIATE THEIR PRESENCE ON THE LAND
(I.E., WHAT RATIONS THE FARMER WILL PROVIDE) AND THEN
RETREAT TO A SECTION OF THE FARM. THE SUBSEQUENT
VIOLENCE THAT OCCURS IS ORGANIZED BY A HAND-FULL OF
“EXCITABLE YOUTH” OR ASPIRING WARLORDS, BUT NOT GENUINE
WAR VETS. THE WAR VETS ARE FACTION-RIDDEN, WITH STRONG
ETHNIC AND ZANU/ZAPU TENSIONS ACCOUNTING FOR THE LACK OF
ANY CONSISTENT STRATEGY OR STABILITY ON THE OCCUPIED
FARMS, THE FARMERS ADDED.
THE ECONOMIC FUTURE
——————-
¶11. (C) THE FARMERS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE DESCRIBED THE
FINANCIAL LOSSES THEY WERE SUFFERING AS A RESULT OF THE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03078 04 OF 04 071609Z
FARM INVASIONS AND GOVERNMENT PLANS TO ACQUIRE 804
PRODUCTIVE FARMS. THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS URGED THE U.S.
TO CONSIDER AN ECONOMIC “RECOVERY PLAN” FOR FARMERS
AFTER THE ELECTION, INCLUDING INTEREST-FREE, OFFSHORE
LOANS. AMBASSADOR MCDONALD EXPLAINED THAT SUCH AN
ARRANGEMENT WOULD NOT HAPPEN, BUT STRESSED THAT WITHIN
OUR FINANCIAL MEANS THE USG WANTED TO CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT LAND REFORM.
COMMENT
——-
¶12. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD USED THIS TRIP TO REITERATE
OUR STRONG CONDEMNATION OF THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND TO
INFORM THESE ZIMBABWEANS OF OUR SUPPORT FOR DOMESTIC AND
INTERNATIONAL MONITORING EFFORTS. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE
KNOWN FOR SOME TIME THAT THESE GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN
RIGHTS WERE OCCURRING AND HAVE REPORTED THEM, IT IS
SHOCKING TO HEAR IT FROM THESE PERSONAL TESTIMONIALS.
IT IS HEARTENING TO KNOW THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
VICTIMIZED ARE STILL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ZIMBABWE’S FUTURE
AND INTEND TO STAY. THE VISIT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED
SHORING UP THOSE WE MET AND IS LIKELY TO HAVE THE DUAL
EFFECT OF APPRISING THE GENERAL ELECTORATE, AS WELL AS
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
IS AWARE OF THE STATE-ORCHESTRATED VIOLENCE IN THE
COUNTRYSIDE. THE GENERAL SENSE WE GOT WAS THAT DESPITE
THE PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE THE OPPOSITION REMAINS POISED
TO TAKE A SIZEABLE NUMBER OF SEATS. TO DATE, WE HAVE
CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATED AROUND 30 SEATS. THAT NUMBER
MAY NEED TO BE REVISED UPWARDS, WITH INDICATIONS THAT
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PAGE 04 HARARE 03078 04 OF 04 071609Z
MDC COULD GET AS MANY AS 45 TO 55 SEATS.
¶13. (C) THERE REMAINS A GREAT CONCERN THAT THE RULING
PARTY WILL RIG THE VOTE COUNT TO PREVENT ANY MDC
MAJORITY FROM SITTING IN THE PARLIAMENT. IF THAT
HAPPENS, THE BIGGEST THREAT TO PEACE IN THE COUNTRY WILL
BE THE POST-ELECTION PERIOD WHEN THE GOVERNMENT AND
OPPOSITION ARE LIKELY TO DISPUTE THE RESULTS. NO ONE
CAN SAY WITH CERTAINTY WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THAT POINT,
BUT THE MILITARY HAS TWICE DISTANCED ITSELF FROM ANY
PERCEPTION THAT IT HAS AN INTEREST IN THE OUTCOME OF THE
ELECTION. END COMMENT.
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
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