Roy Bennett was the only ministerial level official not sworn in when President Robert Mugabe swore in the expanded inclusive government which included five more deputy ministers and five more ministers of state who were not agreed upon in the Global Political Agreement.
Bennett had been nominated deputy Minister of Agriculture by his party, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change. He was the treasurer of the party.
He was arrested few days before the swearing in ceremony on charges related to the 2006 discovery of arms in Mutare.
Bennett fled the country and had been in exile since 2006. He returned to the country in 2009 to witness the formation of the inclusive government and was arrested when he tried to leave again when he learnt that police were looking for him in connection with the arms charges.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 09HARARE142, ZIM NOTES 02-20-2009
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|
Reference ID |
Created |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO9455
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0142/01 0540716
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 230716Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4080
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 2208
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2646
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2768
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1242
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2037
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 2393
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2817
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 5245
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1938
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000142
AF/S FOR B. WALCH
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR
TREASURY FOR D. PETERS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR L.DOBBINS AND E.LOKEN
COMMERCE FOR ROBERT TELCHIN
SIPDIS
E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM ECON ZI
SUBJECT: ZIM NOTES 02-20-2009
———–
¶1. SUMMARY
———–
Topics of the week:
– On the Political/Social Front PM, MFA Brief Diplomats and
Donors…
– New Ministers and Deputies Take Office…
– UN Visit…
– USAID Employee’s Hearing Delayed – Again …
– Political Prisoners Remain in Custody…
– More WOZA Arrests…
– Cholera Response Assessment…
– British “Evacuation” Raises Eyebrows…
– Prices Keep Falling…
– Civil Servants Start Receiving Hard Currency Vouchers…
– Budget, Monetary Policy up for Review…
– Trading Resumes on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange…
– Reserve Bank Suspends Steep Licensing Fee…
– Harare’s Landline Network in Shambles…
—————————–
On the Political/Social Front
——————————
¶2. On the Political/Social Front PM, MFA Brief Diplomats and
Donors… Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai briefed donors on
Zimbabwe’s economic situation and presented emergency and short-term
economic plans. He announced that civil servants would be paid in
forex. Donors pointed out, and Tsvangirai acknowledged, that
developmental assistance would depend on compliance with the
principles of reengagement. See Harare 135. Foreign Minister
Mumbengegwi briefed diplomats this week. His focus was on the
lifting of sanctions as crucial to Zimbabwe’s economic development.
See Harare 136.
¶3. New Ministers and Deputies Take Office… On Thursday, President
Mugabe swore in 20 deputy ministers (five more than contemplated by
the Global Political Agreement (GPA)) and five ministers of state
who were not agreed to in the GPA. With five ministers of state
added last week to the cabinet when ministers were initially sworn
in, there are now 41 cabinet ministers vice the 31 provided for in
the GPA. The political agreement resulting in this will obviously
place an additional burden on Zimbabwe’s cash-strapped coffers.
Notably, Roy Bennett, who remains in custody in Mutare, was not
sworn in as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.
¶4. UN Visit… Assistant Secretary General Catherine Bragg will
lead a joint UN mission with representatives from UNICEF, WHO and
WFP to Zimbabwe February 21 to 25. The mission’s objectives include:
gaining a better understanding of the humanitarian situation,
response, and the operational challenges faced by humanitarian
actors, while exploring methods of improving UN support. The mission
will work with relevant government authorities to advocate for a
less polarized humanitarian environment and unhindered access of
humanitarian assistance.
¶5. USAID Employee’s Hearing Delayed – Again… Frank Muchirahondo –
charged with the attempted murder of the chief of Zimbabwe’s Air
Force – was to have had a court appearance before the Bindura
magistrate Thursday for his attorney to request a trial date and
receive the charging documents from the prosecutor. As was the case
on February 12, yesterday’s court date was postponed – both the
Qon February 12, yesterday’s court date was postponed – both the
magistrate and the prosecutor were no-shows. The court date has been
rescheduled to February 24. The Embassy continues to try to work a
resolution to this case through back channels.
HARARE 00000142 002 OF 003
¶6. Political Prisoners Remain in Custody… A magistrate in Mutare
dismissed a charge against Roy Bennett of illegally trying to leave
the country, but upheld a charge of illegal possession of arms for
purposes of sabotage and denied bail. His lawyers are appealing the
denial of bail to the High Court while a group of several hundred
MDC supporters maintains a 24-hour vigil outside the Mutare police
station awaiting his release. Separately, 5 of the 18 original
abductees in State custody are now in Avenues Clinic receiving
medical care, after numerous court orders. The High Court granted
bail to four of the seven men accused of bombing police stations,
but the State appealed. Of the 32 original abductees, 18 are still
in custody, 10 are missing, one escaped to South Africa, and three
have been released. In addition, the three white men arrested on
January 3 for allegedly training insurgents at an adventure camp
outside Harare remain in custody after being denied bail in the High
Court this week. See Harare 130.
¶7. More WOZA Arrests… On February 14, WOZA held its annual march
in Bulawayo, handing out Valentine’s Day cards and roses to police,
bystanders, and journalists. Approximately 800 men and women joined
the protests which were scattered around town. Frustrated police hit
many innocent bystanders and protesters, but there were no serious
injuries. 10 were arrested – 7 WOZA women and 3 observers from a
community radio station. The 10 were held in the jail’s filthy
conditions without warrant until Tuesday when 6 relented and paid
fines for blocking traffic. The other four were released on bail and
charges against them were dropped on the 19th. The group reported
overflowing toilets and maggots in the overcrowded cells.
¶8. Cholera Response Assessment… Between February 8 and 14, the
WHO reported a slight increase in new cholera cases and a slight
decrease in cholera deaths compared to the previous week, consistent
with regular increases in the weekly numbers of new cholera cases
recorded throughout January. As of February 17, cholera has caused
more than 3,700 deaths out of more than 78,000 reported cases,
according to the WHO. Preparations are underway for a United Nations
Interagency Real Time Evaluation, which will assess the overall
relevance, effectiveness and coherence of the humanitarian response
and provide feedback to facilitate planning and implementation.
¶9. British “Evacuation” Raises Eyebrows… This week the British
Embassy announced its “Zimbabwe Resettlement Plan” – many months in
the works – to help its senior citizens leaving Zimbabwe access
social services immediately upon return to the UK. Usually,
returning Brits must wait several months to access assistance. The
Herald called the plan an “evacuation” and painted it as a slap in
the face to the new government. The Herald also reported that
Tsvangrai called British ambassador Andrew Pocock to complain that
QTsvangirai called British ambassador Andrew Pocock to complain that
the British government’s actions would dent international confidence
in Zimbabwe.
———————————-
On the Economic and Business Front
———————————-
¶10. Prices Keep Falling… Independent monitors found that prices
of most basic commodities continued to fall in US dollar terms this
week. A local private institution that monitors 25 imported and
local products found that on average prices fell from US$70.63 to
US$70.13. The EC Delegation, which monitors 18 items in the low
income food basket, registered a 6% drop in prices in the same
period. The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe estimates that a family of
six requires a minimum monthly income of US$288.
¶11. Civil Servants Start Receiving Hard Currency Vouchers… Civil
servants began receiving allowances worth US$100 per month in
vouchers this week; their actual salaries will be deposited into
HARARE 00000142 003 OF 003
their accounts in local currency. As of February 19, civil servants
who had received vouchers were redeeming them for either goods at
selected supermarkets or for cash at banks. The vouchers indicated
which shops and banks civil servants could use. Our banking contacts
indicated that civil servants have received explicit instructions to
redeem the vouchers for cash at banks and to open foreign currency
accounts. With effect from March 2009, foreign currency denominated
salaries for civil servants will be deposited into these accounts.
We will monitor and report on the sustainability of this
arrangement.
¶12. Budget, Monetary Policy up for Review… Deputy PM Arthur
Mutambara advised businessmen this week not to base their planning
on the recent budget and monetary policy statements as they were
under review and subject to fundamental changes.
¶13. Trading Resumes on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange… Trading in
foreign currency got off to a slow start on the Zimbabwe Stock
Exchange (ZSE) on February 19, after nearly three months of
suspension. A mere 3,000 shares in one company changed hands at US1
cent per share, as the market struggled to find the fair value for
shares previously traded in local currency. Liquidity constraints
arising from foreign currency shortages will likely put a damper on
trading volume in the short term.
¶14. Reserve Bank Suspends Steep Licensing Fee… Faced with most
shops inability to pay the exorbitant US$1,000/month licensing fee
for trading in foreign currency, the RBZ suspended the requirement a
week ago.
¶15. Rich Platinum Reserves, but Speculation with Claims…
Zimbabwe’s rich platinum resources contributed a third of the
country’s exports in 2008. But ground surrendered by international
mining companies in exchange for empowerment credit in the past
years has ended up in the hands of rogues and speculators rather
than serious developers. See Harare 141.
¶16. Harare’s Landline Network in Shambles… Embassy communications
specialists have learned that South African and, most recently, New
Zealand telcos have poached many of TelOne’s (Zimbabwe’s fixed-line
parastatal) remaining few technicians. In addition, fuel was
unavailable for service calls, and the few remaining company
vehicles were no longer being serviced for lack of motor oil and due
to the risk of parts going missing during off-site maintenance.
—————–
Quote of the Week
—————–
¶17. “Don’t ever fool yourselves. We are not going to be naove to
believe that it’s going to be smooth. This is a transition and there
are transitional obstacles that you need to overcome. And overcome
we will. Step by step we will make those incremental gains.” —
Morgan Tsvangirai speaking at an MDC 10th anniversary celebration on
February 18.
¶18. “If Morgan Tsvangirai has no power to protect his top
leadership, the rest of the country is in big trouble because
Qleadership, the rest of the country is in big trouble because
nothing is going to change.” — Heather Bennett speaking of her
husband Roy’s continued detention on February 17 with SW Radio.
MCGEE
(20 VIEWS)
