Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai said an MDC government was going to launch a fund for victims of Operation Murambatsvina and another for those of Gukurahundi in July 2008.
He said this on his return from South Africa after launching another fund, the President’s Fund for Victims of Violence.
The fund was intended to assist Zimbabweans displaced or orphaned during the surge in government-sponsored attacks in the countryside in the run-up to the presidential elections run-off.
The fund already had about $300 000 and was going to be administered by a board chaired by Eleanor Sisulu, daughter-in-law of African National Congress icon Walter Sisulu and coordinator of the South African office of Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe.
Tsvangirai said that two additional funds would be “launched by the MDC Government in July” once the runoff was completed.
The first was to be for victims of Operation Murambatsvina, a 2005 government campaign to destroy opposition strongholds that left some 700 000 displaced.
The second would be for victims of Operation Gukurahundi, massacres in the early 1980s in Matabeleland directed against the minority Ndebele population that left an estimated 20000 dead.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08HARARE470, WITH TSVANGIRAI HOME, OPPOSITION RETURNS TO
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VZCZCXRO5084
OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0470/01 1491448
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 281448Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2956
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2006
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2127
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0669
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1404
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1762
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2183
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4614
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1267
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000470
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2018
SUBJECT: WITH TSVANGIRAI HOME, OPPOSITION RETURNS TO
CAMPAIGN MODE
Classified By: Charge d’Affaires, a.i. Glenn Warren for reason 1.4 (d)
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On May 27, Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, who recently
returned from a lengthy trip to South Africa focused on
regional diplomacy, held a press conference to share his
perspective on the current situation in Zimbabwe and outline
his party’s response. Tsvangirai stated that over 50 people
have been killed and at least 25,000 displaced (some 500 of
whom sought shelter in MDC headquarters) since the March 29
elections. In response, Tsvangirai announced the launch of
the President’s Fund for Victims of Violence, intended to
assist Zimbabweans impacted by the recent surge in
government-sponsored attacks. Tsvangirai repeatedly drove
home what appears to be the MDC’s mantra for the campaigning
days ahead: “The rebuilding of Zimbabwe begins now.” Finally
back in campaign mode, Tsvangirai’s rhetoric suggests he is
working hard to reconnect with voters nationwide and plan for
transition to MDC rule. Nonetheless, the MDC has a lot of
work to do in advance of the June 27 run-off if they hope for
a victory. END SUMMARY.
¶2. (U) On May 27, Tsvangirai held a press conference at his
party’s headquarters, Harvest House, to share his perspective
on the current situation in Zimbabwe and outline his party’s
response. Tsvangirai condemned the government’s violent
attacks on civilians and noted over 50 people have been
killed and at least 25,000 displaced during the six week
period following the March 29 elections. Tsvangirai, who
repeatedly referred to himself as the “President” of
Zimbabwe, noted in prepared remarks that he had met with
victims and their families, including attending the
high-profile funeral of a slain MDC activist on Sunday, since
returning to Zimbabwe on Saturday.
¶3. (U) In response to the violence, Tsvangirai announced the
launch of the President’s Fund for Victims of Violence. The
fund, which is intended to assist Zimbabweans displaced or
orphaned during the recent surge in government-sponsored
attacks in the countryside, currently holds $150 trillion
Zimbabwean dollars (approximately US$300,000). Tsvangirai
called on the Zimbabwean Diaspora and the international
community to contribute. The fund will be administered by a
board made up of civil society and church leaders, chaired by
Eleanor Sisulu, daughter-in-law of ANC icon Walter Sisulu and
coordinator of the South African office of Crisis Coalition
of Zimbabwe, an NGO umbrella group.
¶4. (U) Tsvangirai also revealed that two additional funds
will be “launched by the MDC Government in July” once the
runoff is completed. The first will be for victims of
Operation Murambatsvina, a 2005 government campaign to
destroy opposition strongholds that left some 700,000
displaced. The second will be for victims of Operation
Gukurahundi, massacres in the early 1980s in Matabeleland
directed against the minority Ndebele population, also
ordered by Mugabe to curb resistance to his government, that
left an estimated 20,000 dead. Tsvangirai repeatedly drove
home what appears to be the MDC’s mantra for the campaigning
days ahead: “The rebuilding of Zimbabwe begins now.”
¶5. (SBU) Separately, poloff was told by MDC communications
staff that over 500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were
still living on the first floor of Harvest House, many of
whom have been there for over a month. (NOTE: Mission is
currently exploring way to assist displaced victims of
politically-motivated violence. END NOTE.) Poloff observed
many of the displaced and noted that there were large numbers
of women and children among them. The MDC staffer stated that
while two meals a day were being provided by civil society
organizations, the need for sanitation facilities remained
HARARE 00000470 002 OF 002
acute. The staffer lamented that the IDPs were still in MDC
offices and stated that the party was searching for a better
location to house them. A number of the displaced were
allowed to sit in on the press conference and afterwards
photographers were given access to the main room where they
were being held.
¶6. (SBU) When asked if the MDC remained concerned that
security forces would again raid Harvest House following
increased publicity about the IDPs, the staffer demurred,
noting that ZANU-PF discovered in the last raid that most of
the IDPs were ordinary citizens and not opposition activists.
Most were released after being held for several days by
Harare police, after which the MDC staffer reported that most
returned to Harvest House seeking shelter. The staffer did
not expect the Mugabe regime to waste time and resources on a
second raid. (NOTE: Security forces raided Harvest House and
arrested over 200 individuals seeking sanctuary from violence
on April 25. END NOTE)
¶7. (C) COMMENT. Now that he has returned to Zimbabwe,
Tsvangirai appears to be looking ahead and working hard to
demonstrate his leadership qualities, reconnect with
traumatized rural voters, plan for transition to MDC rule,
and regain the trust of skeptical Zimbabweans (and
traditional opposition supporters) in civil society and the
media who questioned his lengthy absence. With a national
address reportedly planned for later this week and the
expected launch of a three-week bus tour of Zimbabwe, the MDC
is finally back in campaign mode and providing counter-points
to ZANU-PF’s widespread campaign strategy. Whether the MDC
will be able to turn out the opposition vote, effectively
monitor polling stations on election day, and penetrate areas
currently locked down by Mugabe’s security forces in time for
the June 27 run-off is yet to be seen. END COMMENT.
Warren
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