The United States embassy in Harare was worried that acting secretary general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Isidore Zindoga, who was suspected of being either a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation or the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front might cut off ties between the labour movement and the Movement for Democratic Change if he was elected secretary general.
Zindoga himself did not endear himself to the Americans when he told an embassy official that the ZCTU must keep itself above the political fray by remaining independent of any linkage, or perception of a linkage, with any specific political party.
To make matters worse, he said that the ZCTU congress would address whether a political party leader or executive could be a member of the ZCTU executive council at the same time.
This was viewed by embassy officials as a way of trying to get rid of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and chairman Isaac Matongo who were still on the ZCTU payroll.
Ironically, embassy officials checked Zindoga’s credentials as a trade unionist with an official of the AFL-CIO, the US labour federation which itself has been rumoured for years to be linked to the Central Intelligence Agency.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 01HARARE573, ZIMBABWE LABOR FEDERATION LEADER SEEKS TO SEVER
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
300738Z Jan 01
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ9240
PAGE 01 HARARE 00573 01 OF 02 300741Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00
COME-00 CTME-00 DODE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00
EUR-00 EXIM-01 E-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 IO-00 ITC-01 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01
NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00
USIE-00 BBG-00 R-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02
G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /013W
——————BD79E5 300741Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8123
INFO DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000573
SIPDIS
ILAB FOR RSHEPHARD
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD – DWELLER, AFR/SA – CPALMA,
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR
E.O. 12958: DECL 01/30/11
TAGS: ELAB PREL EAGR PGOV PREL EAID ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE LABOR FEDERATION LEADER SEEKS TO SEVER
LABOR’S TIES TO THE OPPOSITION MDC
REF: 00 HARARE 3680
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D’ AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B/D).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: THE ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS
(ZCTU) WILL HOLD ITS FIVE-YEAR CONGRESS IN FEBRUARY.
THE CONGRESS WILL FOCUS ON ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES, AND
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL TOPICS. THE ISSUE OF ZCTU TIES TO
THE OPPOSITION MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) WILL
NOT BE A FORMAL AGENDA ITEM, BUT WILL BE INDIRECTLY
RAISED VIA THE PROPOSAL THAT LEADERS OF POLITICAL
PARTIES CANNOT ALSO BE MEMBERS OF THE ZCTU EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL. WE BELIEVE THAT IF THE ACTING SECRETARY-
GENERAL OF THE ZCTU, WHO IS WIDELY CONSIDERED TO BE PRO-
ZANU-PF, IS ELECTED AS SECRETARY-GENERAL, HE WILL SEEK
TO SEVER ALL TIES BETWEEN THE ZCTU AND THE MDC. END
SUMMARY.
¶2. (U) ON JANUARY 10, LABOFF MET WITH THE ACTING
SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE ZCTU, ISIDORE ZINDOGA, TO
SIPDIS
DISCUSS THE UPCOMING CONGRESS TO BE HELD FEBRUARY 23-25
IN MASVINGO. THE ZCTU IS AN UMBRELLA LABOR ORGANIZATION
COMPRISING 31 AFFILIATED UNIONS. THE OPPOSITION MDC HAD
ITS ROOTS IN THE ZCTU, AND MUCH OF THE MDC LEADERSHIP
STILL FORMALLY HOLDS POSITIONS IN THE ZCTU.
¶3. (SBU) LABOFF DURING THE MEETING QUERIED ZINDOGA ON
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 00573 01 OF 02 300741Z
THE AGENDA OF THE CONGRESS, AND SPECIFICALLY IF THE
CONGRESS WOULD DISCUSS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ZCTU
AND THE MDC. ZINDOGA STATED THAT THE CONGRESS WAS GOING
TO DEAL PRINCIPALLY WITH UNION ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES, AS
WELL AS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICY ISSUES. HE TOLD US
THERE WILL BE FOUR PRINCIPAL AGENDA ITEMS:
A) ELECTING THE EXECUTIVE AND GENERAL COUNCILS OF THE
ZCTU FOR THE NEXT FIVE-YEAR PERIOD. THE EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL CONSISTS OF A SECRETARY-GENERAL, TWO ASSISTANT
SECRETARY-GENERALS, FOUR PRESIDENTS, AND A TREASURER.
SIPDIS
THE GENERAL COUNCIL INCLUDES THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND
TEN OTHER MEMBERS FROM INDIVIDUAL UNIONS. THE GENERAL
COUNCIL IS CONVENED IN LIEU OF A CONGRESS WHENEVER THERE
ARE ACTIONS TO BE VOTED ON THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
PROPOSES TAKING;
B) REVIEWING THE ZCTU’S FINANCIAL BASE WITH THE GOAL OF
ENSURING THAT THE ORGANIZATION WILL HAVE A SOUND
FINANCIAL FOOTING FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS;
C) DETERMINING THE ZCTU’S POSITIONS ON ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL POLICIES, IN ORDER TO PROTECT AND FURTHER WORKERS
INTERESTS;
D) FINDING WAYS TO STRENGTHEN THE ZCTU AND ITS
AFFILIATED UNIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF ZIMBABWE’S SEVERE
ECONOMIC DECLINE.
¶4. (SBU) ZINDOGA STATED THAT ONLY UNDER THE LAST AGENDA
ITEM WOULD THE ZCTU’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MDC COME UP.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 00573 01 OF 02 300741Z
HE WAS EMPHATIC THAT THERE IS NO LINKAGE BETWEEN THE
ZCTU AND THE MDC, DESPITE THE CENTRAL ROLE THAT THE ZCTU
HAD IN THE FORMATION OF THE MDC. ACCORDING TO ZINDOGA,
A GROUP OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS WAS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE FORMATION OF THE MDC. HE STATED THAT SOME
MEMBERS OF THE ZCTU, INDEPENDENT OF THEIR AFFILIATION
WITH THE ORGANIZATION, BECAME HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE
MDC. ZINDOGA ADDED THAT THE CONGRESS WILL ADDRESS THIS
PERCEPTION OF A ZCTU CONNECTION TO THE MDC BY DISCUSSING
HOW THE ZCTU CAN BEST STRENGTHEN ITSELF AS AN
INDEPENDENT LABOR ORGANIZATION. ZINDOGA’S OWN VIEW IS
THAT UNION MEMBERS SUPPORT DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES,
THEREFORE, THE ZCTU MUST KEEP ITSELF ABOVE THE POLITICAL
FRAY BY REMAINING INDEPENDENT OF ANY LINKAGE, OR
PERCEPTION OF A LINKAGE, WITH ANY SPECIFIC POLITICAL
PARTY.
¶5. (SBU) ZINDOGA STATED WHEN THE CONGRESS CONSIDERS THE
ELECTION OF THE NEXT EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, IT WILL ALSO
ADDRESS WHETHER A POLITICAL PARTY LEADER OR EXECUTIVE
CAN BE A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AT THE SAME
TIME. HIS OPINION IS THAT THE CONGRESS SHOULD DISALLOW
THIS FOR TWO REASONS: THE ZCTU WISHES TO REMAIN AN
ORGANIZATION INDEPENDENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND THEIR
INFLUENCE, AND BEING A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
IS A FULL-TIME RESPONSIBILITY THAT REQUIRES MEMBERS TO
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ9241
PAGE 01 HARARE 00573 02 OF 02 300741Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00
COME-00 CTME-00 DODE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00
EUR-00 EXIM-01 E-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 IO-00 ITC-01 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01
NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00
USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00
SAS-00 /013W
——————BD79EB 300741Z /38
R 300738Z JAN 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8124
INFO DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 000573
SIPDIS
ILAB FOR RSHEPHARD
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD – DWELLER, AFR/SA – CPALMA,
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR
E.O. 12958: DECL 01/30/11
TAGS: ELAB PREL EAGR PGOV PREL EAID ZI
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 00573 02 OF 02 300741Z
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE LABOR FEDERATION LEADER SEEKS TO SEVER
LABOR’S TIES TO THE OPPOSITION MDC
DEVOTE ALL THEIR ENERGIES TO ZCTU BUSINESS. ZINDOGA
TOLD LABOFF THAT HE WILL BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION
OF SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE ZCTU. IF ELECTED, HE STATED
HE WOULD WORK FOR A SOCIAL CONTRACT BETWEEN THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ), LABOR AND BUSINESS IN
ORDER TO STABILIZE PRICES AND WAGES, AND TO AID IN
NATIONAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY WHILE ALSO DEVELOPING
NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT AND HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS.
¶6. (C) ZINDOGA HAS LEGITIMATE UNION CREDENTIALS HAVING
BEEN INVOLVED IN UNION ORGANIZING AND MANAGEMENT HIS
ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL LIFE. IN ADDITION TO BEING ACTING
SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE ZCTU, HE IS SECRETARY-GENERAL
SIPDIS
OF THE ZIMBABWE LEATHER WORKERS UNION. HE TOLD LABOFF
THAT HE IS NOT PARTICULARLY CONCERNED WHETHER HE WILL BE
ELECTED SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ZCTU, DUE TO HIS
POSITION WITH THE LEATHER WORKERS UNION. GEBRE
GEBREMARIAM, THE AMCIT REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
AFL-CIO SOLIDARITY CENTER HERE IN HARARE, TOLD LABOFF HE
BELIEVES THAT ZINDOGA IS CLEARLY PRO-ZANU-PF, BUT THAT
HE ALSO HAS THE ZCTU’S AND AFFILIATED UNIONS’ INTERESTS
AT HEART.
¶6. (C) COMMENT: ALTHOUGH ALLEGATIONS HAVE BEEN
REPEATEDLY RAISED THAT ZINDOGA IS PRO-ZANU-PF OR A
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION (CIO) PLANT (DISCUSSED
REFTEL), HE PRESENTS A CONVINCING IMAGE AS A CONCERNED
TRADE UNIONIST AND DOES NOT COME ACROSS AS A RULING
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 00573 02 OF 02 300741Z
PARTY HACK. HOWEVER, ZINDOGA’S INSISTENCE THAT THERE IS
NO LINKAGE OF ANY KIND BETWEEN ZCTU AND THE MDC IS
HARDLY TENABLE, AS THE OPPOSITION PARTY DEFINITELY HAD
ITS ROOTS IN THE ZCTU, AND COUNTS ON THE LABOR
FEDERATIONS STRUCTURES AND THE SUPPORT OF ITS MOSTLY-
URBAN, FORMALLY-EMPLOYED MEMBERSHIP.
¶7. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: THE CONGRESS AGENDA ITEM
STATING THAT MEMBERS OF THE ZCTU EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
CANNOT BE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES
IS CLEARLY AIMED AT REMOVING MDC LEADERS SUCH AS MORGAN
TSVANGIRAI (PRESIDENT OF THE MDC WHO IS ON PAID LEAVE AS
SIPDIS
THE ZCTU SECRETARY-GENERAL) AND ISAAC MATONGO (NATIONAL
CHAIRMAN OF THE MDC AND AN ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE ZCTU)
FROM THE ZCTU LEADERSHIP. WE STRONGLY SUSPECT THAT
ZINDOGA MAY BE DOING THE BIDDING OF ZANU-PF IN HIS
CURRENT POSITION, WHICH WOULD BE GLAD TO SEE THE TIES
BETWEEN THE ZCTU AND THE MDC SEVERED. IF ZINDOGA IS
ELECTED SECRETARY-GENERAL AND SUCCEEDS AT SEVERING THE
TIES, IT WOULD BE A SEVERE BLOW TO THE MDC’S
ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTH, AND ITS ABILITY TO MOUNT A
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN IN THE 2002 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
END COMMENT.
IRVING
CONFIDENTIAL
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