The United States embassy claimed that Isidore Zindoga, who replaced Morgan Tsvangirai as secretary general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions when Tsvangirai left to lead the Movement for Democratic Change, was a Central Intelligence Organisation agent.
Zindoga had been one of Tsvangirai’s deputies.
When embassy officials asked Isaac Matongo, who had been promoted to ZCTU president replacing Gibson Sibanda who had moved with Tsvangirai to the MDC, and James Makore who was ZCTU director of organising, how Zindoga had risen through the ranks to such a high post in the ZCTU given his known affiliation to the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front, they said- “cash pays off”.
They claimed that support for Zindoga was not drawn along union lines but rather from individual union members whom Zindoga, with financial backing from the Minister of Labour and the blessing of President Robert Mugabe, paid to help vote him in as deputy secretary general at the 1998 annual congress.
The embassy said that although it could not attest to the validity of the accusations, the idea that Zindoga paid off the right ZCTU members to help generate votes in 1998 was plausible, particularly considering his unusually rapid rise through the ranks since joining the ZCTU in 1995.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 00HARARE3680, SUSPECTED CIO MOLE RENDERS ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
|
Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5110
PAGE 01 HARARE 03680 01 OF 05 070943Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 CTME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00
EUR-00 EXIM-01 E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 FRB-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 USIE-00 R-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W
——————6B4518 070943Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6540
INFO NSC WASHDC
DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
DEPTTREAS WASHDC
USDOC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 HARARE 003680
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S – ARLENE RENDER AND TODD FAULK
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
DOL FOR ILAB/ROBERT SHEPARD
TREASURY FOR OASIA/RALYEA AND NATAN EPSTEIN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03680 01 OF 05 070943Z
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR WILLIAMS
PASS USAID WASHDC FOR AFR/SA – NAN NEWMAN, OTI – MARC
SCOTT, AND A/AID – RICHARD MCCALL
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2001
SUBJECT: SUSPECTED CIO MOLE RENDERS ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF
TRADE UNIONS INEFFECTIVE
CLASSIFIED BY LABOFF SHAWN THORNE FOR REASONS 1.5 (B)
AND (D).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: ISADORE ZINDOGA, WHO WAS
ADMINISTRATIVELY PROMOTED TO SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE
ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS (ZCTU) IN APRIL AFTER
MORGAN TSVANGIRAI TOOK A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM THE
POSITION TO LEAD THE MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE
(MDC), IS WIDELY ACCUSED BY MANY UNIONISTS OF PURPOSELY
FAILING TO LEAD THE ZCTU AND RENDERING THE ORGANIZATION
INEFFECTIVE. ZINDOGA’S LOYALTY TO THE RULING PARTY,
ZANU-PF, IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE, AND HE IS RUMORED TO BE A
FORMER (SOME SAY CURRENT) AGENT OF THE CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION (CIO). WHETHER OR NOT ZINDOGA
IS GUILTY OF SUBVERSION, THE FACT IS THAT THE ZCTU HAS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03680 01 OF 05 070943Z
FALLEN DEAFLY SILENT UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP. REGULAR ZCTU
ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING LABOR WORKSHOPS AND TRADITIONAL
RECRUITING ACTIVITIES, ARE AT A STANDSTILL. IN THE RUN-
UP TO THE JUNE 24-25 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, THE ZCTU
FAILED TO JOIN CIVIL SOCIETY IN CONDEMNING PRE-ELECTION
VIOLENCE AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO VOTE. ISAAC MATONGO,
PRESIDENT OF THE ZCTU AND CHAIRMAN OF THE MDC, IS
CONFIDENT THAT UNIONISTS WILL VOTE ZINDOGA OUT OF OFFICE
AT THE NEXT ANNUAL CONGRESS, WHICH MATONGO HOPES WILL
TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER 2000. UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, WE DO
NOT EXPECT THE ZCTU TO RE-EMERGE AS A CHAMPION OF
WORKERS’ RIGHTS AND A VOCAL STAKEHOLDER IN DISCUSSIONS
WITH BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT ON ECONOMIC REFORM. END
SUMMARY.
—————–
GOZ PLANTS A MOLE
—————–
¶2. (C) ISADORE ZINDOGA, WHO WORKED FOR AND MANAGED
SEVERAL LEATHER PROCESSING COMPANIES IN ZIMBABWE IN HIS
CAREER, JOINED THE LEATHER WORKERS’ UNION (ONE OF THE
ZCTU’S 35 MEMBER UNIONS) IN 1995. HE QUICKLY MOVED UP
THROUGH THE RANKS OF THE ZCTU, AND IN SEPTEMBER 1998 WAS
ELECTED TO THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (“THE
EXECUTIVE”) AS DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL. (MORGAN
TSVANGIRAI WAS THE ZCTU’S SECRETARY GENERAL, AND GIBSON
SIPDIS
SIBANDA ITS PRESIDENT.) IN APRIL (SEVEN MONTHS AFTER THE
LAUNCH OF THE MDC IN SEPTEMBER 1999), TSVANGIRAI AND
SIBANDA OFFICIALLY TOOK PAID LEAVES OF ABSENCE TO FOCUS
FULL-TIME ON THE NEW PARTY. THE ZCTU USED ADMINISTRATIVE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03680 01 OF 05 070943Z
PROMOTIONS TO FILL THE LEADERSHIP VOID. ZINDOGA, AS
DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL, TOOK TSVANGIRAI’S JOB; AND
ISAAC MATONGO, WHO HAD BEEN FIRST VICE PRESIDENT, TOOK
SIBANDA’S JOB AS PRESIDENT.
¶3. (C) AS SECRETARY GENERAL, ZINDOGA HOLDS THE MOST
POWERFUL POSITION IN THE ZCTU. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL
OF THE ORGANIZATION’S DAILY OPERATIONS, AND THE OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND GENERAL COUNCIL (WHO
REPRESENT THE 35 MEMBER UNIONS AND THE ZCTU’S SIX
DEPARTMENTS) RECEIVE THEIR INSTRUCTIONS DIRECTLY FROM
HIM. ZINDOGA’S LOYALTY TO THE RULING ZANU-PF PARTY IS
WIDELY RECOGNIZED WITHIN THE ZCTU, AS IS THAT OF
ZINDOGA’S “RIGHT HAND MAN,” SHANGWA CHIFAMBA, WHO IS
SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COMMERCIAL WORKERS’ UNION AND
SIPDIS
HAS BEEN THE ZCTU’S FIRST VICE PRESIDENT SINCE NOVEMBER
¶1999. ZINDOGA AND CHIFAMBA, ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER
GENERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THE SMALL
ZANU-PF “CAMP” WITHIN THE ZCTU, WHILE THE VAST MAJORITY
OF UNION MEMBERS SUPPORT THE MDC. ZINDOGA’S CHIEF RIVAL
IS ZCTU PRESIDENT AND MDC CHAIRMAN ISAAC MATONGO.
ALTHOUGH THE ZCTU PRESIDENCY IS NOT A FULL-TIME POSITION
AND NORMALLY IS CONSIDERED MORE CEREMONIAL THAN
SUBSTANTIVE, MATONGO COMMANDS SIGNIFICANT RESPECT AND
LOYALTY FROM ZCTU OFFICIALS — LARGELY BECAUSE OF HIS
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5114
PAGE 01 HARARE 03680 02 OF 05 070943Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 CTME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00
EUR-00 EXIM-01 E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 FRB-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 USIE-00 R-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W
——————6B4528 070943Z /38
R 070945Z JUL 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6541
INFO NSC WASHDC
DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
DEPTTREAS WASHDC
USDOC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 05 HARARE 003680
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S – ARLENE RENDER AND TODD FAULK
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
DOL FOR ILAB/ROBERT SHEPARD
TREASURY FOR OASIA/RALYEA AND NATAN EPSTEIN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03680 02 OF 05 070943Z
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR WILLIAMS
PASS USAID WASHDC FOR AFR/SA – NAN NEWMAN, OTI – MARC
SCOTT, AND A/AID – RICHARD MCCALL
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2001
SUBJECT: SUSPECTED CIO MOLE RENDERS ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF
TRADE UNIONS INEFFECTIVE
MANY YEARS IN THE ORGANIZATION, HIS LEADERSHIP ROLE IN
THE MDC, AND HIS CLOSE PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP WITH
TSVANGIRAI.
SIPDIS
¶4. (C) BEYOND HIS OPEN SUPPORT FOR THE RULING PARTY,
RUMORS ABOUND THAT ZINDOGA PREVIOUSLY WAS AN AGENT FOR
THE CIO. SOME UNION CONTACTS ASSERT THAT ZINDOGA STILL
IS IN THE CIO’S EMPLOY AS AN UNDERCOVER AGENT TASKED
WITH WREAKING HAVOC IN THE ZCTU. (ZINDOGA’S WIFE IS A
ZIMBABWE REPUBLIC POLICE OFFICER AND REPORTEDLY A STRONG
ZANU-PF SUPPORTER.) ZINDOGA AND HIS ZANU-PF CAMP DID NOT
SUPPORT THE ZCTU’S NATIONWIDE “STAYAWAYS” (WORK
STOPPAGES) IN LATE 1998 TO DEMAND SALARY INCREASES, NOR
DID THEY SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF THE MDC. ALTHOUGH HE
WAS LARGELY NONCOMMITTAL IN HIS BRIEF MEETING WITH
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03680 02 OF 05 070943Z
LABOFF ON JUNE 30, ZINDOGA NOTED THAT, IN HIS OPINION,
THE MDC HAD CONSUMED ENTIRELY TOO MUCH OF THE ZCTU’S
MANPOWER, AS ZCTU OFFICIALS AT THE LOCAL, PROVINCIAL,
AND NATIONAL LEVELS DEVOTED THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO THE
PARTY RATHER THAN TRADITIONAL UNION DUTIES. ZINDOGA
ADDED THAT HE WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO SEE WORKERS’
DEMANDS ADDRESSED THROUGH TRADITIONAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN
EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IN EACH INDUSTRY’S NATIONAL
ECONOMIC COUNCIL (NEC), RATHER THAN BY FORMING A NEW
POLITICAL PARTY THAT WAS UNTESTED AND HAD NO EXPERIENCE
WITH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
¶5. (C) LABOFF ASKED MATONGO AND ZCTU DIRECTOR OF
ORGANIZING JAMES MAKORE HOW ZINDOGA, A KNOWN ZANU-PF
LOYALIST, COULD RISE THROUGH THE RANKS OF THE ZCTU TO
BECOME DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL (AND THUS POISED TO
ASSUME LEADERSHIP OF THE ORGANIZATION), AT A TIME WHEN
UNION MEMBERS’ FRUSTRATION WITH GOZ POLICIES WAS
APPROACHING ITS APEX. THE ANSWER WAS SIMPLE, THEY SAID –
– CASH PAY-OFFS. SUPPORT FOR ZINDOGA WAS NOT DRAWN ALONG
UNION LINES, BUT RATHER FROM INDIVIDUAL UNION MEMBERS
WHOM ZINDOGA, WITH FINANCIAL BACKING FROM THE MINISTER
OF LABOR AND THE BLESSING OF PRESIDENT MUGABE, PAID TO
HELP VOTE HIM IN AS DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL AT THE 1998
ANNUAL CONGRESS. (COMMENT: ALTHOUGH WE CANNOT ATTEST TO
THE VALIDITY OF THESE ACCUSATIONS, THE IDEA THAT ZINDOGA
PAID OFF THE RIGHT ZCTU MEMBERS TO HELP GENERATE VOTES
IN 1998 IS PLAUSIBLE, PARTICULARLY CONSIDERING HIS
UNUSUALLY RAPID RISE THROUGH THE RANKS SINCE JOINING THE
ZCTU IN 1995. END NOTE.)
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03680 02 OF 05 070943Z
————————-
ZCTU RENDERED INEFFECTIVE
————————-
¶6. (C) ACCORDING TO MATONGO AND MAKORE, ZINDOGA HAS
FAILED TO CARRY OUT HIS LEADERSHIP DUTIES AT THE ZCTU IN
A PREMEDITATED EFFORT TO BRING THE ORGANIZATION TO A
STANDSTILL. ZINDOGA, ON THE OTHER HAND, TOLD LABOFF THAT
IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO “RALLY THE TROOPS,”
PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE ZCTU EXECUTIVE, AS THEY HAVE
BEEN DEVOTING SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME DURING BUSINESS
HOURS TO MDC ACTIVITIES. WHATEVER THE REASONS, THE FACT
IS THAT THE ZCTU HAS BEEN VIRTUALLY SILENT AND INERT
SINCE THE DEPARTURE OF TSVANGIRAI AND SIBANDA IN APRIL.
ZINDOGA AND MATONGO ADMIT THAT MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE
— ONCE A REQUIRED BI-MONTHLY EVENT — HAVE BEEN FEW AND
FAR BETWEEN IN RECENT MONTHS, WITH EACH MAN BLAMING THE
OTHER FOR “SCHEDULING PROBLEMS.” OTHER UNION CONTACTS
TELL US THAT ZINDOGA NO LONGER MEETS REGULARLY WITH
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ZCTU’S 35 MEMBER UNIONS, AND
THAT HE PROVIDES VIRTUALLY NO INSTRUCTION OR FEEDBACK TO
THE ZCTU’S SIX OPERATIONAL DEPARTMENTS.
¶7. (C) OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO MATONGO AND MAKORE IS
ZINDOGA’S CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH FLORENCE
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5115
PAGE 01 HARARE 03680 03 OF 05 070943Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 CTME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00
EUR-00 EXIM-01 E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 FRB-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 USIE-00 R-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W
——————6B4532 070944Z /38
R 070945Z JUL 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6542
INFO NSC WASHDC
DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
DEPTTREAS WASHDC
USDOC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 05 HARARE 003680
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S – ARLENE RENDER AND TODD FAULK
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
DOL FOR ILAB/ROBERT SHEPARD
TREASURY FOR OASIA/RALYEA AND NATAN EPSTEIN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03680 03 OF 05 070943Z
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR WILLIAMS
PASS USAID WASHDC FOR AFR/SA – NAN NEWMAN, OTI – MARC
SCOTT, AND A/AID – RICHARD MCCALL
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2001
SUBJECT: SUSPECTED CIO MOLE RENDERS ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF
TRADE UNIONS INEFFECTIVE
CHITAURO, MINISTER OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOR, AND SOCIAL
WELFARE. THEY CLAIM THAT ZINDOGA, UNLIKE ANY OF HIS ZCTU
PREDECESSORS, HOLDS REGULAR PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH
CHITAURO AT HER MINISTRY. ON TWO OCCASIONS THIS YEAR,
ADDED MATONGO, ZINDOGA AND CHITAURO HAVE MET DIRECTLY
(AND PRIVATELY) WITH PRESIDENT MUGABE. ZINDOGA DOES NOT
DISCLOSE THE DETAILS OF THESE DISCUSSIONS TO ANY OF HIS
ZCTU COLLEAGUES. “HE SPENDS MORE TIME WITH FLORENCE THAN
WITH ANY OF US,” HUFFED MATONGO. “FOR INSTANCE, WE HAD
FINALLY MANAGED TO SCHEDULE A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE IN LATE JUNE TO PLAN FOR THE ANNUAL CONGRESS.
ZINDOGA NEVER SHOWED, NEVER CALLED — NOTHING. HIS
SECRETARY TOLD ME HOURS LATER THAT HE HAD GONE TO GENEVA
SIPDIS
WITH CHITAURO FOR THE ILO CONVENTION. HE HADN’T
MENTIONED TO ANY OF US THAT HE WAS LEAVING.”
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03680 03 OF 05 070943Z
¶8. (C) MEANWHILE, WORKSHOPS ON A VARIETY OF LABOR TOPICS
— WHICH ARE AMONG THE ZCTU’S CORE “BREAD AND BUTTER”
SERVICES TO ITS MEMBERS — HAVE BEEN CANCELED OR DELAYED
BECAUSE OF ZINDOGA’S REFUSAL TO AUTHORIZE FUNDING. THE
ZCTU’S ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT, WHOSE ATTORNEYS ASSIST
INDIVIDUAL WORKERS WITH LEGAL DISPUTES, HAS BEEN
SIMILARLY INACTIVE PENDING A “BUDGET REVIEW.” MATONGO
AND MAKORE ARGUE THAT LACK OF FINANCES IS A SPURIOUS
ARGUMENT ON ZINDOGA’S PART; THE ZCTU’S FY2000 BUDGET WAS
APPROVED AT ITS ANNUAL CONGRESS IN SEPTEMBER 1999.
MEMBERSHIP DUES HAVE NOT DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE
THAT TIME, AND THE ZCTU’S SIX DEPARTMENTS WERE ALLOCATED
ROUGHLY THE SAME RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED IN
PREVIOUS YEARS. IN SHORT, THERE IS NO REASON WHY FUNDING
FOR NORMAL ZCTU FUNCTIONS SHOULD NOT BE READILY
AVAILABLE.
——————————————— —
POOR RELATIONS WITH AFL-CIO’S SOLIDARITY CENTER
——————————————— —
¶9. (C) EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING, SAID MATONGO, HAS BEEN
ZINDOGA’S BLOCKAGE OF FUNDS FROM THE SOLIDARITY CENTER
IN HARARE, A BRANCH OF THE AFL-CIO’S AMERICAN CENTER FOR
INTERNATIONAL LABOR SOLIDARITY. FORMER SOLIDARITY CENTER
RESREP MARTIN DOUGHERTY TOLD LABOFF BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE
IN JUNE THAT, DESPITE HISTORICALLY EXCELLENT RELATIONS
WITH THE ZCTU, ZINDOGA HAS SHUNNED THE AMERICAN NGO,
WHICH FUNDS IT HAS USED PRIMARILY TO HELP THE ZCTU
CONDUCT LABOR WORKSHOPS AND GRASSROOTS CAPACITY
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03680 03 OF 05 070943Z
BUILDING. ACCORDING TO DOUGHERTY, ZINDOGA SHARES THE
GOZ’S SUSPICION THAT THE SOLIDARITY CENTER IS REALLY
FUNDING THE MDC IN YET ANOTHER EFFORT BY THE WEST TO
DESTABILIZE THE RULING PARTY.
—————————————–
ZCTU REMAINS SILENT ON POLITICAL VIOLENCE
—————————————–
¶10. (C) SEVERAL UNION CONTACTS TOLD US THAT ONE OF THE
MOST TROUBLING FACETS OF THE ZCTU’S INACTIVITY WAS
ZINDOGA’S REFUSAL TO ALLOW THE ORGANIZATION TO ISSUE ANY
PUBLIC STATEMENTS CONDEMNING PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE OR
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO VOTE IN THE JUST HELD
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. AS THE ZCTU UNDER TSVANGIRAI
AND SIBANDA HAD BECOME A POWERFUL CRITIC OF THE GOZ —
ULTIMATELY GIVING BIRTH TO THE MDC — TRADE UNIONISTS
WERE HORRIFIED WHEN THE ZCTU REMAINED DEAFLY SILENT AS
WAR VETERANS ENGAGED IN A STATE-SPONSORED CAMPAIGN OF
TERROR AND INTIMIDATION IN THE RUN-UP TO THE
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. UNDER ZINDOGA’S LEADERSHIP, THE
ZCTU FAILED TO MUSTER EVEN A GENERAL CONDEMNATION OF THE
POLITICAL VIOLENCE, NOR DID IT ISSUE ANY STATEMENT
ENCOURAGING WORKERS TO VOTE. FAR FROM THE TRADITIONAL
WORKERS’ RALLY IN HARARE ON MAY 1, THE ZCTU DID NOTHING
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5117
PAGE 01 HARARE 03680 04 OF 05 070944Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 CTME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00
EUR-00 EXIM-01 E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 FRB-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 USIE-00 R-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W
——————6B453F 070944Z /38
R 070945Z JUL 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6543
INFO NSC WASHDC
DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
DEPTTREAS WASHDC
USDOC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 05 HARARE 003680
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S – ARLENE RENDER AND TODD FAULK
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
DOL FOR ILAB/ROBERT SHEPARD
TREASURY FOR OASIA/RALYEA AND NATAN EPSTEIN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03680 04 OF 05 070944Z
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR WILLIAMS
PASS USAID WASHDC FOR AFR/SA – NAN NEWMAN, OTI – MARC
SCOTT, AND A/AID – RICHARD MCCALL
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2001
SUBJECT: SUSPECTED CIO MOLE RENDERS ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF
TRADE UNIONS INEFFECTIVE
TO COMMEMORATE WORKERS’ DAY 2000 — WHICH MANY UNION
MEMBERS BELIEVE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PERFECT VENUE FOR
SOME PRE-ELECTION RHETORIC. INSTEAD, ZINDOGA TOLD THE
PRESS ON MAY 1 THAT THE SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY WAS
“TOO FAR GONE” FOR THE ZCTU TO HOLD A CELEBRATION, AND
THAT WORKERS’ BEST RECOURSE WAS SIMPLY TO “PRAY.”
——————————
LOOKING TO THE ANNUAL CONGRESS
——————————
¶11. (C) ZCTU MEMBERS NORMALLY ELECT THE SIX-MEMBER
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AT EVERY FIFTH ANNUAL
CONGRESS. ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A SCHEDULED ELECTION
YEAR, THE LEADERSHIP VOID CREATED BY THE DEPARTURE OF
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03680 04 OF 05 070944Z
TSVANGIRAI AND SIBANDA DICTATES THAT ZCTU MEMBERS CHOOSE
SIPDIS
A NEW EXECUTIVE AT THE 2000 ANNUAL CONGRESS. (NOTE:
EVERYONE, INCLUDING MATONGO AND ZINDOGA, EXPECTS THE TWO
MDC LEADERS TO FORMALLY RESIGN FROM THE ZCTU IN THE
COMING WEEKS. MATONGO IS PUSHING HARD TO HOLD THE ZCTU’S
ANNUAL CONGRESS AS USUAL IN SEPTEMBER. HE AND MAKORE ARE
CONFIDENT THAT ZINDOGA AND CHIFAMBA WILL BE VOTED OUT OF
OFFICE BY THE LARGELY MDC MEMBERSHIP OF THE LABOR
UNIONS. MATONGO NOTED THAT SEVERAL YOUNG, ENERGETIC, AND
POPULAR CANDIDATES FROM THE RAILWAY WORKERS’ AND BANK
WORKERS’ UNIONS ARE EAGER TO SECURE SEATS ON THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, OPINING THAT THEY WILL HAVE NO
TROUBLE OUSTING THE ZANU-PF CAMP. ZINDOGA, MEANWHILE,
TOLD LABOFF THAT PLANS FOR THE ANNUAL CONGRESS WERE
“PROCEEDING,” BUT AGAIN THE LACK OF FUNDS WAS PREVENTING
ORGANIZATION OF THE EVENT IN A TIMELY FASHION. ZINDOGA
WOULD NOT COMMENT ON HIS CHANCES OF BEING ELECTED
SECRETARY GENERAL (NOT ADMINISTRATIVELY PROMOTED BECAUSE
SIPDIS
OF TSVANGIRAI’S DEPARTURE, AS WAS PREVIOUSLY THE CASE),
OR ON THE EXPECTED DATE OF THE CONGRESS.
——-
COMMENT
——-
¶12. (C) IT IS ENTIRELY PLAUSIBLE AND INDEED LIKELY THAT,
AS THE ZCTU GREW IN STATURE AND ITS CRITICISM OF THE
GOVERNMENT BECAME INCREASINGLY STRIDENT IN 1998,
PRESIDENT MUGABE INSTRUCTED MINISTER CHITAURO (HERSELF A
FORMER TRADE UNIONIST) TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE
PROBLEM. WHILE ZINDOGA’S ENTRANCE INTO THE ZCTU MAY OR
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03680 04 OF 05 070944Z
MAY NOT BE PART OF A MASTER PLAN, HIS RAPID RISE TO THE
TOP ALMOST CERTAINLY IS NO ACCIDENT. HE WAS PERFECTLY
POISED TO TAKE TSVANGIRAI’S POSITION UPON HIS DEPARTURE
FOR THE MDC IN APRIL, AND THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE
THEORY THAT ZINDOGA HAS WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE THE
ZCTU — THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OPPOSITION
MOVEMENT IN ZIMBABWEAN HISTORY — HAS BECOME TOOTHLESS
AND INERT.
¶13. (C) NONETHELESS, THE ZCTU’S LOCAL, PROVINCIAL, AND
NATIONAL STRUCTURES HAVE BECOME FIRMLY ESTABLISHED
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY — THANKS IN LARGE PART TO THE
TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE AMERICAN
SOLIDARITY CENTER. WITH THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP, THE ZCTU
CERTAINLY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RETURN TO ITS GLORY DAYS.
AS INFLATION, THE COST OF LIVING, AND UNEMPLOYMENT
CONTINUE TO SPIRAL UPWARD — WITH THE GOVERNMENT MAKING
NO STEPS TOWARD RECOVERY — WORKERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE A
REVITALIZED LABOR MOVEMENT NOW MORE THAN EVER. WE AGREE
WITH MATONGO’S PREDICTION THAT ZINDOGA PROBABLY WILL BE
VOTED OUT OF OFFICE AT THE NEXT ZCTU CONGRESS, ALTHOUGH
WE EXPECT ZINDOGA’S ATTEMPTS TO STALL THE EVENT TO BE
EFFECTIVE, PERHAPS EVEN INTO 2001. UNTIL ZINDOGA’S
EFFORTS TO FLATLINE THE ZCTU ARE HALTED AND A BETTER
LEADERSHIP RESTORED, WE DO NOT EXPECT TO HEAR OR SEE
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5118
PAGE 01 HARARE 03680 05 OF 05 070944Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 CTME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00
EUR-00 EXIM-01 E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 FRB-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 USIE-00 R-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W
——————6B4548 070944Z /38
R 070945Z JUL 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6544
INFO NSC WASHDC
DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
DEPTTREAS WASHDC
USDOC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 05 OF 05 HARARE 003680
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S – ARLENE RENDER AND TODD FAULK
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
DOL FOR ILAB/ROBERT SHEPARD
TREASURY FOR OASIA/RALYEA AND NATAN EPSTEIN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03680 05 OF 05 070944Z
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR WILLIAMS
PASS USAID WASHDC FOR AFR/SA – NAN NEWMAN, OTI – MARC
SCOTT, AND A/AID – RICHARD MCCALL
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2001
SUBJECT: SUSPECTED CIO MOLE RENDERS ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF
TRADE UNIONS INEFFECTIVE
MUCH FROM ZIMBABWE’S LABOR MOVEMENT. END COMMENT.
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
(164 VIEWS)
The gazetting into law of the payment of quarterly taxes on a 50-50 basis in…
Zimbabwe has today unveiled a ZiG276.4 billion budget for 2025 during which it expects the…
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has repeatedly stated that he is not going to contest a…
The Zimbabwe Gold fell against the United States dollar for five consecutive days from Monday…
An Indian think tank has described Starlink, a satellite internet service provider which recently entered…
Zimbabwe’s new currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), firmed against the United States dollars for 10…