Zimbabwe was sliding slowly into a police state with the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front escalating its intimidation of Movement for Democratic Change leaders and supporters.
The ruling party had in early 2001 raided the MDC offices in both Harare and Bulawayo; beaten several opposition Members of Parliament and people close to them; destroyed the house of an MDC MP; targeted MDC supporters in terror campaigns nationwide; and intensified repression of commercial farmers.
According to a cable dispatched by the United States embassy in Harare all of these developments were part of the ruling party’s increasingly vicious but well-coordinated strategy to remain in power beyond the 2002 presidential elections.
MDC spokesman Learnmore Jongwe said “this high-handedness in dealing with legitimate dissent will not stop the people of this country from demanding that the elected leaders behave responsibly”.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 01HARARE2171, ZIMBABWE SLIDING OMINOUSLY TOWARD A POLICE STATE
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CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4204
PAGE 01 HARARE 02171 01 OF 04 130953Z
ACTION ECA-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 INL-00
DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 VC-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 JUSE-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01
NSAE-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
/009W
——————051A03 130953Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9301
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 002171
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL. 07/10/11
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE SLIDING OMINOUSLY TOWARD A POLICE STATE
REF: A) HARARE 2124 B) HARARE 2104 C) HARARE 1992
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02171 01 OF 04 130953Z
D) HARARE 1955
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D’AFFAIRES MARK WOERNER. REASONS: 1.5
(B) AND (D).
SUMMARY
——-
¶1. (C) ZANU-PF HAS ESCALATED ITS INTIMIDATION OF OPPOSITION MDC
LEADERS AND SUPPORTERS, AND IS MOVING TO ELIMINATE MANEUVERING
ROOM FOR ALL OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT MIGHT
THREATEN THE RULING PARTY’S CONTINUED HOLD ON POWER. IN THE LAST
SEVERAL WEEKS, ZANU-PF OR THOSE ACTING ON ITS BEHALF HAVE RAIDED
THE MDC’S OFFICES IN HARARE AND BULAWAYO; BEATEN SEVERAL
OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND PEOPLE CLOSE TO THEM;
DESTROYED THE HOUSE OF AN MDC MP; TARGETED MDC SUPPORTERS IN
TERROR CAMPAIGNS NATIONWIDE; AND INTENSIFIED REPRESSION OF
COMMERCIAL FARMERS. ALL OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE PART OF THE
RULING PARTY’S INCREASINGLY VICIOUS BUT WELL-COORDINATED STRATEGY
TO REMAIN IN POWER BEYOND THE 2002 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DO ALL IT CAN TO HALT
THIS ONCE-PROMISING COUNTRY’S SLIDE TOWARD TOTALITARIANISM. AN
IMPORTANT STARTING POINT IS TO MAKE THE UPCOMING ELECTION A FOCAL
POINT OF OUR DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS AND TO EMPHASIZE TO PRESIDENT
MUGABE AND HIS ADVISORS PRECISELY WHAT CONSEQUENCES THEY WILL FACE
IF THE ELECTION IS NOT FREE AND FAIR. END SUMMARY.
ESCALATING HARASSMENT OF MDC OFFICIALS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS
——————————————— ————-
¶2. (C) ON JULY 5, THE DAY AFTER A NATIONAL TWO-DAY LABOR STAYAWAY
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 02171 01 OF 04 130953Z
SHUT DOWN MUCH OF ZIMBABWE, UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS DESCENDED ON
ONE OF THE OFFICES OF THE OPPOSITION MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC
CHANGE (MDC) IN DOWNTOWN HARARE. ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, THE
ARMED POLICE BLOCKED THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE BUILDING, SEARCHED
AND DEMANDED IDENTIFICATION FROM EVERYONE COMING IN AND OUT. MDC
SECRETARY-GENERAL WELSHMAN NCUBE, WHO WAS IN THE OFFICE AT THE
SIPDIS
TIME OF THE RAID, TOLD US THAT POLICE SAID THEY WERE LOOKING FOR
ARMS OF WAR AND FOR ZANU-PF YOUTH BEING HELD HOSTAGE AND TORTURED
ON-SITE. THE POLICE HAD NO SEARCH WARRANT, BUT PROCEEDED TO
SEARCH THE PREMISES BEFORE DEPARTING. THEY DID NOT ARREST ANYONE
OR CONFISCATE RECORDS OR EQUIPMENT. NCUBE WAS ALMOST NONCHALANT
IN HIS CONVERSATION WITH US, SAYING THAT HE HAS COME TO EXPECT
SUCH HARASSMENT FROM THE SECURITY SERVICES ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE
RULING PARTY AND ANTICIPATED SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN THE RUN-UP TO
THE 2002 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. (COMMENT: THE MDC’S LEADERSHIP
HAS GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO EMPHASIZE AND LIVE UP TO ITS
COMMITMENT TO PEACEFUL CHANGE AND TO AVOID REACTING TO REGULAR
PROVOCATIONS. IN THAT CONTEXT, THE POLICE OFFICERS’ CLAIM TO BE
LOOKING FOR ARMS OF WAR AND TORTURE VICTIMS IS ABSURD, AND
CONFIRMS THAT THIS PARTICULAR ACTION WAS NOTHING MORE THAN
HARASSMENT. END COMMENT.)
¶3. (C) ON JULY 6, PLAINCLOTHES POLICE OFFICERS ENTERED THE MDC’S
OFFICE IN BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE’S SECOND-LARGEST CITY. ACCORDING TO
MDC MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT DAVID COLTART, THE POLICE, WHO WERE
EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE, HAD NEITHER A SEARCH WARRANT NOR AN ARREST
WARRANT BUT REFUSED TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY WERE THERE. THEY ARRESTED
THE MDC’S TREASURER, FLETCHER DULINI-NCUBE, AND AN MDC DRIVER,
KHETHANI SIBANDA, AND CONFISCATED A 10-TON TRUCK BELONGING TO THE
OPPOSITION PARTY. DULINI-NCUBE WAS RELEASED SEVERAL HOURS LATER,
BUT SIBANDA REMAINED IN DETENTION UNTIL JULY 9, WHEN HE WAS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 02171 01 OF 04 130953Z
RELEASED ON BAIL.
¶4. (C) IN OTHER ACTIONS, IT IS CLEAR THAT MDC MEMBERS OF
PARLIAMENT ARE BEING SINGLED OUT FOR PHYSICAL ABUSE AND THEIR
PROPERTY TARGETED FOR DESTRUCTION. ON JULY 7, PAUL THEMBA NYATHI,
THE MDC’S DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS, WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD IN
BULAWAYO BY A CAR WHICH HAD BEEN FOLLOWING HIM FOR SOME TIME. HIS
CAR ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT HE MIRACULOUSLY AVOIDED SERIOUS
INJURY. ACCORDING TO NYATHI, FOUR MEN DISEMBARKED FROM THE
VEHICLE WHICH HAD RAMMED NYATHI’S TO INSPECT THE ACCIDENT SCENE,
THEN SPED OFF. ON JUNE 23, A GROUP OF APPROXIMATELY 200 WAR
VETERANS (SOME OF WHOM WORE ZANU-PF T-SHIRTS) USED STONES, BRICKS,
AND BOTTLES TO DESTROY THE HOUSE OF MDC MP WILLIAS MADZIMURE, WHO
REPRESENTS THE HARARE HIGH-DENSITY SUBURB OF KAMBUZUMA. MADZIMURE
TOLD US THAT POLICE HAVE TAKEN NO ACTION AGAINST THE PERPETRATORS,
WHO ARE WELL-KNOWN BUT CONTINUE TO CIRCULATE FREELY. ON JUNE 27,
MADZIMURE WAS ASSAULTED BY A GROUP OF ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS WHILE IN
A POLICE STATION FILING A COMPLAINT. NO ONE HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN
THAT INCIDENT. ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, A SHOP OWNED BY MDC MP
JOB SIKHALA, WHO HAS BEEN BEATEN TWICE THIS YEAR BY ZANU-PF
SUPPORTERS, WAS RANSACKED ON JUNE 27 BY 15 PEOPLE CARRYING AXES,
STICKS, BRICKS, AND STONES. THE GROUP, LED BY A REPORTED ZANU-PF
ACTIVIST IN THE AREA, BEAT THE SHOP’S TWO EMPLOYEES, ONE OF WHOM
REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4208
PAGE 01 HARARE 02171 02 OF 04 130953Z
ACTION ECA-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 INL-00
DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 VC-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 JUSE-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01
NSAE-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
/009W
——————051A1B 130953Z /38
O 130954Z JUL 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9302
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 002171
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL. 07/10/11
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE SLIDING OMINOUSLY TOWARD A POLICE STATE
¶5. (C) MDC SUPPORTERS ARE ALSO BEING TARGETED IN THE SWELLING
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02171 02 OF 04 130953Z
WAVE OF GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED VIOLENCE. IN THE HARARE HIGH-
DENSITY SUBURB OF EPWORTH, SIX PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE LAST
TWO WEEKS IN POLITICAL VIOLENCE PROVOKED BY SELF-STYLED WAR
VETERANS AND GOONS IN THE EMPLOY OF ZANU-PF. THE LONG-SIMMERING
TENSIONS IN THIS TOWNSHIP HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED IN RECENT WEEKS BY
ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS, WHO HAVE DRAGGED SUSPECTED MDC BACKERS OUT OF
THEIR HOMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND FORCED THEM TO WALK
SEVERAL KILOMETERS TO A BASE CAMP, WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN SEVERELY
BEATEN. ON JULY 7, THREE MDC OFFICIALS WERE REPORTEDLY SERIOUSLY
INJURED IN RUSAPE, 170 KM SOUTHEAST OF HARARE, IN SEPARATE ATTACKS
ON THEM BY ZANU-PF YOUTHS. THE RIGHT EYE OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS —
NATION SAGWETE, THE MDC DISTRICT YOUTH CHAIRMAN FOR MAKONI EAST —
WAS BLINDED IN THE SECOND ATTACK ON HIM IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS.
MEANWHILE ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS CONTINUE TO WAGE A CAMPAIGN OF TERROR
AGAINST RESIDENTS IN THE MASHONALAND CENTRAL CAPITAL OF BINDURA,
WHERE A PARLIAMENTARY BY-ELECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR JULY 28 AND 29.
INCREASING REPRESSION OF COMMERCIAL FARMERS
——————————————-
¶6. (C) THE SITUATION ON COMMERCIAL FARMS NATIONWIDE IS HEATING
UP, AS THE GOVERNMENT APPEARS INTENT ON BEATING FARMERS — IN SOME
CASES, QUITE LITERALLY — INTO SUBMISSION. DAVID HASLUCK,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU), TOLD
ECON/COMMERCIAL CHIEF ON JULY 9 THAT THE ORCHESTRATED CAMPAIGN OF
VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION TARGETING COMMERCIAL FARMERS HAS
INTENSIFIED IN RECENT WEEKS. ACCORDING TO HASLUCK, THE GOZ HAD
RECENTLY ORDERED ITS GANGSTER MILITIA OF WAR VETERANS AND ZANU-PF
SUPPORTERS (WHOSE TACTICS ARE BECOMING INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM
THOSE OF MUSSOLINI’S BROWNSHIRTS) TO DELIVER A CLEAR MESSAGE TO
WHITE FARMERS THAT ANY RESISTANCE TO THE CHAOTIC LAND RESETTLEMENT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 02171 02 OF 04 130953Z
PROGRAM WAS FUTILE AND WOULD ONLY RESULT IN INJURIES OR DEATH.
THE CFU DIRECTOR INFORMED US THAT 92-95% OF ALL WHITE-OWNED FARMS
IN ZIMBABWE HAVE NOW BEEN LISTED FOR COMPULSORY ACQUISITION, WITH
THE GOVERNMENT AIMING FOR 100 PERCENT.
¶7. (C) SEVERAL RECENT INCIDENTS PROVIDE COMPELLING EVIDENCE THAT
HASLUCK’S SOURCES ARE RIGHT-ON IN THEIR ASSESSMENT OF A NEW GOZ
CAMPAIGN AGAINST FARM OWNERS. IAIN KAY, A FARMER AND MDC ACTIVIST
RESIDENT IN MARONDERA, 75 KM SOUTHEAST OF HARARE, WAS HELD
HOSTAGE, ALONG WITH TWO NEIGHBORING FARMERS, IN HIS HOME FOR THREE
DAYS BY HOSTILE WAR VETERANS JULY 6-8. LAST YEAR, KAY WAS
SEVERELY BEATEN AND LEFT FOR DEAD BY WAR VETERANS ANGRY THAT HE
HAD NOT BUILT SHACKS FOR SQUATTERS ON HIS PROPERTY. IN THE MOST
RECENT INCIDENT, MDC MP DAVID COLTART TOLD US, A WELL-KNOWN
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION (CIO) AGENT SUPERVISED THE
ACTIVITIES OF THE WAR VETERANS, WHO ASSAULTED 20 OF KAY’S FARM
WORKERS. THEY ENTERED HIS HOUSE TWICE BUT WERE FORCED TO RETREAT
AFTER THE FARM OWNER FIRED A PISTOL INTO THE AIR. THE WAR
VETERANS THREATENED TO KILL KAY IF HE DID NOT VACATE THE FARM
IMMEDIATELY. THE TENSE STANDOFF WAS DEFUSED ON JULY 8 AFTER KAY
AND HIS NEIGHBORS WERE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE PREMISES, ALTHOUGH THE
WAR VETERANS HAVE INSISTED THEY WILL ASSUME CONTROL OF THE
PROPERTY WITHIN A MONTH.
¶8. (C) PHIL MATIBE, AN MDC ACTIVIST, COMMERCIAL FARMER, AND
PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE IN THE JUNE 2000 POLLS, HAD HIS 650-
HECTARE FARM SEIZED AFTER HE REFUSED TO WITHDRAW HIS LEGAL
CHALLENGE OF ZANU-PF’S VICTORY IN CHEGUTU. THE VICTORIOUS ZANU-PF
CANDIDATE, WEBSTER SHAMU, HAD INSTRUCTED MATIBE TO WITHDRAW HIS
CHALLENGE OR HIS FARM WOULD BE SEIZED. MATIBE TOLD POLITICAL
SECTION CHIEF THAT ON JUNE 7, THE DAY AFTER THE HIGH COURT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 02171 02 OF 04 130953Z
SCHEDULED A DATE TO HEAR HIS CASE, A GROUP COMPRISING THE DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATOR AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE WAR VETERANS, POLICE,
AND ZANU-PF APPEARED ON THE FARM AND GAVE MATIBE AND HIS FAMILY 24
HOURS TO VACATE THE PREMISES. (COMMENT: THE FACT THAT MATIBE’S
FARM HAD NOT BEEN LISTED FOR COMPULSORY ACQUISITION UNDER THE
GOVERNMENT’S FAST TRACK RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM, OR THAT HE IS BLACK,
DID NOT SEEM TO MATTER TO ANY OF THE GOZ PLAYERS. END COMMENT.)
FIFTEEN TO TWENTY SQUATTER FAMILIES WERE DROPPED OFF SOON AFTER,
ERECTED TEMPORARY SHACKS, BURNED ALL OF HIS CROPS IN THE GROUND
(WHICH INCLUDED TOBACCO, BARLEY, AND MAIZE) AND DESTROYED MOST OF
THE INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE FARM.
¶9. (C) ON JUNE 15, A MESSAGE WAS CONVEYED INDIRECTLY TO MATIBE
ORDERING HIM TO RESIGN FROM THE MDC AND TO WITHDRAW HIS LEGAL
CHALLENGE; OTHERWISE, HE AND HIS FAMILY WOULD FACE UNSPECIFIED
CONSEQUENCES. ON JUNE 22, THE CIO PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR FOR
MASHONALAND WEST MET WITH MATIBE AND STATED EXPLICITLY THAT HE HAD
BEEN SENT AS AN ENVOY FROM PRESIDENT MUGABE’S OFFICE. THE CIO
DIRECTOR TOLD MATIBE THAT, IF HE WITHDREW HIS HIGH COURT PETITION,
HE COULD CHOOSE WHATEVER FARM HE WANTED ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY
AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BACK OFF IMMEDIATELY. IF HE DECLINED THE
OFFER, THE ENVOY SAID, MATIBE WOULD BE CRUSHED. THE SENIOR CIO
OFFICIAL CONTINUED THAT ZANU-PF WOULD ENSURE THAT ANY BUSINESS OR
OTHER ECONOMIC INITIATIVE MATIBE TRIED TO UNDERTAKE WOULD FAIL,
AND HIS PHYSICAL SECURITY AND THAT OF HIS FAMILY WOULD NOT BE
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4211
PAGE 01 HARARE 02171 03 OF 04 130954Z
ACTION ECA-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 INL-00
DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 VC-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 JUSE-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01
NSAE-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
/009W
——————051A2C 130954Z /38
O 130954Z JUL 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9303
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 002171
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL. 07/10/11
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE SLIDING OMINOUSLY TOWARD A POLICE STATE
GUARANTEED. ALTHOUGH CLEARLY SHAKEN BY THIS ORDEAL, MATIBE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02171 03 OF 04 130954Z
APPEARS DETERMINED NOT TO BACK DOWN AND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HIS
COURT CASE. (COMMENT: THE TREATMENT OF MATIBE PROVIDES THE MOST
GLARING EXAMPLE TO DATE THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S FAST TRACK
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM IS MORE ABOUT INTIMIDATING POLITICAL
OPPONENTS THAN RIGHTING HISTORICAL WRONGS OR EMPOWERING THE
PEASANTRY. END COMMENT.)
¶10. (U) ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, WAR VETERANS AND ZANU-PF
SUPPORTERS ARMED WITH SPEARS AND AXES WENT ON A RAMPAGE THE WEEK
OF JULY 2 IN MWENEZI, IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF MASVINGO,
BEATING UP FARM WORKERS WHOM THEY ACCUSED OF SUPPORTING THE MDC.
ONE BAFFLED FARMER IN THE AREA TOLD JOURNALISTS: “IT IS VERY
DANGEROUS FOR US TO MOVE AROUND THE FARM BECAUSE THE WAR VETERANS
HAVE BECOME VERY HOSTILE. THE WHOLE AREA HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A
BATTLEFIELD.” ON JULY 5, GROUPS OF AXE-WIELDING WAR VETERANS
REPORTEDLY BROUGHT THE TOWN OF PLUMTREE, A BORDER TOWN 100 KM
SOUTHWEST OF BULAWAYO, TO A STANDSTILL WHEN THEY HARASSED WORKERS
AT COMPANIES THEY ACCUSED OF PARTICIPATING IN THE JULY 3-4
STAYAWAY ORGANIZED BY THE ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS
(ZCTU). THE WAR VETERANS ALLEGEDLY THREATENED TO TAKE OVER THE
COMPANIES AND DEMANDED THE TRANSFER OF ALL OF THEIR MANAGERS. ON
JULY 5, THE GAME RANCH OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN WAS OCCUPIED BY WAR
VETERANS DROPPED OFF BY A POLICE LAND ROVER (REF A).
DETENTION OF ZCTU SECRETARY-GENERAL
———————————–
¶11. (U) THE JULY 12 DETENTION OF WELLINGTON CHIBHEBHE, THE ZCTU’S
SECRETARY-GENERAL, SIGNALED THE GOVERNMENT’S UNHAPPINESS OVER THE
SIPDIS
SUCCESS OF THE JULY 3-4 STAYAWAY AND ITS CONCERN OVER THREATS BY
THE LABOR ORGANIZATION TO CALL FOR AN INDEFINITE WORK STOPPAGE.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 02171 03 OF 04 130954Z
CHIBHEBHE WAS QUESTIONED FOR TWO HOURS BY POLICE, WHO ASKED ABOUT
HIS POLITICAL AFFILIATION, THE COMPOSITION OF THE ZCTU AND ITS
VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES, WHICH KEY FIGURES DECIDE TO
PROCEED WITH STAYAWAYS, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ZCTU AND
THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION. ZCTU PRESIDENT LOVEMORE
MATOMBO CALLED THE QUESTIONING OF CHIBHEBHE “MERE HARASSMENT.”
MDC SPOKESMAN LEARNMORE JONGWE HAD STRONGER WORDS, SAYING “THIS
HIGH-HANDEDNESS IN DEALING WITH LEGITIMATE DISSENT WILL NOT STOP
THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY FROM DEMANDING THAT THE ELECTED LEADERS
BEHAVE RESPONSIBLY.”
NEW CITIZENSHIP LAW
——————-
¶12. (U) ON JULY 6, PRESIDENT MUGABE SIGNED INTO LAW AN AMENDMENT
TO THE CITIZENSHIP ACT OF ZIMBABWE INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN ZANU-
PF’S PROSPECTS IN THE 2002 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. ACCORDING TO
THE IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS, ZIMBABWEANS HOLDING DUAL CITIZENSHIP
ARE REQUIRED TO RENOUNCE THEIR FOREIGN CITIZENSHIP WITHIN SIX
MONTHS OF THE ENACTMENT DATE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOREIGN
COUNTRY’S LAWS. PREVIOUSLY, ZIMBABWEANS HOLDING DUAL CITIZENSHIP
WERE ONLY REQUIRED TO RENOUNCE THEIR FOREIGN CITIZENSHIP UNDER
ZIMBABWEAN LAW, A RENUNCIATION WHICH SOME FOREIGN COUNTRIES DID
NOT RECOGNIZE.
¶13. (C) COMMENT: OBSERVERS AGREE THAT THE AMENDMENT IS AIMED
SOLELY AT DISENFRANCHISING WHITES, WHOM THE GOZ BELIEVES TO BE
OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE MDC. IT IS UNCLEAR, HOWEVER, HOW
THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO ENFORCE THE NEW PROVISION. WILL ALL WHITE
ZIMBABWEANS, FOR EXAMPLE, BE FORCED TO PROVE THAT THEY ARE NOT
CITIZENS OF ANOTHER COUNTRY WHEN THEY APPLY FOR RENEWAL OF THEIR
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 02171 03 OF 04 130954Z
ZIMBABWEAN PASSPORTS? SINCE WHITE ZIMBABWEANS COMPRISE LESS THAN
TWO-THIRDS OF ONE PERCENT OF THE POPULATION, THIS LAW BY ITSELF
LIKELY WILL NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE ELECTION OUTCOME.
THE MOST WORRYING POSSIBILITY, HOWEVER, IS THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON
DUAL CITIZENS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE LIVED IN ZIMBABWE MOST OF THEIR
LIVES, IF THEY OPT TO MAINTAIN THEIR FOREIGN CITIZENSHIP. THEY
WILL HAVE TO APPLY FOR ZIMBABWEAN RESIDENCE PERMITS, AND A
GOVERNMENT DENIAL OF THEIR APPLICATIONS COULD POTENTIALLY LEAVE
THOUSANDS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS NOT ONLY STATELESS, BUT ASSET-LESS
TOO. END COMMENT.)
COMMENT
——-
¶14. (C) THINGS ARE RAPIDLY GOING FROM BAD TO WORSE IN ZIMBABWE,
AS THE RULING PARTY SEEMS TO HAVE CONCLUDED THAT RUNNING ON ITS
RECORD IS NOT A RECIPE FOR ELECTORAL SUCCESS NEXT YEAR. ZANU-PF
HAS ESCALATED ITS INTIMIDATION OF THE OPPOSITION AND THOSE
SUSPECTED OF SUPPORTING IT, AND IS ELIMINATING THE MANEUVERING
ROOM OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT MIGHT EVEN
REMOTELY THREATEN THE PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON POWER. CRUSHING THE
OPPOSITION AND COMMERCIAL FARMERS; PROHIBITING CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS
FROM CONDUCTING VOTER EDUCATION; THREATENING RURAL VOTERS WITH
DEATH IF THEY VOTE MDC; OUTLAWING FOREIGN FUNDING OF POLITICAL
PARTIES AND NGOS; MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR INDEPENDENT
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CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4212
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ACTION ECA-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 INL-00
DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 VC-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 JUSE-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01
NSAE-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
/009W
——————051A2F 130954Z /38
O 130954Z JUL 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9304
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 002171
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL. 07/10/11
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE SLIDING OMINOUSLY TOWARD A POLICE STATE
BROADCASTERS TO OBTAIN A LICENSE; AND IMPOSING STRINGENT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02171 04 OF 04 130954Z
ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS ON FOREIGN JOURNALISTS THAT MAKE IT
IMPOSSIBLE TO COVER BREAKING STORIES ARE ALL KEY ELEMENTS IN ZANU-
PF’S INCREASINGLY VICIOUS BUT WELL-COORDINATED STRATEGY.
¶15. (C) GIVEN THAT THE RAPID POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DETERIORATION
IN ZIMBABWE WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC
STABILITY OF THE REGION, AND THAT THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY HERE IS
IN PERIL, IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DO ALL
IT CAN NOW TO ARREST THIS COUNTRY’S SLIDE TOWARD TOTALITARIANISM.
THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION, OF COURSE, IS WHAT ACTIONS FROM THE
UNITED STATES AND OTHERS WOULD ELICIT THE KINDS OF CHANGES WE ARE
SEEKING. AT A MINIMUM, WE WOULD ARGUE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
WEIGH IN WITH THE GOVERNMENT NOW, PERHAPS IN CONCERT WITH KEY
ALLIES, TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE EXPECT A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION, TO
CLARIFY WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT, AND TO SPECIFY THE CONSEQUENCES THAT
WILL FOLLOW IF THE ELECTION DOES NOT MEET THAT STANDARD. A
RESPONSE FROM SECRETARY POWELL TO FM MUDENGE’S RECENT LETTER (REF
D) MIGHT PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE SENIOR-LEVEL CHANNEL FOR
COMMUNICATING THAT INFORMATION. IN ADDITION, THE EMBASSY AND
USAID MISSION ARE PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD IMMEDIATELY WITH
DEPLOYMENT OF A NON-PARTISAN TEAM OF ELECTION-RELATED MONITORS
WHEN THE ESF FUNDS PLEDGED TO US FOR THIS PURPOSE IN FEBRUARY 2001
ARE DISBURSED. AS WE PROCEED WITH PLANNING FOR THE MONITORING
EFFORT, WE WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PREVAILING SECURITY CONDITIONS
AND ADOPT ADEQUATE SECURITY PRECAUTIONS.
WOERNER
CONFIDENTIAL
>
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