FOREIGN MINISTER PROTESTS ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 003616 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICAN DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH LONDON FOR PFLAUMER PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/10 TAGS: PREL PGOV ZI US SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER PROTESTS ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY ACT CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD REASONS 1.5 B/D. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 03616 031658Z ¶1. (C) ON JULY 3 FOREIGN MINISTER STANISLAUS MUDENGE GRANTED AMBASSADOR MCDONALD AN AUDIENCE TO REGISTER HIS CONCERN ABOUT PASSAGE OF THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY ACT IN THE SENATE. IN THIS CONNECTION, THE MINISTER SAID HE WAS UNHAPPY ABOUT THE FLURRY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES TARGETING ZIMBABWE FOR "SANCTIONS". HE SAID THAT HE HAD INSTRUCTED HIS AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON TO PROTEST THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA'S FAILURE TO INVITE ANYONE FROM THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT TO TESTIFY AT ITS JUNE 13 HEARING. ¶2. (C) "WE ARE A DEVELOPING NATION AND IT IS UNFAIR TO JUDGE US BY THE STANDARDS OF YOUR COUNTRY," MUDENGE STATED, WAVING AWAY AMBASSADOR MCDONALD'S POINTED ASSERTIONS THAT THE SENATE'S BILL WAS A BIPARTISAN RESPONSE TO THE TRAGIC EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN ZIMBABWE SINCE EARLY THIS YEAR, PARTICULARLY THE CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION PERPETRATED BY THE RULING ZANU-PF PARTY IN THE RUN-UP TO THE ELECTIONS. THE AMBASSADOR URGED THE MINISTER TO TREAT THE SENATE BILL AND THE HOUSE HEARING AS A "WAKE-UP CALL" TO THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE ITS POLICIES. THE MINISTER RESPONDED THAT "WE WILL HAVE TO STUDY THE CONSEQUENCES" OF THE BILL IF IT BECOMES LAW. "THEN ZIMBABWE WOULD HAVE TO CRAFT A PROGRAM TO SURVIVE," HE ADDED. AMBASSADOR MCDONALD REJOINED THAT ZIMBABWE COULD DO A NUMBER OF THINGS BETWEEN NOW AND THE POTENTIAL ENACTMENT OF THE BILL IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN ORDER TO BEGIN TO GARNER SOME GOODWILL IN WASHINGTON. THE AMBASSADOR CONTINUED, "STOP TALKING ABOUT YOUR CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 03616 031658Z NEGATIVE PUBLIC RELATIONS IMAGE AND TAKE CONSTRUCTIVE ACTION TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT." PRESIDENT MUGABE'S STATEMENT TO CNN ON SATURDAY, JULY 1, ABOUT CONTINUING THE FARM OCCUPATIONS AND NOT FORCING THE REMOVAL OF WAR VETERANS, THE AMBASSADOR TOLD THE MINISTER, WERE VERY UNHELPFUL IN TONE AND WILL NOT ASSIST IN SOLVING THE LAND PROBLEM. "ZIMBABWEANS WILL BE ZIMBABWEANS," THE MINISTER NOTED, AND "WE'LL RESIST ANYONE WHO TRIES TO DIRECT US." "WE'LL FIGHT WITH OUR WORDS," HE CONCLUDED. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: THE SENATE LEGISLATION AND IMPLICATIONS THAT IT HAS FOR ZIMBABWE IN THE WORLD HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT HERE. MUDENGE DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH ON WHAT COURSE OF ACTION HIS GOVERNMENT MIGHT TAKE, SHOULD IT FIND ITSELF AN ISOLATED STATE, ALTHOUGH WE SPECULATE THAT IT MIGHT ACCELERATE THE ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL FARMS FOR RE- SETTLEMENT. THE FOREIGN MINISTER THROUGH ALL HIS BLUSTER HAS MADE A POINT: THE ZANU-PF GOVERNMENT WANTS OUR MONEY BUT IS NOT WILLING TO CHANGE ITS WAYS. AS WE DISCUSS POTENTIAL USG INVOLVEMENT IN ASSISTING LAND REFORM IN THE FUTURE, WE MUST KEEP THIS POINT IN MIND. END COMMENT. MCDONALD CONFIDENTIAL