Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
00HARARE3616
2000-07-03 17:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
FOREIGN MINISTER PROTESTS ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 031702Z Jul 00 CONFIDENTIAL PTO2648 PAGE 01 HARARE 03616 031658Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AS-01 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EUR-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 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 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /008W ------------------69D677 031659Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6499 INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
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
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
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