SUSPECTED CIO MOLE RENDERS ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS INEFFECTIVE

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 TAGS: ELAB PINR PGOV PREL ZI 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 TAGS: ELAB PINR PGOV PREL ZI 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 TAGS: ELAB PINR PGOV PREL ZI 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 TAGS: ELAB PINR PGOV PREL ZI 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 TAGS: ELAB PINR PGOV PREL ZI SUBJECT: SUSPECTED CIO MOLE RENDERS ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS INEFFECTIVE MUCH FROM ZIMBABWE'S LABOR MOVEMENT. END COMMENT. MCDONALD CONFIDENTIAL >