ZIMBABWE TAKES ITS CASE AGAIQ THE ZIMBABWE

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 004147 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH LONDON FOR PFLAUMER PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/10 TAGS: PGOV PREL EFIN ZI US SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE TAKES ITS CASE AGAIQ THE ZIMBABWE CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 04147 271426Z DEMOCRACY ACT TO THE NONALIGNED MOVEMENT REF: HARARE 3634 CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (U) ON THE MORNING OF JULY 27 FOREIGN MINISTER STANISLAUS MUDENGE CONVENED THE AMBASSADORS AND HIGH COMMISSIONERS FROM THE NONALIGNED MOVEMENT (NAM) COUNTRIES REPRESENTED IN HARARE FOR A BRIEFING ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY ACT AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. ACCORDING TO LOCAL PRESS REPORTING, THE MINISTER TOLD THE ASSEMBLED HEADS OF MISSION THAT THE BILL, IF PASSED, WOULD CUT AID TO ZIMBABWE, INCLUDING DEBT RELIEF, AND WOULD REQUIRE U.S. REPRESENTATIVES AND MULTILATERAL INSTITUTIONS (SIC) TO VOTE AGAINST LOANS TO ZIMBABWE. MUDENGE SAID THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY ACT "VIOLATED ALL THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF NAM, NAMELY NON-INTERFERENCE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF OTHER STATES, RESPECT FOR SOVEREIGNTY, TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF ALL MEMBER STATES." ¶2. (U) THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S APPEAL FOLLOWED A SIMILAR REPRESENTATION TO THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS. THE LOME SUMMIT OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY MADE A DECLARATION CONDEMNING THE BILL AND REPORTEDLY INSTRUCTED OAU AMBASSADORS IN WASHINGTON TO LOBBY THE U.S. CONGRESS NOT TO PROCEED WITH PASSING THE BILL INTO LAW. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 04147 271426Z ¶3. (C) SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSIONER A. J. D. NDOU TOLD CHARGE JULY 27 THAT MUDENGE WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHO TALKED DURING THE ENTIRE MEETING. HE ASKED THE HEADS OF MISSION TO REPORT ZIMBABWE'S APPEAL TO THEIR CAPITALS TO JOIN IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE BILL. CHARACTERIZING THE ZIMBABWEAN FOREIGN MINISTER AS "ARROGANT," THE SOUTH AFRICAN ENVOY CRITICIZED MUDENGE FOR NOT SHARING WITH THE NAM AMBASSADORS THE WHOLE TRUTH. RATHER, MUDENGE GAVE ONLY ZIMBABWE'S INTERPRETATION OF THE BILL AND SAID NOTHING ABOUT RESTORING THE RULE OF LAW ON COMMERCIAL FARMS. "MY PRESIDENT IS GOING TO ASK ME ABOUT THAT WHEN THE REQUEST GETS TO HIS DESK," NDOU AVERRED. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: THE GOZ'S PANIC OVER THE BILL HAS BEEN EXPRESSED ON MANY FRONTS. THE GOVERNMENT-INFLUENCED PRESS HAS RAILED AGAINST WHAT IT TERMS U.S. "SANCTIONS." FORMER MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE NATHAN SHAMUYARIRA, CONSIDERED A RELATIVELY INDEPENDENT-MINDED ZANU-PF MEMBER, MADE A POINT OF STRESSING TO A VISITING INR ANALYST THAT THE BILL WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ZIMBABWE. THE FOREIGN MINISTER RAISED THE BILL WITH VISITING S/E WOLPE AT THE END OF A MEETING OTHERWISE DEVOTED ENTIRELY TO THE DRC. NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS SPENT CONSIDERABLE ENERGY IN HOWLING AGAINST PERCEIVED INJUSTICES AND NONE IN EXAMINING HOW IT CAN ALTER ITS POLICIES AND BEHAVIOR IN ORDER TO IMPROVE ITS IMAGE OVERSEAS. THE LOME SUMMIT DECLARATION NOTWITHSTANDING, THE GOVERNMENT SEEMS BY AND LARGE TO HAVE FAILED TO FIND A KEENLY RESPONSIVE AUDIENCE FOR ITS COMPLAINT AND CALL TO ACTION. END COMMENT. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 04147 271426Z IRVING CONFIDENTIAL >