Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
00HARARE4147
2000-07-27 14:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
ZIMBABWE TAKES ITS CASE AGAIQ THE ZIMBABWE
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 271428Z Jul 00 CONFIDENTIAL PTO4809 PAGE 01 HARARE 04147 271426Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 E-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 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 FMP-00 R-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /009W ------------------7328CC 271426Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6710 INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
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).
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
>
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
>