AMBASSADOR CALLS ON NEW ENVIRONMENT MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 004767 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF, AF/S NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/05 TAGS: PGOV PINR SENV EIND EAID ZI SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON NEW ENVIRONMENT MINISTER FRANCIS NHEMA REF HARARE 4695 CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD, REASON 1.5 (B), CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 04767 01 OF 03 291137Z (D) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: ON AUGUST 24, AMBASSADOR MCDONALD PAID AN INTRODUCTORY VISIT TO NEW MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM FRANCIS NHEMA, WHO IS ONE OF THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF THE NEW CABINET. HAVING SPENT MOST OF THE LAST 11 YEARS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA, NHEMA GENERALLY SEES THE U.S.-ZIMBABWE RELATIONSHIP IN A POSITIVE LIGHT. STILL LEARNING THE MINISTERIAL ROPES, HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE EFFECTS OF THIS YEAR'S POLITICAL VIOLENCE ON ZIMBABWE'S TOURISM INDUSTRY, BUT HAD ONLY THE GOVERNMENT LINE TO OFFER ON LAND REFORM. ALTHOUGH ASSOCIATED WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATION, NHEMA DOES NOT YET APPEAR TO HAVE THE POLITICAL WHEREWITHAL OR PERSONALITY TO AFFECT ANY REAL CHANGE IN CABINET. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) THE AMBASSADOR, ACCOMPANIED BY POLOFF AND USAIDOFF, PAID AN INTRODUCTORY VISIT TO NEW MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM FRANCIS NHEMA. NHEMA IS ONE OF THE NEW YOUNG BLOODS IN CABINET, AND, AS HE TOLD US, IS THE SECOND-YOUNGEST MEMBER AFTER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MINISTER BORDER GEZI. THE SOFT-SPOKEN NHEMA INFORMED THE AMBASSADOR THAT THIS IS HIS SECOND POSTING IN THE ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY, WHERE HE WORKED IN THE 1980S AS A SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE VENERABLE VICTORIA CHITEPO (WIDOW OF LIBERATION WAR HERO HERBERT CHITEPO),THEN ENVIRONMENT MINISTER. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 04767 01 OF 03 291137Z -------------- U.S.-ZIMBABWE RELATIONSHIP UNCHANGED -------------- ¶3. (C) THE AMBASSADOR BEGAN THE DISCUSSION BY ASKING NHEMA HOW HE ASSESSES THE U.S.-ZIMBABWE RELATIONSHIP. THE MINISTER CONSIDERS IT ESSENTIALLY UNCHANGED UNLESS ONE CONSIDERS THE SUSPENSION OF IMF AND WORLD BANK SUPPORT. HE CHARACTERIZED IT AS BETTER THAN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.K. WHEN ASKED TO EXPLAIN THE INCREASE IN ANTI-AMERICAN RHETORIC, NHEMA BLAMED MEDIA BIAS AND THE BRITISH FOR COMING BETWEEN ZIMBABWE AND THE U.S. ZIMBABWEANS TEND TO LUMP THE U.S. AND U.K. TOGETHER AS "THE WEST," SO WHEN THE BRITISH RELATIONSHIP SUFFERS, THE AMERICAN ONE DOES AS WELL, NHEMA OFFERED. THE AMBASSADOR ENCOURAGED NHEMA AND OTHER OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS THEIR DIFFERENCES WITH THE U.S. PRIVATELY AND NOT IN THE PRESS, TO WHICH NHEMA AGREED. -------------- TOURISM SUFFERS... -------------- ¶4. (C) THE DISCUSSION TURNED TO TOURISM AND THE EFFECT THIS YEAR'S POLITICAL VIOLENCE HAS HAD ON THE INDUSTRY. THE AMBASSADOR STATED THAT DESPITE ZIMBABWE'S MANY PROBLEMS, AMERICAN VISITORS CONTINUE TO COME TO THE COUNTRY. HOWEVER, AMERICANS ARE DIRECTED TO FOLLOW THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S TRAVEL ADVISORY BEFORE PLANNING THEIR TRIP. THE AMBASSADOR SAID A PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE ZIMBABWE TOURISM WOULD NOT BE EFFECTIVE SO CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 04767 01 OF 03 291137Z LONG AS SQUATTERS CONTINUE TO ILLEGALLY OCCUPY FARMS AND INTIMIDATE THEIR OWNERS. THE MINISTER ACKNOWLEDGED, SOMEWHAT GRUDGINGLY, THAT THERE IS LITTLE HE CAN DO TO IMPROVE ZIMBABWEAN TOURISM UNTIL THE LAND ISSUE IS SETTLED. BEFORE THE PROBLEMS DEVELOPED EARLIER THIS YEAR, PROMOTING ZIMBABWE AS A TOURIST DESTINATION FOR AMERICANS WAS AN IMPORTANT UNDERTAKING BY THE EMBASSY. -------------- ...WHILE LAND REFORM GRINDS ON -------------- ¶5. (C) PARROTING THE GOVERNMENT LINE, NHEMA REITERATED THAT THE FARM OCCUPIERS WERE TO BE OFF THE FARMS NOT IDENTIFIED FOR COMPULSORY ACQUISTION BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER AND THAT FIVE MILLION HECTARES WERE TO BE REDISTRIBUTED BY DECEMBER. OCCUPIERS ALREADY ON FARMS DESIGNATED FOR REDISTRIBUTION WOULD BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN, HOWEVER. ASKED ABOUT THE EVICTIONS OF THE WEEK OF AUGUST 21 (REFTEL),NHEMA SAID THE POLICE DID NOT FOLLOW GOVERNMENT POLICY AS THOSE EVICTED DID NOT HAVE OTHER LAND ON WHICH TO SETTLE. THE AMBASSADOR POINTED OUT THAT THE GOZ DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO RESETTLE CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5876 PAGE 01 HARARE 04767 02 OF 03 291138Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OES-01 ACE-00 SSO-00 SS-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 IIP-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /004W -------------- 7F28FB 291138Z /38 O 291137Z AUG 00 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6952 INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 004767 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF, AF/S NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/05 TAGS: PGOV PINR SENV EIND EAID ZI SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON NEW ENVIRONMENT MINISTER FRANCIS NHEMA SO MANY PEOPLE IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. UPHOLDING THE PRINCIPLES OF THE OWNERSHIP OF PRIVATE PROPERTY AND RULE OF LAW, IN THE U.S. VIEW, IS ESSENTIAL TO RESTORING CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 04767 02 OF 03 291138Z INTERNATIONAL DONOR SUPPORT, AND, THUS, ENSURING ZIMBABWE'S LAND REFORM PROGRAM IS A SUCCESS. ¶6. (C) WHEN ASKED WHY THE GOZ SHOULD NOT REDISTRIBUTE LAND GIVEN TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND CRONIES OVER THE YEARS, NHEMA FLATLY DENIED THAT ANY LAND HAD BEEN GIVEN TO GOVERNMENT MINISTERS, BUT DID NOT RULE OUT THAT LOWER-LEVEL OFFICIALS HAD RECEIVED FARMS. MOST PROPERTIES WERE TOO SMALL FOR SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, NHEMA EXPLAINED, AND EVEN IF THEY DID RECEIVE FARMS, THEY WERE STILL LEASED FROM THE GOVERNMENT. IF THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT PROVIDE INPUTS OR TRAINING TO NEW FARMERS, IS IT NOT SETTING THEM UP FOR FAILURE? SIDESTEPPING THE ISSUE, THE MINISTER RESPONSED THAT FOR THE COMMUNAL FARMER, RESETTLEMENT IS "HEAVEN." ALL HE WANTS IS LAND. WHAT ABOUT THE URBAN POOR WHO ARE MORE INTERESTED IN FINDING JOBS THAN OBTAINING LAND? EVERY ZIMBABWEAN, ESPECIALLY URBAN DWELLERS, DREAM OF RETIRING TO THEIR HOME AREAS TO FARM THEIR NATIVE SOIL, ACCORDING TO NHEMA. MORE AND MORE URBAN ZIMBABWEANS ARE APPLYING FOR COMMUNAL LAND, BUT CANNOT GET IT BECAUSE OF OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS IN THE COMMUNAL AREAS. -------------- U.S. HELP ON WILDLIFE PROTECTION -------------- ¶7. (U) USAIDOFF BRIEFED THE ENVIRONMENT AND TOURSIM MINISTER ON TWO PROGRAMS OF MUTUAL INTEREST. THE CAMPFIRE (COMMUNAL AREAS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR INDIGENOUS RESOURCES) PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN 1989 TO CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 04767 02 OF 03 291138Z HELP RURAL ZIMBABWEANS CONSERVE THEIR NATURAL RESOURCES AND ACQUIRE INCOME FROM PROPER GAME MANAGEMENT. THE PROGRAM IS IN ITS FINAL TWO YEARS OF IMPLEMENTATON AND MAJOR EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO COMPLETE REMAINING ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES. THE U.S. HAS PROVIDED $13 MILLION TO THE WIDELY EMULATED PROGRAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION, AND WILL BE LOOKING FOR CONTINUED GOZ SUPPORT. REGARDING CITES (CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF FAUNA AND FLORA),THE EMBASSY HAS SUPPORTED ZIMBABWE'S ELEPHANT AND IVORY POLICY. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THAT SUPPORT, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ZIMBABWE TO CONTINUE TO MANAGE ITS WILDLIFE AND IVORY STOCKS IN A SUSTAINABLE MANNER. -------------- NOT A PLAYER YET -------------- ¶8. (C) COMMENT: STILL LEARNING THE MINISTERIAL ROPES, NHEMA STUCK CLOSELY TO THE GOVERNMENT SCRIPT ON LAND REFORM BUT DID ACCEPT, SOMEWHAT GRUDGINGLY, THAT THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WOULD CONTINUE TO SUFFER UNTIL THE LAND ISSUE IS RESOLVED. NHEMA ASKED QUESTIONS AND APPEARED INTERESTED IN LEARNING THE U.S. POSITION ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES. WE SUSPECT THAT WITH HIS RELATIVE YOUTH, WESTERN EDUCATION AND WORKING EXPERIENCE IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY, NHEMA IS FULLY AWARE OF THE LINKAGES BETWEEN GOVERNMENT-MOTIVATED POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND ECONOMIC DECLINE. HOWEVER, HE IS STILL TOO NEW TO THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT TO GO OUT ON A LIMB. IN ANY CASE, NHEMA DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE THE POLITICAL WHEREWITHAL OR CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 04767 02 OF 03 291138Z PERSONALITY TO AFFECT ANY REAL CHANGE IN CABINET, AND WE DO NOT EXPECT HIM TO WIELD MUCH INFLUENCE IN THE ZIMBABWE GOVERNMENT ANY TIME SOON. ¶9. (U) BIO NOTE: FRANCIS NHEMA IS APPROXIMATELY 45 YEARS OLD AND HAILS FROM THE SHURUGWI DISTRICT OF MIDLANDS PROVINCE. NHEMA WORKED IN THE ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY BETWEEN 1985 AND 1989 AS A SPECIAL TOURISM ADVISOR FOR VICTORIA CHITEPO, WHO WAS ENVIRONMENT MINISTER AT THE TIME. HE THEN WORKED AS A PUBLICIST IN THE BANKING AND TOURISM INDUSTRIES IN NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, AND OTTAWA, CANADA UNTIL ABOUT 1996. NHEMA RETURNED TO ZIMBABWE TO BECOME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ZIMBABWE BUILDING SOCIETY (ZBS),THE FIRST INDIGENOUS FIRM TO PROVIDE MORTGAGES TO LOW-INCOME HOUSING BUYERS. ALLEGATIONS AROSE IN THE PRESS THAT NHEMA SIPHONED OFF MILLIONS OF U.S. DOLLARS FROM ZBS FOR HIS PERSONAL USE. CHARGES OF FRAUD WERE FILED, AND ALL BUT ONE WAS LATER DROPPED. ONE IS APPARENTLY STILL PENDING. IN 1999, THE GOVERNMENT BAILED ZBS OUT OF BANKRUPTCY, AND NHEMA LEFT THE ORGANIZATION. NHEMA RETURNED TO GOVERNMENT IN 2000 AFTER HIS ELECTION TO PARLIAMENT FROM HIS NATIVE MIDLANDS PROVINCE, AND WAS APPOINTED MINISTER IN JULY. CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5877 PAGE 01 HARARE 04767 03 OF 03 291138Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OES-01 ACE-00 SSO-00 SS-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 IIP-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /004W -------------- 7F28FE 291138Z /38 O 291137Z AUG 00 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6953 INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 004767 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF, AF/S NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/05 TAGS: PGOV PINR SENV EIND EAID ZI SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON NEW ENVIRONMENT MINISTER FRANCIS NHEMA NHEMA IS MARRIED TO MATADI NHEMA, A DAUGHTER OF THE LATE VICE-PRESIDENT JOSHUA NKOMO, AND IS A MEMBER OF ZANU-PF. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 04767 03 OF 03 291138Z MCDONALD CONFIDENTIAL >