Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
00HARARE5052
2000-09-11 15:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 111542Z Sep 00 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5438 PAGE 01 HARARE 05052 111737Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 EUR-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /005W ------------------83E3A0 111737Z /45 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7054 INFO NSC WASHDC SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 005052
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/05
TAGS: PREL ZI
SUBJECT: CIVIL SUIT AGAINST PRESIDENT MUGABE
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR MCDONALD. REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND
(D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 005052
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/05
TAGS: PREL ZI
SUBJECT: CIVIL SUIT AGAINST PRESIDENT MUGABE
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR MCDONALD. REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND
(D).
1. (U) THE FILING OF A CIVIL SUIT AGAINST PRESIDENT MUGABE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 05052 111737Z
LAST WEEK IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT RECEIVED PROMINENT
COVERAGE IN ZIMBABWE'S INDEPENDENT PRESS. THE MEDIA
FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON THE BASIS FOR THE LAWSUIT -- HUMAN
RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST POLITICAL ENEMIES AND THE COLLAPSE OF
LAW AND ORDER -- AND THE BACKGROUNDS OF THE FOUR
PLAINTIFFS. THEIR SPOKESMAN, ROLAND WHITEHEAD, TOLD THE
INDEPENDENT "DAILY NEWS" THAT "WE HAVE HAD TO RESORT TO
THIS ACTION BECAUSE OF THE BREAKDOWN OF LAW AND ORDER...AND
THE INACTION OF THE POLICE IN BRINGING...CRIMINALS AND
MURDERERS TO BOOK BECAUSE OF THE REAL THREAT OF VIOLENT
INTIMIDATION BY MUGABE'S CRONIES..."
2. (C) THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED BY FOUR ZIMBABWEANS -- EVELYN
MASAITI, ELLIOT PFEBVE, MARIA STEPHENS, AND ADELLA CHIMINYA
-- WHO TOLD JOURNALISTS HERE THEY HAD FILED THE SUIT
BECAUSE THE POLICE HAD MADE NO ARRESTS IN THE MURDERS OF
THEIR RELATIVES IN THE RUNUP TO THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
IN JUNE. MASAITI IS AN MDC MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT WHO WAS
BEATEN AND FORCED FROM HER HOUSE DURING THE CAMPAIGN. HER
CONSTITUENCY IN MANICALAND PROVINCE WAS ONE OF THE MOST
VIOLENT DURING THE PRE-ELECTION PERIOD. ELLIOT PFEBVE, A
MEMBER OF THE MDC'S EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, RAN UNSUCCESSFULLY
FOR PARLIAMENT IN MASHONALAND CENTRAL. HIS BROTHER
MATTHEW, AN MDC CANDIDATE IN THE SAME PROVINCE, WAS
MURDERED DURING THE CAMPAIGN. MARIA STEPHENS' HUSBAND
DAVID, A WHITE COMMERCIAL FARMER FROM MACHEKE, ABOUT 75
MILES SOUTHEAST OF HARARE, WAS KILLED NEAR A POLICE
STATION. CHIMINYA'S HUSBAND, TICHAONA, WAS BURNED TO DEATH
IN A PETROL BOMB ATTACK. TICHAONA WAS A KEY MDC STRATEGIST
AND ORGANIZER.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 05052 111737Z
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
>
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/05
TAGS: PREL ZI
SUBJECT: CIVIL SUIT AGAINST PRESIDENT MUGABE
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR MCDONALD. REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND
(D).
1. (U) THE FILING OF A CIVIL SUIT AGAINST PRESIDENT MUGABE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 05052 111737Z
LAST WEEK IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT RECEIVED PROMINENT
COVERAGE IN ZIMBABWE'S INDEPENDENT PRESS. THE MEDIA
FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON THE BASIS FOR THE LAWSUIT -- HUMAN
RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST POLITICAL ENEMIES AND THE COLLAPSE OF
LAW AND ORDER -- AND THE BACKGROUNDS OF THE FOUR
PLAINTIFFS. THEIR SPOKESMAN, ROLAND WHITEHEAD, TOLD THE
INDEPENDENT "DAILY NEWS" THAT "WE HAVE HAD TO RESORT TO
THIS ACTION BECAUSE OF THE BREAKDOWN OF LAW AND ORDER...AND
THE INACTION OF THE POLICE IN BRINGING...CRIMINALS AND
MURDERERS TO BOOK BECAUSE OF THE REAL THREAT OF VIOLENT
INTIMIDATION BY MUGABE'S CRONIES..."
2. (C) THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED BY FOUR ZIMBABWEANS -- EVELYN
MASAITI, ELLIOT PFEBVE, MARIA STEPHENS, AND ADELLA CHIMINYA
-- WHO TOLD JOURNALISTS HERE THEY HAD FILED THE SUIT
BECAUSE THE POLICE HAD MADE NO ARRESTS IN THE MURDERS OF
THEIR RELATIVES IN THE RUNUP TO THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
IN JUNE. MASAITI IS AN MDC MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT WHO WAS
BEATEN AND FORCED FROM HER HOUSE DURING THE CAMPAIGN. HER
CONSTITUENCY IN MANICALAND PROVINCE WAS ONE OF THE MOST
VIOLENT DURING THE PRE-ELECTION PERIOD. ELLIOT PFEBVE, A
MEMBER OF THE MDC'S EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, RAN UNSUCCESSFULLY
FOR PARLIAMENT IN MASHONALAND CENTRAL. HIS BROTHER
MATTHEW, AN MDC CANDIDATE IN THE SAME PROVINCE, WAS
MURDERED DURING THE CAMPAIGN. MARIA STEPHENS' HUSBAND
DAVID, A WHITE COMMERCIAL FARMER FROM MACHEKE, ABOUT 75
MILES SOUTHEAST OF HARARE, WAS KILLED NEAR A POLICE
STATION. CHIMINYA'S HUSBAND, TICHAONA, WAS BURNED TO DEATH
IN A PETROL BOMB ATTACK. TICHAONA WAS A KEY MDC STRATEGIST
AND ORGANIZER.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 05052 111737Z
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
>