ZIMBABWE MINISTER'S STATEMENT PRELUDE TO MORE INTIMIDATION AGAINST MDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 005302 SIPDIS LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/05 TAGS: PGOV PHUM ZI MDC ZANU PF SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE MINISTER'S STATEMENT PRELUDE TO MORE INTIMIDATION AGAINST MDC REFS: A) HARARE 5075, B) HARARE 5187, C) HARARE 5214, D) HARARE 5270 CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 05302 191539Z CLASSIFIED BY AMB. TOM MCDONALD. REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) IN A PARLIAMENTARY SESSION ATTENDED BY POLOFF, HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER JOHN NKOMO READ A BRIEF GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ON THE POLICE RAIDS AGAINST THE MDC LAST WEEK (REFS B AND C). AFTER READING WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A POLICE REPORT ON THE BOMBING OF THE MDC HEADQUARTERS TWO DAYS BEFORE THE RAIDS (REF A),NKOMO SAID THE POLICE FOUND ENOUGH EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE TO INDICATE THAT THE GRENADE ATTACK WAS "AN INSIDE JOB." NKOMO DID NOT ELABORATE ON WHY THE MDC MIGHT CHOOSE TO BOMB ITS OWN HEADQUARTERS. HE DID SAY THAT IN THE RAIDS, THE POLICE CONFISCATED SEVERAL HAND GRENADES, A LOADED PISTOL, AND A BOX OF 500 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION, ALL OF WHICH ARE STILL BEING HELD BY THE POLICE. HE STATED THE WEAPONS HAD BEEN TRACED TO MALAYSIA AND HAD BEEN IMPORTED THROUGH SOUTH AFRICA. HE WENT FURTHER TO SAY OBLIQUELY THAT THE POLICE HAD UNCOVERED ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE TODAY THAT WOULD WARRANT CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST UNNAMED MEMBERS OF THE MDC. ¶2. (C) IMMEDIATELY AFTER NKOMO READ THE STATEMENT, MDC SECRETARY-GENERAL WELSHMAN NCUBE TOLD A NORWEGIAN SIPDIS EMBASSY DIPLOMAT THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S ACCUSATION OF FINDING WEAPONS WAS "RUBBISH," BUT DID ADMIT THAT THE POLICE CONFISCATED A "PELLET GUN" AND A RADIO OF SOME KIND IN ADDITION TO THE DOCUMENTS AND COMPUTER FILES. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: NKOMO'S STATEMENT IS A CLEAR SIGN THAT CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 05302 191539Z THE GOZ HAS MORE HARASSMENT IN STORE FOR THE MDC. THE GOVERNMENT SUFFERED A SETBACK WHEN THE HIGH COURT ORDERED THE RETURN OF THE SEIZED DOCUMENTS AND COMPUTER FILES, AND THE POLICE WERE REQUIRED TO OBLIGE (REF D). THE CHARGES LAID OUT BY NKOMO SMACK OF A FABRICATION OF EVIDENCE AND A GOZ ATTEMPT TO SAVE FACE BY STICKING TO ITS STORY THAT THE MDC IS IMPORTING "ARMS OF WAR." ALL OF OUR OPPOSITION INTERLOCUTORS HAVE REPEATEDLY AND CREDIBLY DENIED THAT THE MDC IS IMPORTING OR STOCKPILING WEAPONS. IF THE POLICE IN FACT FOUND A PELLET GUN, HOWEVER, THIS COULD PROVIDE A LOT OF GRIST FOR THE GOZ PARANOIA MILL. NKOMO'S STATEMENT, IN ANY CASE, DEMONSTRATES THAT THE GOZ (ZANU-PF) INTENDS TO RATCHET UP ITS ATTACKS ON THE MDC. MCDONALD CONFIDENTIAL >