Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
00HARARE5469
2000-09-28 10:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
SUPREME COURT GRANTS INTERIM RULING ON
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 281016Z Sep 00 CONFIDENTIAL PTO3446 PAGE 01 HARARE 05469 281014Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 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 STR-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /009W ------------------8ADC31 281014Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7221 INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC USDOC WASHDC SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 005469
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA,
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VNEWTON, AND A/AID - RMCCALL
USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL 09/28/05
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 05469 281014Z
TAGS: PGOV PHUM EAGR PREL EAID ZI
SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT GRANTS INTERIM RULING ON
COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION COURT CASE.
CLASSIFIED BY DCM EARL IRVING. REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND
(D).
REFS: HARARE 5337
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 005469
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA,
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VNEWTON, AND A/AID - RMCCALL
USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL 09/28/05
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 05469 281014Z
TAGS: PGOV PHUM EAGR PREL EAID ZI
SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT GRANTS INTERIM RULING ON
COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION COURT CASE.
CLASSIFIED BY DCM EARL IRVING. REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND
(D).
REFS: HARARE 5337
1. (U) IN AN INTERIM RESPONSE TO THE LAWSUIT FILED
RECENTLY BY THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU),THE
SUPREME COURT ON SEPTEMBER 26 RULED THAT FARMERS MUST BE
NOTIFIED 90 DAYS PRIOR TO THEIR EVICTIONS FROM ACQUIRED
FARMS. IN ADDITION, THE COURT ALSO SCHEDULED A FULL
HEARING OF THE SUIT FOR NOVEMBER 6, 7, AND 8. THE COURT
RULING DOES NOT HALT THE GOZ'S "FAST TRACK" PROGRAM, BUT
IT SHOULD SLOW DOWN THE RESETTLEMENT PROCESS SOMEWHAT,
CERTAINLY UNTIL THE SUPREME COURT HEARS THE CFU'S
CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE IN NOVEMBER.
2. (C) RICHARD AMIOT OF THE CFU TOLD ECONOFF ON
SEPTEMBER 27 THAT THIS INTERIM RULING IS IMPORTANT FOR
TWO REASONS. IT LIFTS THE IMMINENT THREAT OF EVICTION
THAT SOME FARMERS WERE FACING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH,
AND IT INDICATES THAT THE COURT IS GOING TO REQUIRE THAT
THE GOZ'S "FAST TRACK" PROGRAM BE CONSISTENT WITH
ZIMBABWEAN LAW.
3. (C) COMMENT: THIS INTERIM COURT RULING COULD BUY SOME
TIME FOR THE CFU AND THE GOZ TO TRY AND REACH AGREEMENT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 05469 281014Z
ON A RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM THAT BOTH CAN SUPPORT.
ALTHOUGH THE GOZ HAS SHOWN LITTLE WILLINGNESS TO
COMPROMISE IN THE PAST, THE FACT THAT THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE AT LEAST PAID LIP SERVICE TO THE
COURT'S RULING IS AN ENCOURAGING SIGN.
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
>
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA,
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VNEWTON, AND A/AID - RMCCALL
USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL 09/28/05
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 05469 281014Z
TAGS: PGOV PHUM EAGR PREL EAID ZI
SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT GRANTS INTERIM RULING ON
COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION COURT CASE.
CLASSIFIED BY DCM EARL IRVING. REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND
(D).
REFS: HARARE 5337
1. (U) IN AN INTERIM RESPONSE TO THE LAWSUIT FILED
RECENTLY BY THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU),THE
SUPREME COURT ON SEPTEMBER 26 RULED THAT FARMERS MUST BE
NOTIFIED 90 DAYS PRIOR TO THEIR EVICTIONS FROM ACQUIRED
FARMS. IN ADDITION, THE COURT ALSO SCHEDULED A FULL
HEARING OF THE SUIT FOR NOVEMBER 6, 7, AND 8. THE COURT
RULING DOES NOT HALT THE GOZ'S "FAST TRACK" PROGRAM, BUT
IT SHOULD SLOW DOWN THE RESETTLEMENT PROCESS SOMEWHAT,
CERTAINLY UNTIL THE SUPREME COURT HEARS THE CFU'S
CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE IN NOVEMBER.
2. (C) RICHARD AMIOT OF THE CFU TOLD ECONOFF ON
SEPTEMBER 27 THAT THIS INTERIM RULING IS IMPORTANT FOR
TWO REASONS. IT LIFTS THE IMMINENT THREAT OF EVICTION
THAT SOME FARMERS WERE FACING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH,
AND IT INDICATES THAT THE COURT IS GOING TO REQUIRE THAT
THE GOZ'S "FAST TRACK" PROGRAM BE CONSISTENT WITH
ZIMBABWEAN LAW.
3. (C) COMMENT: THIS INTERIM COURT RULING COULD BUY SOME
TIME FOR THE CFU AND THE GOZ TO TRY AND REACH AGREEMENT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 05469 281014Z
ON A RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM THAT BOTH CAN SUPPORT.
ALTHOUGH THE GOZ HAS SHOWN LITTLE WILLINGNESS TO
COMPROMISE IN THE PAST, THE FACT THAT THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE AT LEAST PAID LIP SERVICE TO THE
COURT'S RULING IS AN ENCOURAGING SIGN.
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
>