Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
00HARARE5731
2000-10-11 17:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:  

THE FAST TRACK RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE: MFA

Tags:  EAGR PGOV PINS PINR ZI 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.



 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ0177

PAGE 01 HARARE 05731 01 OF 04 111811Z 
ACTION IO-00 

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 
 SMEC-00 INL-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 
 EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 HHS-01 H-01 
 SSA-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 
 DCP-01 NSAE-00 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 
 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 
 R-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 
 SWCI-00 /013W
 ------------------902330 111811Z /75 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7338
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
USDOC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 005731 

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 05731 01 OF 04 111811Z
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA,
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VNEWTON AND A/AID - RMCCALL

PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2010
TAGS: EAGR PGOV PINS PINR ZI
SUBJECT: THE FAST TRACK RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE: MFA
PERMANENT SECRETARY WILLARD CHIWEWE EXPLAINS IT ALL

REF: A) HARARE 5608
B) HARARE 5514
C) STATE 186563

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 SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 005731

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 05731 01 OF 04 111811Z
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA,
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VNEWTON AND A/AID - RMCCALL

PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2010
TAGS: EAGR PGOV PINS PINR ZI
SUBJECT: THE FAST TRACK RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE: MFA
PERMANENT SECRETARY WILLARD CHIWEWE EXPLAINS IT ALL

REF: A) HARARE 5608
B) HARARE 5514
C) STATE 186563

CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) DURING A ONE AND A HALF HOUR BRIEFING OF
SELECTED HEADS OF MISSION OCTOBER 11, THE MINISTRY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMANENT SECRETARY AND GOVERNMENT POINT
OF CONTACT FOR DONORS ON QUESTION ON LAND REFORM,
WILLARD CHIWEWE, ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THE CASE THAT THE
ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO EMBARK ON THE
FAST TRACK LAND RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE. THE SENIOR
GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SAID THAT TO DO OTHERWISE WOULD RISK
POLITICAL INSTABILITY. HE ARGUED THAT THE FAST TRACK
APPROACH IS ESSENTIALLY AN ACCELERATED VERSION OF THE
INCEPTION PHASE AGREED TO BY DONORS AND THE ZIMBABWEAN
GOVERNMENT AT THE 1998 LAND DONORS' CONFERENCE, AND HAD
AS ITS PURPOSE BRINGING THE RURAL POOR INTO THE
COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC MAINSTREAM. ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 05731 01 OF 04 111811Z
HONORED MOST OF THE PRINCIPLES, IT DID NOT HAVE THE
LUXURY TO ENTERTAIN THE WILLING BUYER/WILLING SELLER
PROVISION, BECAUSE IT LACKED TIME. CHIWEWE STATED THAT
THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE INTENDS TO UPHOLD THE RULE OF
LAW, ALTHOUGH IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DO SO, AS CURRENT LAND
TENURE AND PROPERTY LAW DID NOT FAVOR THE DISPOSSESSED.
DONOR REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT TOOK EXCEPTION TO THE
ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT'S TRAMPLING HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE
RULE OF LAW IN ITS QUEST TO SATISFY THIS POLITICAL
IMPERATIVE. CHIWEWE'S INVITATION TO DIALOGUE WAS
DEFIANT AND CASUISTIC BUT MARKED THE FIRST STEP THIS
GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN IN THAT DIRECTION IN A LONG TIME.
IN SPITE OF THE PERMANENT SECRETARY'S EXPLANATION, WE
REMAIN SKEPTICAL THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS A REAL LAND

REFORM PLAN. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMANENT SECRETARY
WILLARD CHIWEWE ON OCTOBER 11 INVITED HEADS OF MISSION
FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION TROIKA, MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHERN
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, THE JAPANESE CHARGE
D'AFFAIRES AND AMEMBASSY HARARE'S CHARGE FOR A 90-MINUTE
BRIEFING ON THE FAST TRACK RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE.
CHIWEWE IS THE GOVERNMENT'S POINT MAN FOR THE UN/UNDP
MISSION IN TOWN TO EXPLORE COMMON GROUND FOR RESUMING
DIALOGUE ON TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE ZIMBABWEAN
GOVERNMENT'S LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM. THE
PERMANENT SECRETARY STARTED BY EXTENDING AN OLIVE
BRANCH, NOTING THAT HIS REMARKS WERE BQNG MADE IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE UN/UNDP MISSION AND WERE MEANT TO SPUR
MORE MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE DONORS AND HIS
GOVERNMENT ON THE SUBJECT OF LAND REFORM. HE NOTED THAT
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 HARARE 05731 01 OF 04 111811Z
THE 1998 DONORS' CONFERENCE ON LAND HAD GENERATED HOPE
AND EXCITEMENT AS EACH SIDE FELT IT HAD MADE A
BREAKTHROUGH.


3. (C) REGRETTABLY THE EUPHORIA WAS SHORT LIVED, AS THE
PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1998 TO JUNE 2000 WAS MARKED BY
INACTIVITY ON THE LAND REFORM FRONT. CHIWEWE ATTRIBUTED
THIS TO THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE
ENCOUNTERED RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS, AGGRAVATED BY THE
"UNFAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT" CREATED BY REMARKS BY THE IMF
AND WORLD BANK ABOUT ZIMBABWE'S ECONOMIC POLICIES.
MOREOVER, THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT BEGAN TO RUN OUT OF
TIME TO PREPARE THE INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS TO
IMPLEMENT THE INCEPTION PHASE. BY JUNE 2000, HE
EXPLAINED, THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO RESPOND TO THE RESULTS
OF THAT INACTIVITY: FARM OCCUPATIONS BY WAR VETERANS AND
RESIDENTS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES, WHO COULD NOT TOLERATE
THE GOVERNMENT'S TARDINESS IN RESOLVING THIS SOCIAL
GRIEVANCE. THE GOVERNMENT THEN FOUND ITSELF HAVING TO
ACCELERATE THE LAND DELIVERY PROCESS, IN WHICH IT
ADHERED TO MOST OF THE PRINCIPLES AGREED TO AT THE 1998
DONORS' CONFERENCE, EXCEPT THAT OF WILLING BUYER AND
WILLING SELLER. FAST TRACK MEANS THE QUICK
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INCEPTION PHASE, CHIWEWE
SUMMARIZED.

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ9979

PAGE 01 HARARE 05731 02 OF 04 111705Z
ACTION IO-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00
SMEC-00 INL-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 HHS-01 H-01
SSA-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01
DCP-01 NSAE-00 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00
PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
R-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
SWCI-00 /013W
-------------- 901C44 111705Z /38
P 111703Z OCT 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7339
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
USDOC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 005731

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 05731 02 OF 04 111705Z
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA,
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VNEWTON AND A/AID - RMCCALL

PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2010
TAGS: EAGR PGOV PINS PINR ZI
SUBJECT: THE FAST TRACK RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE: MFA
PERMANENT SECRETARY WILLARD CHIWEWE EXPLAINS IT ALL


4. (C) THE PERMANENT SECRETARY STATED THAT AMONG THOSE
THINGS TO WHICH DONORS AGREED IN 1998 THE FAST TRACK
APPROACH ENTAILS:

-- FAST LAND IDENTIFICATION AND ACQUISITION OF THE
REMAINING 5 MILLION HECTARES FOR THE LAND REFORM AND
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM;

-- ONCE IDENTIFIED THE LAND WAS SUBJECTED TO QUICK
ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL PROCESS, I.E., THE FARMS WERE
GAZETTED ACCORDING TO THE LAW;

-- DEMARCATION AND PLACEMENT OF SETTLERS WOULD TAKE
PLACE SHORTLY; AND

-- INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD BE PROVIDED AND INPUTS SUPPLIED
TO SETTLERS ON AN ACCELERATED BASIS.


5. (C) RETURNING TO THE CONTEXT UNDER WHICH THE FAST
TRACK OPERATION WAS LAUNCHED, CHIWEWE SAID THE POLITICAL
SITUATION "DID NOT ALLOW THE LUXURY" TO WAIT UNTIL ALL
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 05731 02 OF 04 111705Z
FACTORS WERE IN PLACE FOR AN IDEAL LAND REFORM PROGRAM.
HE STATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE COMMITTED TO
ACQUIRING LAND OVER THE PERIOD JUNE 2000 TO DECEMBER
2001 AND PUT SETTLERS ON THAT LAND. THE GOVERNMENT
DECIDED TO APPLY THE LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT
PROGRAM AS AN EXERCISE IN SOVEREIGNTY AND TO FULFIL A
POLITICAL PROMISE. THE GOVERNMENT REALIZES THAT THERE
IS RELUCTANCE AMONG THE DONOR COMMUNITY TO ASSIST WITH
THE LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM WITH THE SPEED
NECESSARY, BUT IF THE GOVERNMENT HAD DELIBERATED HOW TO
ACCOMMODATE THOSE VIEWS, INSTABILITY WOULD HAVE BEEN
"UNAVOIDABLE." THE GOVERNMENT WAS WILLING TO COOPERATE
WITH MEMBERS OF THE DONOR COMMUNITY, SHARING ITS VISION
OF LAND REFORM AS A MEANS OF ENSURING SOCIAL JUSTICE AND
IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN A SHORTER PERIOD.
INDEED, DONOR COMMUNITY COOPERATION WAS NECESSARY TO
SUSTAIN THE PROGRAM AND THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE WAS
OPEN TO DIALOGUE.


6. (C) FINALLY, THE PERMANENT SECRETARY STATED THAT THE
GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE THAT "CERTAIN POWERFUL MEMBERS" OF
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY VIEWED THE LAND REFORM AND
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM IN THE BROADER CONTEXT OF THEIR
FOREIGN POLICY GOALS. THEY CALLED ZIMBABWE'S QUEST FOR
LAND "MERE POLITICKING," AND "PAID LITTLE REGARD TO" THE
FAST TRACK PROGRAM. HE APPEALED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY TO PUT ASIDE FOREIGN POLICY CONCERNS AND LOOK
IN SHARP FOCUS AT THE FAST TRACK APPROACH THAT TARGETS
THE POOR WHO LIVE IN THE CONGESTED AREAS OF THE COMMUNAL
LANDS. IT WAS NOT MERELY FOCUSED ON ALLEVIATING
POVERTY, HE OBSERVED, BUT TO BRING THE RURAL POOR INTO
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 HARARE 05731 02 OF 04 111705Z
THE MAINSTREAM OF THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMY AND BECOME
ACTIVE AGENTS IN THE ELIMINATION OF THEIR OWN POVERTY
THROUGH LAND OWNERSHIP AND PURPOSEFUL AGRICULTURE.


7. (C) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE OBSERVED
THAT HIS ORGANIZATION STRONGLY SUPPORTED POVERTY
ALLEVIATION, RECTIFICATION OF SOCIAL INEQUALITIES, AND
THE LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM. THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE AND HIS ORGANIZATION HAD AGREED
TO PRINCIPLES FOR COOPERATION, BUT FAST TRACK CREATED A
NEW SITUATION IN WHICH THE DONOR COMMUNITY HAS
EFFECTIVELY BEEN SIDELINED. "THIS HAS BECOME AN
INTERNAL ZIMBABWEAN OPERATION," HE CONCLUDED. ALTHOUGH
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION WAS READY FOR DIALOGUE, THIS
COULD NOT RESUME UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT RESPECTED HUMAN
RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW.


8. (C) THE SWEDISH AMBASSADOR THANKED CHIWEWE FOR HIS
"HONEST DESCRIPTION OF THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT" UNDER
WHICH FAST TRACK WAS LAUNCHED, BUT TOOK ISSUE WITH THE
PERMANENT SECRETARY'S STANCE THAT HIS GOVERNMENT COULD
"NOT AFFORD THE LUXURY" OF A METHODICALLY IMPLEMENTED
LAND REFORM PROGRAM. HE SAID THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WAS
HAPPY WITH THE 1998 DONORS' CONFERENCE DOCUMENT, BUT NOT
HAPPY WITH SOME OF THE RESULTS OF FAST TRACK, INCLUDING
LACK OF DIALOGUE AMONG ZIMBABWEAN STAKEHOLDERS, AND

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ9982

PAGE 01 HARARE 05731 03 OF 04 111705Z
ACTION IO-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00
SMEC-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00
EUR-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 HHS-01 H-01 SSA-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01
NSAE-00 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 R-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00
/013W
-------------- 901C4E 111706Z /38
P 111703Z OCT 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7340
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
USDOC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 005731

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 05731 03 OF 04 111705Z
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA,
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VNEWTON AND A/AID - RMCCALL

PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2010
TAGS: EAGR PGOV PINS PINR ZI
SUBJECT: THE FAST TRACK RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE: MFA
PERMANENT SECRETARY WILLARD CHIWEWE EXPLAINS IT ALL

PLACING THE NEED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE LAST ON THE LIST OF
THINGS TO ACCOMPLISH. IF THAT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S
FINAL POSITION, THE DONORS WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY
SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM. THE SWEDISH AMBASSADOR SAID
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A PARTNERSHIP AND THAT
PARTNERSHIP ENTAILS DIALOGUE. THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY REMAINS CONCERNED ABOUT PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE,
HE CONTINUED. WHILE THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE SAW THAT
AS A SEPARATE TRACK TO ITS LAND REFORM IMPERATIVE, THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL COME BACK WHEN IT HAS
MERGED INTO ONE TRACK.


9. (C) PREFACING HIS RESPONSE, CHIWEWE SAID THAT,
REGARDING ZIMBABWE'S LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT
PROGRAM, "IF WE CAN START FROM SHARING SOCIAL AND
POLITICAL VALUES, THEN THE MODALITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION
WILL BE EASIER." HE CONCEDED THAT FAST TRACK WAS AN
INTERNAL OPERATION TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE DONORS, BUT
THAT IT WAS NOT OUT OF CHOICE BUT NECESSITY, AND THAT
THE LAND TRANSFER PROGRAM WAS SUBJECT TO INTERNAL
WEAKNESSES. NO SUCH PROCESS WAS ATTEMPTED BETWEEN 1890
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 05731 03 OF 04 111705Z
AND 1980, AND ONLY HALFHEARTEDLY BETWEEN 1980 AND 2000.
"THOSE OF US IN AN IVORY TOWER CAN THINK OF PERFECTING
OUR ART WHEN THE PATIENT IS DYING," THE PERMANENT
SECRETARY REMARKED, "BUT WHILE WE TRY TO BE PERFECT

SIPDIS
POVERTY ENTRENCHES ITSELF."


10. (C) THE GOVERNMENT, CHIWEWE CONTINUED, MAY HAVE HAD
AN EXCUSE FOR DELAYING DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD BUT
NOT NOW, AFTER THE PROMULGATION OF TWO CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENTS AND THE REVISED LAND ACT IN JUNE 2000. THE
GOVERNMENT COULD HAVE RESORTED TO WILLING BUYER AND
WILLING SELLER WHEN LAND WAS FOR SALE. HONORING THAT
PRINCIPLE BUT NOT THE POLITICAL IMPERATIVE OF GIVING
LAND TO THE LANDLESS WOULD HAVE DESTABILIZED THE
COUNTRY. WE DECIDED NOT TO WAIT, TO GO IT ALONE, EVEN
IF THE PROGRAM LACKED INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT. THE DONORS
WITHHELD SUPPORT AND LEFT THE GOVERNMENT TO TRUDGE
ALONG. NEVERTHELESS, HE SAID THAT "OUR PRESENCE HERE
TODAY UNDERLINES THE IMPORTANCE WE ATTACH TO DONOR
COOPERATION."


11. (C) TURNING TO RULE OF LAW, CHIWEWE SAID, "WE ARE
HURT," AS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DID NOT THINK IT
APPLIED TO RHODESIA AS A COLONY AND THE ZIMBABWEAN
GOVERNMENT WONDERS WHY IT SHOULD BECOME SUCH A CONCERN
NOW. HE STATED THAT ZIMBABWE UPHOLDS THE RULE OF LAW,
BUT IMPLIED THAT LAND TENURE PRACTICES, BACKED BY THE
LAW, HAVE TRADITIONALLY FAVORED WHITE FARMERS. HE
ASSURED HIS LISTENERS THAT ANYONE WHO HAD COMMITTED A
CRIME IN CONNECTION WITH THE FARM INVASIONS "MUST HAVE
BEEN APPREHENDED OR IS ON THE POLICE SEARCH LIST." THE
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 HARARE 05731 03 OF 04 111705Z
GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO BRINGING CRIMINALS TO
JUSTICE.


12. (C) WHILE RULE OF LAW MUST BE RESPECTED, CHIWEWE
EMPHASIZED, WE CAN'T SEEK TO RESPECT A LAW THAT SUSTAINS
AN UNJUST SYSTEM. WE WILL BE HAPPIER TO DISCUSS THIS
MATTER WHEN THE PEOPLE ARE ON THE LAND, WHEN THE
MAJORITY ARE INVOLVED IN THE MAINSTREAM ECONOMY AND
POVERTY IS NOT EXTERNALLY IMPOSED. CHIWEWE SAID THAT
THERE COULD BE NO REVERSAL OF THE SITUATION PRIOR TO
THAT OF JANUARY 2000. "THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE;
UNACCEPTABLE," HE UNDERSCORED. IN CLOSING, HE GAVE HIS
SENSE FROM THE FOREGOING DISCUSSION THAT ON TECHNICAL
POINTS THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE POSITIONS OF
THE GOVERNMENT AND THAT OF THE DONOR COMMUNITY.


13. (C) COMMENT: CHIWEWE'S DEFIANT DEFENSE OF THE FAST
TRACK APPROACH REPRESENTS THE FIRST EFFORT THIS
GOVERNMENT HAS MADE IN MONTHS TO CONVINCE THE DONOR
COMMUNITY THAT IT IS NEEDED AND, INDEED, WANTED. WHILE
IT WAS EXCRUCIATING TO SIT THROUGH THE PERMANENT
SECRETARY'S FOG OF CASUISTRY, WE APPRECIATED HIS

SIPDIS
OCCASIONAL FRANK ADMISSION, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE DONORS
WERE PURPOSELY LEFT OUT OF THE FAST TRACK APPROACH. THE
GOVERNMENT HAS A LONG WAY TO GO, HOWEVER, BEFORE IT CAN
CONVINCE US THAT IT IS SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ9983

PAGE 01 HARARE 05731 04 OF 04 111706Z
ACTION IO-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00
SMEC-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00
EUR-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 HHS-01 H-01 SSA-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01
NSAE-00 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /013W
-------------- 901C51 111706Z /38
P 111703Z OCT 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7341
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
USDOC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 005731

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA,
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 05731 04 OF 04 111706Z
NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VNEWTON AND A/AID - RMCCALL

PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2010
TAGS: EAGR PGOV PINS PINR ZI
SUBJECT: THE FAST TRACK RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE: MFA
PERMANENT SECRETARY WILLARD CHIWEWE EXPLAINS IT ALL

FAIR, TRANSPARENT LAND REFORM EFFORT, AND ITS ACTIONS
WILL SPEAK MUCH LOUDER THAN ITS WORDS. DESPITE HIS
ATTEMPT TO BEGIN TO REBUILD SOME GOODWILL WITH THE DONOR
COMMUNITY, CHIWEWE'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF THE
RESETTLEMENT EFFORT DOES NOT GIVE REASON FOR OPTIMISM
THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS A REAL LAND REFORM PLAN. END
COMMENT.

IRVING

CONFIDENTIAL

>