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