CHARGE REGISTERS U.S. CONCERN OVER ZIMBABWE

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 005943 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/10 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL PINR ZI SUBJECT: CHARGE REGISTERS U.S. CONCERN OVER ZIMBABWE UNREST TO DEPUTY HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 05943 201157Z REFS: A) HARARE 5925, B) HARARE 5902, C) HARARE 5871 CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING. REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) ON OCTOBER 20, CHARGE MET DEPUTY HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER RUGARE GUMBO, IN THE ABSENCE OF MINISTER JOHN NKOMO, TO REGISTER U.S. CONCERN OVER THIS WEEK'S UNREST AND THE GOZ'S RESPONSE. CHARGE MADE THE POINTS THAT WE BELIEVE THE ZIMBABWE REPUBLIC POLICE (ZRP) RESPONDED WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE, AND THAT TWO OF OUR FSN EMPLOYEES WERE DIRECTLY AFFECTED, INCLUDING ONE BEING SEVERELY BEATEN. ALTHOUGH WE ACCEPT THAT THE GOZ HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER, INDISCRIMINATE, DOOR-TO-DOOR BEATINGS HAVE NO PLACE IN A MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY. ¶2. (C) GUMBO RESPONDED THAT HE WILL CONVEY OUR CONCERN TO HIS SUPERIORS. HE SAID THAT HE APPRECIATES THE DIFFICULTY THE USG MUST HAVE IN ASSESSING THE SITUATION FROM SO FAR AWAY. THE GOZ IS HERE TO GOVERN, AND HAS BEEN GIVEN A MANDATE FROM THE PEOPLE TO DO SO. THE GOZ HAS EXERCISED ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY, AND IT WILL NOT TAKE CHANCES WHEN THERE ARE "CRIMINAL TENDENCIES" IN A SOCIETY BESET BY ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, GUMBO EXPLAINED. THE ARMY WAS BROUGHT IN TO ASSIST THE POLICE BECAUSE THEY WERE OVERSTRETCHED AND COULD NOT HANDLE THE SITUATION ALONE. GUMBO ACTED DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DID NOT COMMEND THE GOZ ON PREVENTING THE LOSS OF LIFE WHEN IT IS SUCH A PROBLEM IN OTHER AREAS LIKE NIGERIA. THE DEPUTY MINISTER CLAIMED CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 05943 201157Z TO HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THE MDC ENGINEERED THE UNREST TO TRY TO FORCE MUGABE FROM POWER. "HOW CAN WE BELIEVE THAT THEIR DEMOCRATIC INTENTIONS ARE GENUINE WHEN THEIR LEADER ESPOUSES VIOLENCE?" HE ASKED. GUMBO ALSO ACTED HURT THAT THE USG WOULD ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON ZIMBABWE THROUGH THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY ACT. "HOW DO YOU THINK WE FEEL WHEN THE USG DOES THIS WHILE FUNDING THE OPPOSITION?" WE BELIEVE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT THE USG MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO DO SO, GUMBO PROFESSED. ¶3. (C) THE CHARGE REPLIED THAT THE ZDA IS DEAD AND THAT IT IS SOMETHING TO PUT BEHIND US. IN TERMS OF THE ARMY INVOLVEMENT IN QUELLING THE UNREST, WE WORRY THAT IT COULD BE A HARBINGER OF MORE UNREST OR MARTIAL LAW. GUMBO ASSURED THE CHARGE THAT THE SITUATION IS STABLE, DESPITE THE MDC'S ATTEMPTS TO MAKE IT WORSE. THE DEPUTY MINISTER SAID THE MDC WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISTURBANCES BREAKING OUT EARLIER THIS WEEK IN THE RATCLIFFE TOWNSHIP OF KWEKWE, SOME 200 KM DISTANT FROM HARARE. (COMMENT: WE HAVE SEEN NO OTHER CREDIBLE REPORTS OF UNREST IN URBAN CENTERS OUTSIDE HARARE. END COMMENT.) IN ANY CASE, "THE MDC HAS LEARNED ITS LESSON," GUMBO CONTINUED. HE TAKES OUR CONCERNS FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES SERIOUSLY AND WILL NOTIFY US IF THERE ARE ANY SIGNS OF NEW TROUBLE. GUMBO EVEN OFFERED TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENTS WHERE OUR FSN AND ANOTHER'S FAMILY WERE BEATEN BY THE POLICE (REFS B AND C). HE SAID HIS MINISTRY HAS NOT YET FULLY INVESTIGATED THE REPORTS OF POLICE VIOLENCE, BUT IT WILL CONDUCT A POST MORTEM ON THE EVENTS OF THIS WEEK. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 05943 201157Z ¶4. (C) COMMENT: GUMBO'S SOMEWHAT ACCUSATORY MANNER IS NOT ALTOGETHER SUPRISING GIVEN HIS REPUTATION FOR RUTHLESSNESS. HIS MBERENGWA EAST DISTRICT SAW SOME OF THE WORST POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION PRIOR TO THIS YEAR'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. NONETHELESS, THE DEPUTY MINISTER APPEARED TO TAKE OUR CONCERNS ON BOARD AND WILL UNDOUBTEDLY REPORT THEM TO MINISTER NKOMO. HIS STEADFAST BELIEF THAT THE MDC WAS BEHIND THE UNREST IS WORRISOME AND COULD INDICATE THAT HE HAD A HAND IN ORDERING THE DOOR-TO-DOOR BEATINGS. IT COULD ALSO PRESAGE A MORE INTENSE CRACKDOWN ON THE MDC SHOULD THE OPPOSITION RESORT TO MASS ACTION. END COMMENT. IRVING CONFIDENTIAL >