VIOLENCE ON ZIMBABWE COMMERCIAL FARMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 006190 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS LONDON FOR CGURNEY PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDERRYCK, AND A/AID - RMCCALL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 06190 01 OF 03 021626Z USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER E.O. 12958: DECL 11/02/10 TAGS: PHUM EAGR PREL EAID ZI SUBJECT: VIOLENCE ON ZIMBABWE COMMERCIAL FARMS INCREASING AS FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM PROGRAM ACCELERATES CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE RAINS ON OCTOBER 27, VIOLENCE ON COMMERCIAL FARMS HAS INCREASED AS THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ) ACCELERATES ITS FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM TO BEAT THE ONSET OF THE PLANTING SEASON. THE RESULT HAS BEEN DISORDER AND CONFUSION ON OCCUPIED FARMS. THREE WHITE COMMERCIAL FARMERS WERE VIOLENTLY AND SERIOUSLY ASSAULTED IN THE LAST TEN DAYS. A GOZ MINISTER APPEARED ON NATIONAL TELEVISION TELLING THE POPULACE THAT THE GOZ DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DEMARCATE LAND FOR RESETTLEMENT, SO THEY SHOULD DO IT THEMSELVES. HE ADDED THAT THE GOZ WILL FORMALIZE SUCH ACTIONS IN THE FUTURE. REPORTS CONTINUE TO REACH THE EMBASSY THAT MILITARY AND POLICE VEHICLES ARE BEING USED TO FERRY PEOPLE TO OCCUPY FARMS, AND MILITARY AND POLICE OFFICERS ALSO ARE CLAIMING LAND FOR THEMSELVES. ON NOVEMBER 1 THE ZANU-PF MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT PASSED AN AMENDMENT TO THE LAND ACQUISITION ACT TO CODIFY FORMALLY THE GOZ'S LAND REFORM PROGRAM. MDC MP DAVID COLTART INFORMED ECONOFF THAT MUGABE'S INTENTION IS TO DESTROY COMMERCIAL FARMING, EVEN IF IT WRECKS THE ZIMBABWE ECONOMY, BECAUSE HE CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 06190 01 OF 03 021626Z CONSIDERS COMMERCIAL FARMERS TO BE ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT BASES OF THE MDC. ALL OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS POINT TO THE COLLAPSE OF COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE, AND BODE ILL FOR ZIMBABWE'S FUTURE FOOD SECURITY. END SUMMARY. -------------- VIOLENCE INCREASING AS RAINY SEASON BEGINS -------------- ¶2. (C) WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE RAINY SEASON ACROSS ZIMBABWE ON OCTOBER 27, THE LAND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM HAS REACHED A FEVER PITCH. THERE ARE NUMEROUS CREDIBLE REPORTS OF FARM OCCUPIERS PREVENTING COMMERCIAL FARMERS FROM PLANTING, STATING THAT THE FARMS NO LONGER BELONG TO THEM. OTHER REPORTS SAY FARM OCCUPIERS ARE UPROOTING COMMERCIAL CROPS IN ORDER TO PLANT THEIR OWN MAIZE, OR BUILDING SHACKS ON TOP OF FRESHLY PLANTED FIELDS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE COMMERCIAL FARMS HAVE BEEN GAZETTED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR ACQUISITION. TREE CUTTING AND POACHING OF BOTH DOMESTIC AND GAME ANIMALS IS RAMPANT. THREATS OF VIOLENCE BY WAR VETERANS ARE INCREASING, WITH THE THREATS FOLLOWED UP BY ATTACKS ON COMMERCIAL FARMERS. ONE ASSAULT BY WAR VETERANS ON A FARMER LED TO A BROADER VIOLENT ALTERCATION BETWEEN WAR VETERANS AND FARM WORKERS WHO CAME TO HIS RESCUE. A GROUP OF 150 UNKNOWN ASSAILANTS ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED A GROUP OF TEN RECENTLY RESETTLED PEASANTS IN THEIR SHACKS THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 28. FARM WORKERS ARE ANGRY AT THE LOSS OF THEIR MEANS OF SURVIVAL, AND THIS IS LEADING TO INCREASING CONFRONTATIONS AND VIOLENCE. THE COMMERCIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 06190 01 OF 03 021626Z FARMERS UNION (CFU) BELIEVES THAT MUGABE'S THREAT TO END RECONCILIATION WITH WHITES IN ZIMBABWE HAS EMBOLDENED THE WAR VETERANS AND ALSO ADDED TO THE INCREASED VIOLENCE. -------------- - THREE COMMERCIAL FARMERS ASSAULTED IN TEN DAYS -------------- - ¶3. (C) BETWEEN OCTOBER 22 AND OCTOBER 31 THREE WHITE COMMERCIAL FARMERS WERE VIOLENTLY ASSAULTED BY WAR VETERANS ON THEIR FARMS. ON OCTOBER 22 A FARMER ON DAWMILL FARM IN MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE ASKED OCCUPIERS TO MOVE THEIR CATTLE AND SHEEP THAT WERE BLOCKING A FARM ROAD. THEREAFTER, HE WAS SET UPON BY A GROUP OF MEN WHO KNOCKED HIM TO THE GROUND AND VIOLENTLY KICKED HIM UNTIL HE PASSED OUT. ON OCTOBER 31 A FARMER ON NYAMWANGA FARM, ALSO IN MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE, WAS ATTEMPTING TO PROCEED WITH COTTON PLANTING WHEN A GROUP OF WAR VETERANS SET UPON HIM WITH AX HANDLES AND BEAT HIM UNCONSCIOUS. WHEN HIS FARM WORKERS CAME TO HIS RESCUE A SCUFFLE ENSUED THAT ENDED WITH A SCORE OF FARM WORKERS AND WAR VETERANS REQUIRING MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR THEIR INJURIES. ON OCTOBER 26 A FARMER IN MANICALAND PROVINCE WAS VIOLENTLY ASSAULTED IN HIS FARMHOUSE, CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4225 PAGE 01 HARARE 06190 02 OF 03 021626Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 STR-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W -------------- 9A0274 021626Z /38 P 021625Z NOV 00 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7508 INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC USDOC WASHDC SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AMEMBASSY NAIROBI C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 006190 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS LONDON FOR CGURNEY PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDERRYCK, AND A/AID - RMCCALL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 06190 02 OF 03 021626Z USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER E.O. 12958: DECL 11/02/10 TAGS: PHUM EAGR PREL EAID ZI SUBJECT: VIOLENCE ON ZIMBABWE COMMERCIAL FARMS INCREASING AS FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM PROGRAM ACCELERATES PURPORTEDLY BY ROBBERS. (COMMENT: AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE LAWLESSNESS, CHAOS, AND ANARCHY THAT IS OCCURRING ON COMMERCIAL FARMS IN THE NAME OF PRESIDENT MUGABE'S FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS ASSAULT IS NOT LINKED TO THE LAND ISSUE. END COMMENT.) -------------- -------------- A GOZ MINISTER TELLS PEASANTS TO PICK THEIR OWN LAND -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) IGNATIUS CHOMBO, THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING, WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GOZ LAND TASK FORCE, APPEARED ON ZBC TELEVISION ADDRESSING A GROUP OF PEASANTS IN THE DARWENDALE/TRELAWNEY AREA. HE TOLD THE ASSEMBLED GROUP TO GO AHEAD AND PARCEL OUT FARMS TO THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE OF GOVERNMENT TECHNICIANS TO DEMARCATE PLOTS. HE STATED "WE WILL HAVE TO ATTEND TO THAT LATER. GO AHEAD AND RESETTLE YOURSELVES IN TIME FOR THE RAINS." THIS STATEMENT HAS GIVEN A GREEN LIGHT TO LANDLESS PEOPLE, AND ANYONE ELSE, TO DESCEND ON COMMERCIAL FARMS, WHETHER GAZETTED BY THE GOZ FOR COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OR NOT, AND TO DECIDE AMONG THEMSELVES WHO GETS WHAT. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 06190 02 OF 03 021626Z THE FARM WORKERS WHO LIVE AND WORK ON THESE FARMS ARE OFTEN NOT WILLING TO STAND ASIDE AND ALLOW THEIR LIVELIHOODS TO BE DESTROYED. THE RESULT IS AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CLASHES BETWEEN FARM INVADERS AND FARM WORKERS. -------------- - CLEAR SIGNS OF POLICE AND MILITARY INVOLVEMENT -------------- - ¶5. (C) THE EMBASSY IS RECEIVING NEW REPORTS THAT ZIMBABWE POLICE AND MILITARY VEHICLES ARE BEING USED TO FERRY FARM INVADERS TO COMMERCIAL FARMS. THERE ARE ALSO REPORTS THAT POLICE AND MILITARY PERSONNEL (BOTH ARMY AND AIR FORCE) ARE INCREASINGLY GOING TO FARMS TO STAKE OUT LAND FOR THEMSELVES. IN ONE REPORT FROM THE CFU, A ZIMBABWE AIR FORCE HELICOPTER FLEW OVER A FARM NEAR FORT MARTIN TO VERIFY WHETHER THE COMMERCIAL FARMER WAS COMPLYING WITH ORDERS NOT TO PLANT. -------------- ZANU-PF PUSHES AMENDED LAND ACT -------------- ¶6. (C) IN THE MIDST OF THE INCREASING VIOLENCE AND FARM OCCUPATIONS, ZANU-PF PUSHED THROUGH PARLIAMENT AN AMENDMENT TO THE LAND ACQUISITION ACT CODIFYING PRESIDENT MUGABE'S APRIL DECREE UNDER THE PRESIDENTIAL POWERS ACT ALTERING THE LAW. THIS LEGISLATION IS INTENDED TO NEGATE THE IMPACT OF THE SUPREME COURT DECISION IN A LANDMARK LAWSUIT THAT THE CFU FILED CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 06190 02 OF 03 021626Z AGAINST MUGABE FOR TAKING UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTIONS IN HIS FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM PLAN UNDER THE PRESIDENTIAL POWERS ACT, AMONG OTHER CHARGES. (COMMENT: THE SUPREME COURT IS TO BEGIN HEARING THE CFU CASE ON NOVEMBER 6 AND IS WIDELY EXPECTED TO RULE IN FAVOR OF THE PLAINTIFF. END COMMENT). -------------- MDC MP DAVID COLTART COMMENTS -------------- ¶7. (C) MDC MP DAVID COLTART, A LONG-STANDING EMBASSY CONTACT TOLD EMBASSY OFFICIALS ON NOVEMBER 1 THAT WHAT WAS OCCURRING IN THE NAME OF LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT WAS PART OF A MASTER PLAN BY MUGABE. HE SAID THAT WHILE IT WAS NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED IN A PARTICULARLY ORGANIZED FASHION, IT WAS BEING PLANNED AND LED BY THE GOVERNMENT. HE BELIEVES THAT THIS IS CLEARLY SUBSTANTIATED BY THE ROLE THE WAR VETERANS HAD PLAYED IN LEADING THE OCCUPATIONS, AND THE USE OF POLICE AND MILITARY VEHICLES TO FERRY OCCUPIERS TO FARMS. IN SOME INSTANCES, HE BELIEVES THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING BROUGHT TO OCCUPY FARMS AGAINST THEIR WILL, OR AT LEAST UNDER FALSE PRETENSES. HE SAID THAT MANY FARMERS TELL STORIES OF LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE BEING BROUGHT TO THEIR FARMS, CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4227 PAGE 01 HARARE 06190 03 OF 03 021627Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 STR-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W -------------- 9A0287 021627Z /38 P 021625Z NOV 00 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7509 INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC USDOC WASHDC SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AMEMBASSY NAIROBI C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 006190 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH USDOC FOR DHENKE-ROGERS LONDON FOR CGURNEY PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDERRYCK, AND A/AID - RMCCALL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 06190 03 OF 03 021627Z USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER E.O. 12958: DECL 11/02/10 TAGS: PHUM EAGR PREL EAID ZI SUBJECT: VIOLENCE ON ZIMBABWE COMMERCIAL FARMS INCREASING AS FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM PROGRAM ACCELERATES AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS MOST DRIFT AWAY. CFU EXECUTIVES HAVE CONFIRMED THIS WITH ECONOFF. ¶8. (C) COLTART STATED THAT MUGABE'S REAL GOAL IS TO DESTROY COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE IN ZIMBABWE IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE WHAT THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT BASE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE MDC IN ZIMBABWE. CFU EXECUTIVES ALSO AGREE WITH THIS ASSESSMENT. COLTART WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT PRESIDENT MUGABE DOES NOT CARE IF THIS RESULTS IN THE UTTER DESTRUCTION OF ZIMBABWE'S ECONOMY. ACCORDING TO COLTART, ONE OF MUGABE'S CLOSEST CONFIDANTS, OBERT MPOFU, THE CONTROVERSIAL GOVERNOR OF MATABELELAND NORTH PROVINCE (HE HAS PROCLAIMED THAT ONLY ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS WILL BE RESETTLED IN HIS PROVINCE) HAS STATED THAT IT MATTERS NOT IF THE ECONOMY IS DESTROYED, FOR THE RULING PARTY WILL THEN REBUILD IT JUST AS THE JAPANESE REBUILT THEIR ECONOMY AFTER WORLD WAR II. -------------- -------------- ZIMBABWE'S FUTURE FOOD SECURITY HANGS IN THE BALANCE -------------- -------------- ¶9. (C) ALL OF THE ABOVE BODES VERY ILL FOR ZIMBABWE'S CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 06190 03 OF 03 021627Z FUTURE FOOD SECURITY. THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS OF THE GRAIN MARKETING BOARD (GMB) PARASTATAL RESULTED IN ITS DELAYED PURCHASE OF LAST YEAR'S BUMPER MAIZE CROP. ONLY IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS HAS THE GMB RECEIVED A LINE OF CREDIT FROM THE GOZ ALLOWING IT TO BEGIN PURCHASING MAIZE. ZIMBABWE'S COMMUNAL FARMERS, WHO PRODUCE ROUGHLY 60% OF THE COUNTRY'S MAIZE, DEPEND ON SALES TO THE GMB OF THEIR HARVEST TO SUPPLY THE FUNDS NECESSARY TO BUY THE SEED, FERTILIZER, AND OTHER INPUTS NEEDED TO PLANT THE FOLLOWING YEAR'S CROP. WITH THE DELAY IN PURCHASES, MANY COMMUNAL FARMERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BEGIN PLANTING THIS YEAR'S MAIZE CROP. THIS SITUATION IS WORSENED BY THE DRAMATIC RISE IN THE PRICE OF FERTILIZER AND DIESEL FUEL, BOTH CRITICAL INPUTS TO PLANTING MAIZE. COLTART STATED THAT THE GMB HAS ONLY PURCHASED 30% OF THE HISTORICAL AMOUNT OF GRAIN BAGS THAT IT USES TO BAG UP COMMUNAL FARMERS' MAIZE AFTER PURCHASE. ACCORDING TO COLTART, THE MAJORITY OF LAST YEAR'S MAIZE CROP IS JUST SITTING OUT IN THE OPEN ON COMMUNAL FARMS, NOW GETTING RAINED ON, A FACT THAT WILL RESULT IN ITS BECOMING UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. MEANWHILE, ACCORDING TO THE CFU, COMMERCIAL FARMERS, WHO NORMALLY ACCOUNT FOR 40% OF THE NATION'S MAIZE CROP, ARE GOING TO PLANT 55% LESS MAIZE. THIS DECISION IS DUE TO LOW MAIZE PRICES, UNCERTAINTY THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HARVEST THEIR CROP AT THE END OF THE SEASON, AS WELL AS UNCERTAINTY THAT THE GMB WILL BE ABLE TO BUY THEIR CROP. THESE SIGNS INDICATE THAT THE POSSIBILITY IS INCREASING THAT ZIMBABWE WILL FACE A MAJOR SHORTFALL IN ITS MAIZE CROP NEXT YEAR, AT A TIME WHEN THE GOZ WILL LACK THE NECESSARY FOREIGN EXCHANGE TO PAY FOR IMPORTS. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 06190 03 OF 03 021627Z ¶10. (C) COMMENT: THE GOZ'S CONTINUING "DAMN THE TORPEDOES" ATTITUDE IN PURSUING THE POORLY (IF AT ALL) PLANNED FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM, REGARDLESS OF THE PREDICTED COST TO COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE, INCLUDING EXPORT CROPS, IS EXTREMELY WORRISOME. IT CALLS INTO QUESTION THE FUTURE VIABILITY OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY AND THE AVAILABILITY OF FOOD FOR 12 MILLION ZIMBABWEANS. END COMMENT. MCDONALD CONFIDENTIAL >