Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
00HARARE6282
2000-11-07 16:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:  

UNDP LAND REFORM INITIATIVE UPDATE

Tags:  EAGR PGOV EAID ZI 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.



 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8183

PAGE 01 HARARE 06282 01 OF 04 071612Z 
ACTION AID-00 

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 
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 ------------------9BFE0E 071612Z /38 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7577
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 006282 

SIPDIS

AIDAC

A/AID FOR R. MCCALL; AFR/SD FOR D. WELLER, W. WHELAN; AFR/SA FOR

N. NEWMAN, C. PALMA

STATE FOR AF/S RENDER AND KRAFT

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

LONDON FOR GURNEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/10
TAGS: EAGR PGOV EAID ZI
SUBJECT: UNDP LAND REFORM INITIATIVE UPDATE

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 06282 01 OF 04 071612Z
REFS: (A) HARARE 5834, (B) HARARE 5730, (C) HARARE 5608

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 B AND D.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 006282

SIPDIS

AIDAC

A/AID FOR R. MCCALL; AFR/SD FOR D. WELLER, W. WHELAN; AFR/SA FOR

N. NEWMAN, C. PALMA

STATE FOR AF/S RENDER AND KRAFT

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

LONDON FOR GURNEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/10
TAGS: EAGR PGOV EAID ZI
SUBJECT: UNDP LAND REFORM INITIATIVE UPDATE

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 06282 01 OF 04 071612Z
REFS: (A) HARARE 5834, (B) HARARE 5730, (C) HARARE 5608

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 B AND D.


1. (C) SUMMARY: UNDP RESREP VICTOR ANGELO DEBRIEFED DONORS ON
NOVEMBER 1 ON THE UNDP TEAM'S REPORT ON THE "LAND REFORM PROCESS
IN ZIMBABWE". THE RESREP OPENED THE MEETING BY STATING THAT THE
REPORT WAS A DRAFT, WORKING DOCUMENT, COMPLETED BY AN INDEPENDENT
MISSION, WHICH, THUS REFLECTS THE TEAM'S VIEWS AND NOT THOSE OF
THE UN. HE DESCRIBED A SERIES OF MEETINGS UNDP HAS BEEN
CONDUCTING WITH ALL CONCERNED STAKEHOLDERS OVER RECENT WEEKS. HE
CHARACTERIZED THESE MEETINGS AS "POSITIVE", AND AS A PART OF THE
SYG'S ON-GOING MANDATE TO ATTEMPT TO PROMOTE THE RESUMPTION OF A
DIALOGUE ON THIS DIFFICULT SUBJECT.

-- THE RESREP THEN PROVIDED AN OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF
THE GOVERNMENT'S "FAST TRACK" PROGRAM TO DATE, FOLLOWED BY A
RUNDOWN OF THE AGRICULTURAL SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY. HE THEN
INTRODUCED THE DRAFT TEAM REPORT, HIGHLIGHTING THE TEAM'S
RESTRICTIVE MANDATE ON TECHNICAL ISSUES AND THE FAST TRACK
APPROACH. THE TEAM'S MAJOR FINDING IS THAT NO FAST TRACK PLAN
EXISTS, AND THAT ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN TO DATE ARE "AD HOC", AND
IMPLEMENTED ACCORDING TO THE INDIVIDUAL LOCAL PLAYERS AND
CIRCUMSTANCES. HE LISTED THE TEAM'S ASSESSMENT OF THE MANY
SERIOUS SHORTCOMINGS OF THE PROGRAM AS CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTED,
FOCUSSING PRIMARILY ON THE SEVERE CAPACITY AND RESOURCE
CONSTRAINTS IN VIRTUALLY EVERY PROGRAM ASPECT.

-- GROUP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOCUSSED ON THE SERIOUS
LIMITATIONS IMPOSED ON THE TEAM/REPORT BY THEIR OVERLY
RESTRICTIVE MANDATE, ESPECIALLY REGARDING GOVERNMENT'S PROMINENT
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 06282 01 OF 04 071612Z
ROLE IN THE PROGRAM (AS OPPOSED TO ALTERNATIVE, MORE MARKET-
ORIENTED, PARTICIPATORY AND DECENTRALIZED "COMPLEMENTARY"
APPROACHES TO PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION),AND THE FUNDAMENTAL
POLITICAL (RATHER THAN TECHNICAL) NATURE OF THE PROBLEM.

AMBASSADOR MCDONALD SUBMITTED STRONG COMMENTS THAT THE
RESTORATION OF THE RULE OF LAW WAS CRITICAL. HE ALSO STATED THAT
GOVERNMENT AND DONORS NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROCESS IS A
TWO-WAY STREET WITH DIALOGUE VERY IMPORTANT. THE RESREP
CONCLUDED THAT THE ONLY WAY FORWARD WAS THROUGH A RESUMPTION OF
DIALOGUE BY ALL CONCERNED PARTIES, WHICH ALL PARTICIPANTS
STRONGLY ENDORSED. TOWARDS THIS END, HE INDICATED UN PLANS TO
CONTINUE THIS INITIATIVE, BOTH IN ZIMBABWE AND NEW YORK, IN AN
EFFORT TO ACHIEVE A PRODUCTIVE INTERACTION. DESPITE LOW
EXPECTATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE PROGRESS, ALL PRESENT WELCOMED THE
UN'S EFFORTS IN THIS BEHALF. THE RESREP REQUESTED A FOLLOW-UP
MEETING NEXT WEEK (THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9) WITH A SMALLER MORE
LIMITED GROUP OF SERIOUS POTENTIAL DONOR COUNTRIES TO FURTHER
DISCUSS THE TECHNICAL REPORT. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD, USAID DIRECTOR AND AID TECHNICAL
OFFICER ATTENDED A UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (UNDP)
MEETING ON NOVEMBER 1, CHAIRED BY THE NEW UNDP RESIDENT
REPRESENTATIVE (RESREP) TO ZIMBABWE, J. VICTOR ANGELO, TO REVIEW
THE EXPERT UNDP TEAM'S REPORT ON THE "LAND REFORM PROCESS IN
ZIMBABWE" THAT WAS COMPLETED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO FOLLOWING A THREE-
WEEK MISSION (SEE SEVERAL PRIOR REFTELS ON THIS UNDP INITIATIVE).


3. (C) THE UNDP RESREP OPENED THE MEETING BY STATING THAT THE
REPORT WAS A DRAFT WORKING DOCUMENT, COMPLETED BY AN INDEPENDENT
MISSION; AND THAT IT, THUS, REFLECTS THE VIEWS OF THE TEAM AND
NOT THOSE OF THE UN. HE ALSO CAUTIONED THAT IT WAS AN UNEDITED
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 HARARE 06282 01 OF 04 071612Z
VERSION, REQUIRING SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL WORK. HE INDICATED
THAT, IN THE PRIMARY INTEREST OF PROMOTING THE RESUMPTION OF A
DIALOGUE ON THIS TOPIC, UN SECRETARY GENERAL (SYG) ANNAN
REQUESTED THAT THE REPORT BE DISCUSSED WITH CONCERNED ZIMBABWEAN
STAKEHOLDERS BEFORE IT WAS FINALIZED AND REVIEWED FORMALLY IN NEW
YORK.


4. (C) TOWARDS THIS END, THE RESREP REPORTED THAT HE HAS BEEN
CONDUCTING A SERIES OF MEETINGS OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS WITH
CONCERNED ZIMBABWEAN STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING SENIOR GOVERNMENT OF
ZIMBABWE (GOZ) DECISION-MAKERS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL MAJOR
FARMERS' UNIONS AND VARIOUS OTHER DONOR AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL
INTERESTS. WHILE HE CHARACTERIZED THE RESULTS OF THESE MEETINGS
AS "POSITIVE", HE ALSO INDICATED THAT THE PROTAGONISTS' POSITIONS
REMAINED FAR APART AND THEY HAD NOT RESUMED ANY MEANINGFUL
DIALOGUE ON THIS CRITICAL SUBJECT.


5. (C) THE RESREP PROVIDED A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT
STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ON-GOING "FAST TRACK
PROGRAM", BASED ON AVAILABLE GOZ INFORMATION TO DATE:

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8185

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ACTION AID-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00
DS-00 EB-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 VCE-00
NSAE-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W
-------------- 9BFE22 071613Z /38
P 071612Z NOV 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7578
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 006282

SIPDIS

AIDAC

A/AID FOR R. MCCALL; AFR/SD FOR D. WELLER, W. WHELAN; AFR/SA FOR

N. NEWMAN, C. PALMA

STATE FOR AF/S RENDER AND KRAFT

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

LONDON FOR GURNEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/10
TAGS: EAGR PGOV EAID ZI
SUBJECT: UNDP LAND REFORM INITIATIVE UPDATE

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 06282 02 OF 04 071613Z
-- APPROXIMATELY 6,965 BENEFICIARY FAMILIES HAVE BEEN RESETTLED
ON 333,196 HECTARES OF LAND TO DATE (AS OPPOSED TO FAST TRACK
PROGRAM "TARGETS" OF 30,000 FAMILIES RESETTLED BY YEAR'S END ON
ONE MILLION HA. OF LAND, AND 162,000 PEOPLE RESETTLED OVER FOUR
YEARS ON FIVE MILLION HA. OF LAND). COMMENT: GIVEN THE CURRENT
STATE OF THE ZIMBABWEAN ECONOMY, THE MISSION BELIEVES THESE
TARGETS ARE TOTALLY UNREALISTIC, AT LEAST OVER THE SHORT-TERM AND
ESPECIALLY WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE. END COMMENT.

-- GOVERNMENT IS PROVIDING SUBSIDIZED TILLAGE SERVICES (I.E., Z$
4,207/HA.) TO THESE NEWLY RESETTLED FARMERS, WHICH THE SETTLERS
ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR, IN AN EFFORT TO FACILITATE THEIR
PREPARATIONS FOR THE IMMINENT PLANTING SEASON. HOWEVER, ONLY
2,729 HA. HAS BEEN TILLED UNDER THIS PROGRAM TO DATE, DUE TO
INSUFFICIENT GOVERNMENT TRACTORS AVAILABLE FOR THIS PURPOSE AND
THE INABILITY OF MANY OF THE SETTLERS TO PAY FOR EVEN THESE
MINIMAL SERVICES.

-- GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED Z$ 2.7 BILLION FOR RESETTLEMENT AND
INFRASTRUCTURE IN ITS 2001 BUDGET (SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED
WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS).

-- THE ONSET OF THE RAINS THE NOVEMBER 4-5 WEEKEND HAS ADDED AN
EXTRA URGENCY TO THE ENTIRE LAND REFORM PROCESS. FOR GOVERNMENT,
THERE IS EXTRA PRESSURE TO GET MORE SETTLERS IN PLACE. FOR
COMMERCIAL FARMERS AND FARM WORKERS, THERE IS INCREASED PRESSURE
TO GET THIS SEASON'S PLANTING PREPARATIONS COMPLETED. AND, FOR
PROSPECTIVE SETTLERS, THERE IS INCREASED PRESSURE TO GET THEIR
PLOTS AND REQUIRED INPUTS IN TIME FOR THE PLANTING SEASON. THE
RESULT HAS BEEN INCREASED OCCUPATIONS AND VIOLENCE ON THE
COMMERCIAL FARMS OVER THE PAST WEEKS, AS PEOPLE SCRAMBLE FOR LAND
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 06282 02 OF 04 071613Z
(WITH GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE) AND COMMERCIAL
FARMERS AND FARM WORKERS ATTEMPT TO 'RESOLVE' THE SITUATION SO
THEY CAN FINISH THEIR OWN SEASON'S PREPARATIONS ON TIME. CURRENT
"WORKING FIGURES" ARE THAT BETWEEN 1,500 AND 1,600 COMMERCIAL
FARMS ARE OCCUPIED THROUGHOUT ZIMBABWE BY 10,000 TO 15,000
PEOPLE.


6. (C) THE RESREP ALSO REPORTED THAT TO DATE GENERAL
AGRICULTURAL PLANTINGS WERE DOWN AN ESTIMATED 15% NATIONWIDE,
WITH MAIZE PLANTINGS REDUCED BY 50 TO 65%, AND A FORECASTED 20%
DROP IN THIS SEASON'S WHEAT HARVEST. SIMILARLY, HORTICULTURAL
CROP EXPORTS AND TOURISM WERE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY. FOR CATTLE, HE
NOTED THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF BEEF CURRENTLY ON
THE MARKET, WHICH POINTED TO DE-STOCKING, PRINCIPALLY WITHIN THE
COMMERCIAL FARMING SECTOR. ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, HE NOTED THAT
THE AREA PLANTED TO SOYBEANS AND COTTON HAD INCREASED
APPROXIMATELY 20% FROM FARMERS SWITCHING CROPS ACCORDING TO
MARKET SIGNALS. COMMENT: WHILE IT IS CLEAR THAT THE CURRENT
SITUATION HAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THIS SEASON'S
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, GIVEN ALL OF THE DISTRACTIONS AND
DELAYS, MORE TIME WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROPERLY ASSESS THIS
SEASON'S ACTUAL PLANTINGS AND PRODUCTION IMPACT. END COMMENT.


7. (C) DURING A BRIEF QUESTION AND ANSWER (Q&A) SESSION
FOLLOWING THIS INTRODUCTION, THE RESREP NOTED THAT THE UN WAS NOT
ATTEMPTING TO MEDIATE OR NEGOTIATE ANYTHING; BUT, RATHER, THAT
THEIR MANDATE FROM THE SYG IS TO PROMOTE A DIALOGUE ON THIS
SUBJECT. THE SPANISH AMBASSADOR NOTED HIS RHETORICAL CONCERN
REGARDING THE DISPLACED FARM WORKERS ("IS THERE REALLY ANY NET
GAIN THROUGH THIS PROGRAM?")

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 HARARE 06282 02 OF 04 071613Z

8. (C) IN INTRODUCING THE UNDP TEAM'S REPORT, THE RESREP NOTED
THAT IT WAS SIGNIFICANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALLOWED
DISCUSSION OF THE 1998 DONOR CONFERENCE PRINCIPLES WITHIN THE
REPORT; AND, INDEED, THAT IT HAD PERMITTED THE MISSION/REPORT
ITSELF. HE THEN RECOUNTED THE DRAFT REPORT'S MAJOR FINDINGS AS
FOLLOWS:

-- THE TEAM'S MANDATE WAS LIMITED TO TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS
ONLY; HENCE, THE REPORT DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THE
ACKNOWLEDGED FUNDAMENTAL POLITICAL ISSUES SURROUNDING THIS
SUBJECT.

-- THERE IS NO FAST TRACK LAND REFORM PLAN, AS SUCH, AT PRESENT
(ONLY A 10-PAGE DESCRIPTIVE DOCUMENT). WHAT IS PRESENTLY
OCCURRING IS "AD HOC" AND HIGHLY VARIABLE WITHIN DIFFERENT
REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY, DEPENDING UPON THE SPECIFIC CAPACITIES
AND INCLINATIONS OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS AND THEIR STAFF.
THE RESREP CHARACTERIZED THE SITUATION TO DATE AS "AD HOCISM,
DEPENDING ON THE INSPIRATION OF THE MAIN PLAYERS."

-- THE TEAM TRIED TO REMAIN WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE FAST

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8189

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ACTION AID-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00
DS-00 EB-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 VCE-00
NSAE-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W
-------------- 9BFE3A 071613Z /38
P 071612Z NOV 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7579
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 006282

SIPDIS

AIDAC

A/AID FOR R. MCCALL; AFR/SD FOR D. WELLER, W. WHELAN; AFR/SA FOR

N. NEWMAN, C. PALMA

STATE FOR AF/S RENDER AND KRAFT

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

LONDON FOR GURNEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/10
TAGS: EAGR PGOV EAID ZI
SUBJECT: UNDP LAND REFORM INITIATIVE UPDATE

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 06282 03 OF 04 071613Z
TRACK PROGRAM BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT GOVERNMENT MANDATED.

-- AVAILABLE ADMINISTRATIVE AND INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY IS
TOTALLY INADEQUATE FOR THE SCALE AND PACE OF THE ACCELERATED
PROGRAM.

-- OTHER MAJOR IMPEDIMENTS CITED INCLUDE: PROBLEMS WITH SELECTION
OF BENEFICIARIES; LACK OF RESOURCES; CONFUSING INSTITUTIONAL
ARRANGEMENTS; COURT RULINGS AGAINST THE GOZ TO DATE, INCLUDING
THE PROBABILITY THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL RULE AGAINST THE
GOVERNMENT ON CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS IN THE COMING WEEKS.
COMMENT: FOLLOWING THIS LISTING OF MAJOR IMPEDIMENTS, ONE IS
LEFT WITH THE OBVIOUS QUESTION OF WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS IN THE
CURRENT FAST TRACK PROGRAM? END COMMENT.


9. (C) THE RESREP'S CONCLUSION WAS THAT THE ONLY WAY FORWARD IS
THROUGH CONSENSUS AND DIALOGUE. THE ONLY OTHER OPTION IS TO DO
NOTHING, AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR ALL. COMMENT: THERE IS NO
DISAGREEMENT ON THIS POINT, EVEN IF EXPECTATIONS ARE LOW AT THIS
TIME. IN FACT, THAT HAS BEEN THE AGREED DONOR STRATEGY ALL ALONG
-- KEEP TALKING -- EVEN IF NOT SUCCESSFUL, WHILE CONTINUING TO
PURSUE ALTERNATIVE OR COMPLEMENTARY APPROACHES (LOCAL
INITIATIVES) AND SCHEMES IF PERMITTED TO DO SO BY THE GOZ. END
COMMENT.


10. (C) A SERIES OF Q&AS FOLLOWED THIS PRESENTATION. THE MOST
IMPORTANT THEME WAS "WE WELCOME DIALOGUE AND THE UN ROLE IN
ATTEMPTING TO FACILITATE THIS."


11. (C) THE EU REPRESENTATIVE BEST ARTICULATED THE CURRENT
GENERAL DONOR POSITIONS ON THIS SUBJECT: (1) THE TEAM'S PREMISE
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 06282 03 OF 04 071613Z
OF RETAINING THE GOZ AS THE LEAD PLAYER IN LAND REFORM WAS
UNFORTUNATE, AS THERE ARE MANY OTHER "COMPLEMENTARY" MARKET-
ORIENTED, BOTTOM UP APPROACHES THAT WOULD RESULT IN MORE
EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE AND TIMELY LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT (AS
NOTED IN THE TEAM'S REPORT REGARDING THE KAROI INITIATIVE); (2)
THAT THE TEAM'S TECHNICAL MANDATE WAS ANOTHER "FATAL FLAW", AS WE
ALREADY IDENTIFIED THE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS IN 1998
WHICH COULD READILY BE REVISED TO THE PRESENT CONTEXT. THE MOST
SERIOUS ISSUES ARE POLITICAL; AND, THEREFORE, BY AVOIDING THIS
ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM, THE TEAM'S RECOMMENDATIONS WERE DOOMED TO
"MISS THE BOAT"; AND (3) THE SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY IS NOT
STATIC AND, BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUING LAWLESSNESS, MANY DONOR
HEADQUARTERS ARE REVIEWING ENTIRE ASSISTANCE PACKAGE TO ZIMBABWE.
COMMENT: THE RAPIDLY DETERIORATING ECONOMIC SITUATION FIGURES
PROMINENTLY IN THESE DELIBERATIONS AS WELL. END COMMENT.
REPRESENTATIVES OF GERMANY, JAPAN AND CANADA ALSO OFFERED SIMILAR
COMMENTS.


12. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD SUBMITTED PARTICULARLY STRONG
COMMENTS REGARDING THE NEED FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE RULE OF
LAW AND ORDER, AND THE NEED FOR GOVERNMENT AND DONORS TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE A TWO-WAY STREET WITH
DIALOGUE CRITICAL. IN RESPONSE, THE RESREP ACKNOWLEDGED THESE
SERIOUS CONCERNS, AND REFERRED TO THE TEAM'S RECOMMENDED LAND
REFORM TRUST FUND PROPOSAL, AS AN INDICATION OF GOVERNMENT'S
WILLINGNESS TO RE-ENGAGE DONORS ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM AS
PREVIOUSLY ACCOMPLISHED AT THE 1998 DONOR'S CONFERENCE.
ACCORDING TO THE RESREP, ALL OF THE "PRINCIPLES" AGREED TO AT THE
CONFERENCE WERE NOW BACK ON THE TABLE.


13. (C) THE MEETING CONCLUDED WITH A DISTRIBUTION OF COPIES OF
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 HARARE 06282 03 OF 04 071613Z
THE TEAM'S DRAFT REPORT AND THE RESREP'S REQUEST TO MEET
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, WITH A SMALLER MORE LIMITED GROUP OF
SERIOUS POTENTIAL DONOR COUNTRIES, POSSIBLY RESTRICTED TO THE
DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION OR AMBASSADORIAL LEVEL, TO FURTHER
DISCUSS THE TECHNICAL REPORT (AS A MORE MANAGEABLE AND EFFECTIVE
SIZE GROUP FOR ON-GOING DISCUSSIONS ON THIS SUBJECT).


14. (C) POST IS REVIEWING THE TECHNICAL REPORT AND DISCUSSING IT
WITH OTHER KEY DONORS. WE WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL COMMENTS
SEPTEL.


15. (C) COMMENT: ASIDE FROM THE UPDATED INFORMATION ON FAST
TRACK IMPLEMENTATION AND AGRICULTURE, IN GENERAL, THE BRIEFING
DID NOT REALLY BREAK MUCH NEW GROUND. A SUBSEQUENT REVIEW OF THE
DRAFT REPORT SUPPORTS THE VARIOUS HIGHLIGHTS OUTLINED ABOVE (AND
IN PRIOR BRIEFINGS ON THIS SUBJECT - SEE REFTELS). GIVEN THE
TEAM'S RESTRICTED MANDATE, CENTERED ON TRYING TO FIX THE
UNFIXABLE (FAST TRACK PROGRAM),WE EXPECT THE REPORT ITSELF WILL
MEET WITH LITTLE, IF ANY, SUCCESS. MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY,
HOWEVER, WILL BE IF THE UNDP CAN USE THE REPORT/INITIATIVE TO
RESUSCITATE A MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE GOZ AND ALL KEY

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8190

PAGE 01 HARARE 06282 04 OF 04 071613Z
ACTION AID-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00
DS-00 EB-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 VCE-00
NSAE-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W
-------------- 9BFE3C 071613Z /38
P 071612Z NOV 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7580
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 006282

SIPDIS

AIDAC

A/AID FOR R. MCCALL; AFR/SD FOR D. WELLER, W. WHELAN; AFR/SA FOR

N. NEWMAN, C. PALMA

STATE FOR AF/S RENDER AND KRAFT

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

LONDON FOR GURNEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/10
TAGS: EAGR PGOV EAID ZI
SUBJECT: UNDP LAND REFORM INITIATIVE UPDATE

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 06282 04 OF 04 071613Z
STAKEHOLDERS ON THIS CRITICAL SUBJECT. WHILE EXPECTATIONS REMAIN
LOW FOR SERIOUS PROGRESS AT THIS TIME, WE REMAIN MOST SUPPORTIVE
OF THE UN'S EFFORTS TO TRY. END COMMENT.

MCDONALD

CONFIDENTIAL

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