THE AMBASSADOR CALLS ON A MUGABE LOYALIST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 006283 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH LONDON FOR CGURNEY PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AND AFR/SA - CPALMA, NNEWMAN NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER PASS USTR - ROSA WHITAKER CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 06283 01 OF 02 071644Z E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/10 TAGS: PGOV EAGR PINR ZI SUBJECT: THE AMBASSADOR CALLS ON A MUGABE LOYALIST CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD. REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: AMBASSADOR MCDONALD, ACCOMPANIED BY LABOFF, PAID A CALL NOVEMBER 6 ON OLIVIA MUCHENA, MINISTER OF STATE FOR VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH MSIKA, A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, AND A MEMBER OF THE ZANU-PF CENTRAL COMMITTEE. THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT WAS TO GAUGE THE WILLINGNESS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ) TO ENTER INTO DIALOGUE WITH THE OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTY MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC),AS WELL AS OTHER CIVIL SOCIETY STAKEHOLDERS. WHILE THE VISIT WAS GENERALLY CORDIAL, THE MINISTER DISPLAYED COMPLETE INTRANSIGENCE ON THE POSSIBILITY OF THE GOZ ENTERING INTO DIALOGUE WITH THE OPPOSITION. PERHAPS OF EVEN GREATER CONCERN, SHE MADE CLEAR THAT THE GOZ WAS MOVING FORWARD WITH ITS FAST TRACK LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM COME HELL-OR-HIGH-WATER, AND THAT SHE EXPECTED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO ANTE UP AT THE END OF THE PROCESS TO MAKE IT ALL WORK. A PINPOINT OF HOPE WAS HER RECOGNITION THAT COMBATING THE HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC IS AN ISSUE THAT REQUIRES COOPERATION BETWEEN ALL SIDES. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD PAID A VISIT TO OLIVIA MUCHENA, THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 06283 01 OF 02 071644Z WHO HAS ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LAND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM. MUCHENA IS ALSO A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, A MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF ZANU- PF, AND A TWENTY-YEAR SUPPORTER OF PRESIDENT MUGABE. -------------- NO REASON FOR DIALOGUE WITH THE MDC -------------- ¶3. (C) AFTER EXCHANGING PLEASANTRIES, THE AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED THAT HE WANTED TO USE HIS OFFICE TO HELP BRIDGE THE GULF THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS BETWEEN THE GOZ AND ZANU-PF ON ONE SIDE, AND THE OPPOSITION MDC ON THE OTHER. THE AMBASSADOR REVEALED HIS CONCERN THAT PRESSURE WAS INCREASING IN ZIMBABWE, AND THAT FOOD RIOTS TWO WEEKS AGO MAY BE JUST THE FIRST INDICATION OF MORE DISTURBANCES TO COME. WHAT WAS NEEDED IS TO GET THE TWO 
SIDES TALKING, AND THE AMBASSADOR WISHED TO BE A CATALYST. HE ASKED MINISTER MUCHENA WHAT WAS NEEDED TO GET THE GOZ AND ZANU-PF TO SIT DOWN WITH THE MDC TO START TALKING. MINISTER MUCHENA STATED THERE WAS NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT WITH THE MDC. WHEN THE MDC MADE THE MOTION TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT MUGABE, IT CLEARLY INDICATED THERE WAS TO BE NO DIALOGUE. THIS STEP, COMBINED WITH REPEATED CALLS BY THE MDC LEADERSHIP FOR PRESIDENT MUGABE'S RESIGNATION BY DECEMBER, HAD SLAMMED THE DOOR SHUT ON THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES. SHE STATED THERE COULD BE NO TALKS UNTIL THE MDC WITHDREW ITS MOTION FOR IMPEACHMENT AND RENOUNCED ITS CALLS FOR MUGABE TO RESIGN. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 06283 01 OF 02 071644Z -------------- NO REASON FOR DIALOGUE WITH THE CFU -------------- ¶4. (C) THE AMBASSADOR THEN EXPRESSED HIS CONCERNS ABOUT THE ONGOING FAST TRACK LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM, AND ITS MOVEMENT FORWARD WITHOUT THE COOPERATION OF THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU) OR THE INTERNATIONAL DONOR COMMUNITY. HE ASKED IF IT WOULDN'T BE USEFUL FOR THE GOZ TO TAKE A PAUSE IN THE PROGRAM, SIT DOWN WITH THE CFU AND COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON A PROGRAM THAT BOTH COULD SUPPORT, AND THEN PRESENT IT TO THE DONORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT. AT THIS POINT MINISTER MUCHENA EMBARKED ON A VITRIOLIC DIATRIBE AGAINST THE CFU. SHE STATED THAT WHEN SHE HAD TRIED TO TALK WITH THE CFU THEY HAD MOCKED HER AS A PERSON OF NO CONSEQUENCE. IN HER OPINION THE CFU HAD CONSISTENTLY SABOTAGED EVERY REASONABLE ATTEMPT AT LAND REFORM OVER THE LAST TWENTY YEARS, AND YET THEY ARE THE DARLINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL DONOR COMMUNITY. THE AMBASSADOR RESPONDED BY INDICATING THAT THE CFU WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THAT THEIR COOPERATION WAS STILL ESSENTIAL TO STRIKING ANY DEAL. AMBASSADOR MCDONALD THEN CHANGED TACK AT THIS POINT AND INDICATED THAT A SPECIFIC CONCERN OF HIS WERE THE FARM WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ON THE COMMERCIAL FARMS WHO CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8379 PAGE 01 HARARE 06283 02 OF 02 071644Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 INL-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 R-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /006W -------------- 9C037C 071649Z /38 P 071643Z NOV 00 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7582 INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AMEMBASSY NAIROBI C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 006283 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH LONDON FOR CGURNEY PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AND AFR/SA - CPALMA, NNEWMAN NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER PASS USTR - ROSA WHITAKER CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 06283 02 OF 02 071644Z E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/10 TAGS: PGOV EAGR PINR ZI SUBJECT: THE AMBASSADOR CALLS ON A MUGABE LOYALIST HAD BEEN THREATENED AND AT TIMES ASSAULTED SINCE FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, AND WERE NOT BEING PLANNED FOR AS FAR AS HE COULD TELL IN THE GOZ'S RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM. RATHER THAN RESPOND TO THIS ISSUE, MINISTER MUCHENA LAUNCHED INTO ANOTHER DIATRIBE ON HOW BLACK ZIMBABWEANS HAD BEEN UPROOTED IN THE 1952 - 1965 PERIOD, WITH THEIR LAND AND ANIMALS STOLEN, FORCED TO BURN THEIR OWN HOUSES AND POSSESSIONS. SHE SAID THERE COULD BE NO DIALOGUE ON LAND REFORM. THE PEOPLE SUPPORT THE PROGRAM, AND THEY WANT THE GOZ TO COMPLETE IT BY THE END OF NOVEMBER SO THAT THE GOZ CAN GET ON TO OTHER BUSINESS. -------------- THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL SAVE THE DAY -------------- ¶5. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD RETURNED TO THE GENERAL THEME OF HIS CONCERN THAT TENSIONS WERE DANGEROUSLY INCREASING IN ZIMBABWE AND THERE WAS A NEED FOR THE GOZ TO BEGIN DIALOGUE WITH THE OPPOSITION. HE STATED HE WAS CONCERNED WITH THE ANGER OF THE YOUTH IN THE HIGH- DENSITY SUBURBS OF HARARE AND OTHER URBAN AREAS. ANGER OVER RISING FOOD PRICES, FUEL COSTS, AND ESPECIALLY THE LACK OF JOBS, THE AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED, COMPOUNDED BY THE POSSIBILITY THAT ZIMBABWE MAY FACE FOOD SHORTAGES IN THE FUTURE DUE TO THE CURRENT RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 06283 02 OF 02 071644Z LANDLESS PEOPLE ARE JUST BEING TAKEN OUT TO COMMERCIAL FARMS AND DROPPED OFF, WITHOUT THE GOZ BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND INPUTS SUCH AS SEEDS, FERTILIZER, AND TRACTORS THEY WILL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL FARMERS, AND THIS SITUATION WOULD INEVITABLY LEAD TO PROBLEMS FOR ZIMBABWE. MINISTER MUCHENA RESPONDED THAT HER VISITS TO THE HIGH-DENSITY SUBURBS HAD REVEALED THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE SUPPORTED THE GOZ AND ZANU-PF AND THEY NOW REALIZE THEY HAD BEEN MISLED BY THE MDC. ON THE ISSUE OF PEOPLE BEING DUMPED ON FARMS WITHOUT THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE, INPUTS, AND SUPPORT, SHE LOOKED RIGHT AT THE AMBASSADOR AND STATED, "YOUR GOVERNMENT CAN EASILY PROVIDE THESE THINGS." -------------- AN ISSUE TO UNITE ZANU-PF AND THE MDC -------------- ¶6. (C) IN A CLOSING EFFORT TO ELICIT SOME SLIVER OF COMPROMISE FROM THE MINISTER, THE AMBASSADOR RAISED THE AIDS EPIDEMIC RAVAGING ZIMBABWE. HE POINTED OUT THAT THIS DISEASE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE PARTY AFFILIATION, BUT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY KILLER OF BOTH ZANU-PF AND MDC MEMBERS. THIS ISSUE APPEARED TO STRIKE A CHORD WITH THE MINISTER AND SHE LET HER GUARD DOWN SOMEWHAT, AGREEING THAT ALL ZIMBABWEANS NEEDED TO WORK TOGETHER ON IT. IGNORING THE PARTY ISSUE, SHE WENT TO HER DESK AND HANDED THE AMBASSADOR A PAMPHLET ON A PROGRAM SHE HAD DEVISED TO DEVELOP SPORTS LEAGUES FOR YOUTH IN RURAL AREAS AND TO USE SPORTING EVENTS TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE ABOUT HIV/AIDS AND ITS PREVENTION. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 06283 02 OF 02 071644Z ¶7. (C) COMMENT: MINISTER MUCHENA'S HARDLINE ATTITUDE IS REFLECTIVE OF THE FORTRESS MENTALITY THAT HAS TAKEN HOLD OF PRESIDENT MUGABE AND HIS SUPPORTERS IN THE GOZ AND ZANU-PF. HER DENIAL OF THE LOSS OF SUPPORT AND NON- RECOGNITION THAT PRESSURE IS BUILDING FOR CHANGE, NECESSITATING DIALOGUE WITH THE OPPOSITION, REFLECTS ACCURATELY HOW OUT OF TOUCH THE HARDLINERS ARE. MOST WORRISOME, THOUGH, WAS HER STATEMENT THAT THE GOZ WOULD PUSH AHEAD WITH AND COMPLETE BY THE END OF NOVEMBER THE FAST TRACK LAND REFORM AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM, IGNORING CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY AGRICULTURAL EXPERTS, DOMESTIC PUBLIC OPINION, AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT IT WILL BE DISASTROUS FOR ZIMBABWE. END COMMENT. MCDONALD CONFIDENTIAL >