UNDP HOLDS FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH THE DONOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 006423

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS

NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AND AFR/SA - CPALMA,
NNEWMAN, A/AID RMCCALL, DAA/AFR VNEWTON
PASS USTR - ROSA WHITAKER

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 06423 01 OF 02 171216Z
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/10
TAGS: PGOV EAGR ZI
SUBJECT: UNDP HOLDS FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH THE DONOR
COMMUNITY ON THE LAND REFORM PROCESS IN ZIMBABWE.


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


1. (C) SUMMARY: THE UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR IN HARARE,
VICTOR ANGELO, HOSTED A FOLLOW-UP MEETING OF THE LOCAL
DONOR COMMUNITY ON NOVEMBER 9. THE PURPOSE WAS TO ALLOW
THE DONOR COMMUNITY TO RESPOND TO THE DRAFT UNDP MISSION
REPORT ON THE LAND REFORM PROCESS IN ZIMBABWE, AS WELL
AS TO DISCUSS HOW THE UNDP AND DONOR COMMUNITY COULD
MOVE THE DIALOGUE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ)
AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ON THE LAND REFORM PROCESS IN A
POSITIVE DIRECTION WITHOUT REWARDING LAWLESSNESS. THE
RESIDENT COORDINATOR ACKNOWLEDGED THAT MUCH OF THE
CRITICISM OF THE MISSION REPORT REGARDING HISTORICAL
INACCURACY AND A BIAS AGAINST THE ROLE OF THE DONOR
COMMUNITY IN THE LAND REFORM PROCESS IN ZIMBABWE WAS AN
ACCURATE CRITIQUE OF THE REPORT. A MAJORITY OF THE
DONOR REPRESENTATIVES AGAIN EMPHASIZED THAT THEIR
GOVERNMENTS WILL NOT SUPPORT THE LAND REFORM PROCESS IN
ZIMBABWE UNTIL THE GOZ RESPECTS THE RULE OF LAW AND ENDS
THE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF COMMERCIAL FARMS. THE DANISH
AMBASSADOR TOLD THE GROUP THAT THE DANISH MINISTER FOR
DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION HAD MADE CLEAR TO PRESIDENT
MUGABE THAT THERE WAS NO DONOR CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE
GOZ, BUT THAT A RETURN TO THE RULE OF LAW AND A
TRANSPARENT LAND REFORM PROCESS WERE PREREQUISITES FOR
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DANISH ASSISTANCE TO THE GOZ. AMBASSADOR MCDONALD
PROPOSED THAT A POSSIBLE WAY TO MOVE FORWARD ON LAND
REFORM WOULD BE FOR THE DONOR COMMUNITY TO SEND AN
INFORMAL DELEGATION TO VISIT THE PROVINCE OF MIDLANDS
WHERE THE GOVERNOR AND COMMERCIAL FARMERS ARE OPEN TO
DIALOGUE AND LOCAL SOLUTIONS THAT MIGHT MORE CLOSELY
FOLLOW THE 1998 DONORS' CONFERENCE GUIDELINES ARE BEING
CONSIDERED. WHILE SOME RESERVATIONS WERE EXPRESSED, THE
DONORS AS A WHOLE AGREED THAT THIS WAS A WORTHY
INITIATIVE TO FOLLOW. END SUMMARY.

--------------
UNDP HOSTS DONOR COMMUNITY MEETING
--------------


2. (C) THE UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR VICTOR ANGELO HOSTED
A DONOR COMMUNITY MEETING ON NOVEMBER 9 FOR THE
AMBASSADORS OF 22 DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS, THE DIRECTOR OF
USAID, THE COUNSELOR OF THE UNITED KINGDOM'S DEPARTMENT
FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (DFID),THE EUROPEAN UNION
REPRESENTED BY THEIR LEAD TECHNICAL OFFICER, AND THE
WORLD BANK DEPUTY RESREP. THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING
WAS FOR RESREP ANGELO TO RECEIVE DONORS' REACTIONS TO
THE DRAFT UNDP MISSION REPORT ON THE LAND REFORM PROCESS
IN ZIMBABWE, AS WELL AS TO DISCUSS HOW THE UNDP AND
DONOR COMMUNITY COULD MOVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOZ OVER
THE LAND REFORM PROCESS IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION. THE
RESIDENT COORDINATOR ALSO INFORMED THE DONORS THAT HE
HAD MET WITH HIGH LEVEL OFFICIALS OF THE GOZ REGARDING
THE UNDP DRAFT REPORT AND HE HAD EMPHASIZED TO THEM THAT
FOR THE UNDP TO SUPPORT THE GOZ LAND REFORM PROGRAM, IT
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PAGE 04 HARARE 06423 01 OF 02 171216Z
WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE LEGAL, CREDIBLE, AND
IMPLEMENTABLE. WHEN ASKED BY THE ASSEMBLED DONORS WHAT
HE MEANT BY THESE WORDS, THE RESIDENT COORDINATOR
ANSWERED THAT "LEGAL" MEANT LEGAL, "CREDIBLE" MEANT THAT
IT HAS TO BE BASED ON A WIDE NATIONAL CONSENSUS, AND
"IMPLEMENTABLE" MEANT THAT WHAT IS OCCURRING NOW IS NOT
IMPLEMENTABLE.

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DONOR CRITICISM OF THE UNDP DRAFT REPORT
--------------


3. (C) A NUMBER OF ATTENDEES SPOKE STRONGLY ABOUT THE
HISTORICAL INACCURACY OF THE DRAFT REPORT REGARDING THE
ROLE OF THE DONOR COMMUNITY ON LAND REFORM IN ZIMBABWE,
AS WELL AS THE APPARENT BIAS IN THE REPORT AGAINST THE
DONOR COMMUNITY AS A POSITIVE FORCE IN THE LAND REFORM
PROCESS IN ZIMBABWE. THE COUNSELOR FOR DFID STRESSED
THAT THE REPORT MADE NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ALL THE
SUPPORT THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS PROVIDED TO LAND REFORM
AND RESETTLEMENT SINCE ZIMBABWE'S INDEPENDENCE. THE
WORLD BANK DEPUTY RESREP SAID WHAT WAS VERY DISTURBING
ABOUT THE REPORT WAS THAT IT LACKED THE PERSPECTIVE OF
STAKEHOLDERS, AND THAT IT PORTRAYED THE GOZ AND THE
DONOR COMMUNITY AS BEING IN OPPOSITION TO ONE ANOTHER

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8610

PAGE 01 HARARE 06423 02 OF 02 171223Z
ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00
EUR-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 AC-01
NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SP-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00
DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /005W
-------------- A04EF3 171223Z /22
R 171029Z NOV 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7637
INFO NSC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 006423

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS

NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AND AFR/SA - CPALMA,
NNEWMAN, A/AID RMCCALL, DAA/AFR VNEWTON
PASS USTR - ROSA WHITAKER

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 06423 02 OF 02 171223Z
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/10
TAGS: PGOV EAGR ZI
SUBJECT: UNDP HOLDS FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH THE DONOR
COMMUNITY ON THE LAND REFORM PROCESS IN ZIMBABWE.

OVER LAND REFORM. THE RESIDENT COORDINATOR ACKNOWLEDGED
THAT THE CRITICISM THE UNDP HAD RECEIVED REGARDING THE
DRAFT REPORT WAS LARGELY VALID AND THAT CHANGES WOULD BE
MADE TO THE REPORT.

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DONOR PREREQUISITES FOR MOVING FORWARD ON LAND REFORM
-------------- --------------


4. (C) RESIDENT COORDINATOR ANGELO QUERIED THE ASSEMBLED
GATHERING IF ANYONE HAD CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS ON HOW TO
MOVE THE DISCUSSION ON LAND REFORM WITH THE GOZ IN A
POSITIVE DIRECTION. A NUMBER OF AMBASSADORS AND HIGH
COMMISSIONERS SPOKE ON THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE GOZ
RETURN TO THE RULE OF LAW AND A TRANSPARENT AND
EQUITABLE LAND REFORM PROCESS THAT ADHERES TO THE TENETS
OF THE 1998 DONORS' CONFERENCE AGREEMENT. THE GERMAN
AMBASSADOR AND THE AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER BOTH
SPOKE FORCEFULLY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE
PREREQUISITES, BEFORE THEIR RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTS COULD
AGAIN PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE LAND REFORM PROCESS IN
ZIMBABWE.


5. (C) THE DANISH AMBASSADOR TOLD THE GROUP THAT AT THE
NOVEMBER 7 MEETING BETWEEN THE DANISH MINISTER FOR
DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION, JAN TROJBORG, AND PRESIDENT
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PAGE 03 HARARE 06423 02 OF 02 171223Z
MUGABE, THE MINISTER HAD TRIED TO MAKE CLEAR TO THE
PRESIDENT THAT THERE WAS NO DONOR CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE
GOZ AND LAND REFORM IN ZIMBABWE, AND THE DANISH
GOVERNMENT WAS WILLING TO ASSIST ZIMBABWE ON LAND
REFORM. HOWEVER, HE ALSO STRESSED THAT THE RETURN TO
THE RULE OF LAW ON OCCUPIED FARMS AND A TRANSPARENT LAND
REFORM PROCESS BASED ON THE 1998 DONORS' CONFERENCE WERE
PREREQUISITES FOR DANISH ASSISTANCE.

--------------
AMBASSADOR MCDONALD PROPOSES A WAY FORWARD
--------------


6. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD THEN PROPOSED THAT A WAY TO
BREAK THE CURRENT IMPASSE AND MOVE THE DISCUSSIONS ON
LAND REFORM FORWARD WOULD BE TO VISIT SITES IN MIDLANDS
PROVINCE WHERE THE AMBASSADOR IN AN EARLIER TRIP AND
USAID OFFICIALS IN JUST THE LAST FEW WEEKS HAD VISITED
WITH GOVERNOR CEPHAS MSIPA AND COMMERCIAL FARMERS WHO
HAD BEEN WORKING TOGETHER CONSTRUCTIVELY ON LAND REFORM
IDEAS. THE GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF THE USAID OFFICIALS
WHO VISITED THIS PROVINCE IS THAT THERE IS A REASONABLE
SET OF ACTORS OF GOODWILL, INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR, WHO
MIGHT DEVELOP THEIR OWN COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. THE
AMBASSADOR SUGGESTED THAT AN INFORMAL DELEGATION FROM
DONOR EMBASSIES AND THE UNDP VISIT THESE SITES IN
MIDLANDS AND SEE FIRSTHAND WHETHER THERE ARE
COMPLEMENTARY NON-GOVERNMENTAL APPROACHES TO LAND REFORM
IN THIS PROVINCE THAT THE DONOR COMMUNITY COULD CONSIDER
SUPPORTING. THE AMBASSADOR MADE CLEAR THAT THIS WOULD
BE A LOOK SEE MISSION WITH NO COMMITMENTS BEING MADE AND
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PAGE 04 HARARE 06423 02 OF 02 171223Z
THAT THE UNDERTAKING WOULD BE UNDP LED. WHILE THERE
WERE SOME RESERVATIONS RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE
ASSEMBLED DONOR COMMUNITY CONCERNING THE GOZ'S
WILLINGNESS TO ALLOW SUCH APPROACHES, A CONSENSUS WAS
REACHED TO SEND A SMALL DELEGATION TO MIDLANDS PROVINCE
AND REPORT BACK TO THE UNDP AND THE DONOR COMMUNITY AT A
FUTURE MEETING.


7. (C) COMMENT: IT WAS CLEAR FROM THIS MEETING THAT
THERE REMAINS A GREAT DEAL OF SKEPTICISM AND CONCERN
WITHIN THE DONOR COMMUNITY REGARDING THE FINAL VERSION
OF THE UNDP MISSION REPORT ON THE LAND REFORM PROCESS IN
ZIMBABWE. THERE ALSO REMAINS A STRONG CONSENSUS AMONG
THE DONORS, THAT UNTIL THE GOZ UPHOLDS THE RULE OF LAW
AND SHOWS READINESS TO RETURN TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE
1998 DONOR CONFERENCE, THERE IS LITTLE OR NO ROOM TO
MANEUVER ON THIS ISSUE. JUDGING BY THE DONOR
REPRESENTATIVES RESPONSES, WE ARE ENCOURAGED THAT
AMBASSADOR MCDONALD'S PROPOSAL MAY OFFER A WAY FOR THE
UNDP TO TAKE THE LEAD ON FINDING A MECHANISM FOR
REENGAGING PRESIDENT MUGABE AND THE GOZ ON THE LAND
REFORM ISSUE. END COMMENT.

MCDONALD

CONFIDENTIAL

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