MFA PERMANENT SECRETARY ASKS FOR USG GESTURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 006661 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH LONDON FOR GURNEY PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS PASS USAID FOR A/AID R.MCCALL AND AFR/SA FOR C.PALMA AND M.WILLIAMS NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2010 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAGR ZI SUBJECT: MFA PERMANENT SECRETARY ASKS FOR USG GESTURE ON LAND TO COINCIDE WITH MALLOCH-BROWN VISIT CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 06661 01 OF 02 281642Z ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: DURING AN HOUR AND A HALF MEETING NOVEMBER 28 MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMANENT SECRETARY WILLARD CHIWEWE SOUGHT AMBASSADOR MCDONALD'S SIPDIS PRACTICAL ADVICE ON HOW TO ENSURE THAT UNDP ADMINISTRATOR MARK MALLOCH-BROWN'S VISIT TO ZIMBABWE WAS A SUCCESS. THE PERMANENT SECRETARY SAID HE WAS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BUILD PRESIDENT MUGABE'S CONFIDENCE IN ORDER TO ACCEPT CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL HAVE WITH RESPECT ZIMBABWE'S LAND REFORM PROGRAM, AND SOUGHT A SIGNAL FROM THE USG TO BOLSTER THE ADMINISTRATOR'S MISSION. THE AMBASSADOR SAID HE WOULD HAVE TO CONSULT WITH WASHINGTON REGARDING HIS REQUEST, BUT ADVISED THE PRESIDENT NOT TO BE DEFENSIVE AND READILY AGREE TO RESTORE THE RULE OF LAW WITH RESPECT TO THE COMMERCIAL FARM OCCUPATIONS. CHIWEWE TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT MUGABE WANTED TO SPEND SOME SUBSTANTIAL TIME WITH MALLOCH-BROWN AND WOULD GIVE THOSE KINDS OF ASSURANCES. WHEN THE AMBASSADOR SUGGESTED THAT THE CLEAREST SIGNAL PRESIDENT MUGABE COULD SEND TO THE WEST DEMONSTRATING HIS SERIOUSNESS WOULD BE TO CALL ON THE WAR VETERANS TO LEAVE THE FARMS, THE PERMANENT SECRETARY SAID THAT THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. INSTEAD, HE SUGGESTED AN ACCELERATED ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT PROCESS. WE BELIEVE THAT CHIWEWE HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO ENGAGE IN SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNDP AND GENUINELY WANTS USG INPUT. IF WE COULD REPACKAGE THE UNDERSTANDINGS REACHED IN THE 1998 DONORS CONFERENCE AND SECURE ADDITIONAL PLEDGES, WE MIGHT HAVE A WIN-WIN PROPOSITION ON OUR HANDS. CHIWEWE SEEMED TO TAKE OUR POINTS ON BOARD AND CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 06661 01 OF 02 281642Z THE ATMOSPHERICS WERE EXCELLENT. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) DURING A ONE AND A HALF-HOUR MEETING NOVEMBER 28 MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PERMANENT SECRETARY WILLARD CHIWEWE INFORMED AMBASSADOR MCDONALD THAT HE HAD BEEN BUSY MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE NOVEMBER 30 VISIT OF UNDP ADMINISTRATOR MARK MALLOCH-BROWN. ON NOVEMBER 27 HE HAD CONSULTED UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE VICTOR ANGELO AND ZIMBABWEAN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS TICHAONA JOKONYA, AND THOUGHT HE SHOULD TOUCH BASE WITH THE "CHIEF GLOBAL PLAYER," SO HE ASKED THE AMBASSADOR TO COME OVER FOR A PRACTICAL DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO GET SOMETHING DONE. CHIWEWE CAME STRAIGHT TO HIS POINT: HE ASKED WHETHER THE USG COULD "GIVE A SIGNAL" TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE THAT MALLOCH-BROWN IS SERIOUS AND THAT THE DONOR COMMUNITY SUPPORTS HIM. THE PERMANENT SECRETARY HAD ASKED ANGELO WHETHER THE UNDP COULD CONTRIBUTE A SYMBOLIC AMOUNT TO THE FUND FOR LAND REFORM, BUT THE LATTER UNDERSTANDABLY MADE NO COMMITMENT. ¶3. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD REPLIED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO CONSULT WITH WASHINGTON REGARDING HIS REQUEST. THAT SAID, THE AMBASSADOR UNDERSCORED THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A "CRITICAL, CRITICAL" MEETING, BECAUSE ZIMBABWE WAS AT A FORK IN THE ROAD. HE TOLD CHIWEWE THAT PRESIDENT MUGABE SHOULD EMBRACE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD. THE PERMANENT SECRETARY THEN ASKED THE AMBASSADOR, "WHAT DO YOU WANT THE PRESIDENT TO DO?" CHIWEWE UNDERSCORED THAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR CANDID ADVICE. THE AMBASSADOR REPLIED THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD SAY TO MALLOCH-BROWN CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 06661 01 OF 02 281642Z THAT HE NEEDS SUPPORT FOR HIS LAND REFORM PROGRAM AND SHOULD NOT ACT DEFENSIVELY. THE SENIOR ZIMBABWEAN DIPLOMAT REPORTED THAT, AS A SIGN OF THE IMPORTANCE PRESIDENT MUGABE ATTACHED TO THE VISIT, HE HAD SAID THAT HE WANTED "SOME REAL TIME WITH MR. BROWN." CHIWEWE CONTINUED THAT HE WAS TRYING TO GET ALLIES TO BUILD CONFIDENCE SO THE PRESIDENT WOULD NOT FIND HIMSELF "BENDING TO AN UNBENDING ENVIRONMENT." THE AMBASSADOR RESPONDED THAT THE MOST IMPRESSIVE THING MUGABE COULD DO TO SEND A CLEAR SIGNAL TO THE WEST WOULD BE FOR HIM TO GO TO HIS PORTICO AND CALL FOR THE WAR VETERANS TO LEAVE THE FARMS IMMEDIATELY. IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN 90 PERCENT OF THEM WOULD DO SO, THE AMBASSADOR STATED. ¶4. (C) WHILE CHIWEWE APPRECIATED THE SUGGESTION, HE NOTED THAT MUGABE COULD NOT DO THAT, BECAUSE WHEN IT HAD BEEN TRIED IN THE PAST, WAR VETERANS LEFT THE PREMISES OF A FARM, BUT CAMPED BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ONLY TO RETURN LATER. IF WE HAD A CLEAR 5 MILLION AVAILABLE HECTARES, THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR THE PRESIDENT TO SAY ANYTHING, THE PERMANENT SECRETARY SAID. INSTEAD, CHIWEWE THOUGHT THE WAY TO PROCEED WOULD BE TO QUICKEN CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6797 PAGE 01 HARARE 06661 02 OF 02 281642Z ACTION IO-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 A-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 M-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 SSO-00 SS-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /004W -------------- A4AEE7 281642Z /38 O 281637Z NOV 00 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7728 INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY NAIROBI IMMEDIATE C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 006661 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH LONDON FOR GURNEY PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS PASS USAID FOR A/AID R.MCCALL AND AFR/SA FOR C.PALMA AND M.WILLIAMS NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2010 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAGR ZI SUBJECT: MFA PERMANENT SECRETARY ASKS FOR USG GESTURE ON LAND TO COINCIDE WITH MALLOCH-BROWN VISIT THE PACE THROUGH WHICH THE GOVERNMENT LEGALLY ACQUIRED FARMS AND MOVED PEOPLE ONTO THOSE FARMS. "IT HAS TO BE CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 06661 02 OF 02 281642Z ACQUISITION, REMOVAL, ACQUISITION, REMOVAL, IN ORDER TO KEEP THE SITUATION CONTROLLED," HE ARGUED. IF THE GOVERNMENT WERE TO PROVOKE POLITICAL DISCONTENT WE COULD ASSUME THAT "MISCHIEF BEGINS AMONG SUCH PEOPLE." THE AMBASSADOR CAUTIONED THE PERMANENT SECRETARY THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WOULD NOT PAY FOR LAND THAT WOULD GO TO CRIMINALS. ¶5. (C) AMBASSADOR MCDONALD THEN SUGGESTED THAT THE PRESIDENT MIGHT WISH TO MEET MALLOCH-BROWN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD ON THURSDAY AFTER HIS ARRIVAL AND THEN BEGIN DRAFTING A CLEAR STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIVE PRINCIPLES, AFTER WHICH THE TWO WOULD MEET TO ANNOUNCE IT. CHIWEWE AGREED WITH THE CONCEPT, BUT SUGGESTED THE FOREIGN MINISTER AND MALLOCH-BROWN DO IT, AS THEY ARE ON THE SAME LEVEL. THE AMBASSADOR SUGGESTED THAT THE UNDP ADMINISTRATOR NEEDED TO LEAVE ZIMBABWE BEING ABLE TO SAY THAT HE MET PRESIDENT MUGABE AND THAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS THE RULE OF LAW TO PREVAIL ON THE COMMERCIAL FARMS. HE WILL NEED THAT GUARANTEE FROM THE PRESIDENT, THE AMBASSADOR STRESSED. "AND HE WILL GET IT," THE PERMANENT SECRETARY CONCLUDED. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: IN HIS OWN BLUNT AND PECULIAR MANNER, CHIWEWE IS ATTEMPTING TO BUILD BRIDGES FROM HIS GOVERNMENT TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. HE MUST HAVE THE PRESIDENT'S NOD TO ENGAGE IN THESE PRACTICAL NEGOTIATIONS. THE WORK HE HAS PUT IN PREPARING FOR THE MALLOCH-BROWN VISIT IS INDICATIVE OF THE IMPORTANCE HIS GOVERNMENT ATTACHES TO IT. WE HAVE NOT SEEN THOROUGH PREPARATION LIKE THIS BEFORE ANY OTHER SUCH GATHERING. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 06661 02 OF 02 281642Z THE WAY WE SEE IT, THE GOVERNMENT EITHER WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY GIVEN BY THE VISIT TO DEFUSE TENSIONS AND BEGIN A SANE LAND REFORM PROGRAM, OR STEP UP THE PACE AND VIOLENCE OF THE CURRENT LAND GRAB. WE NEED TO THINK CREATIVELY OF WAYS WE CAN ENCOURAGE THE GOZ IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. ¶7. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: WE CAN SUGGEST ONE WAY: TAKE THE LAND AND REFORM RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM THAT THE GOZ AND THE DONORS HAD AGREED TO IN 1998; THROW IN SOME NEW PLEDGES (FROM DONORS AND THE CFU) TO GET THE GOZ UP TO THE 5 MILLION HECTARES IT IS LOOKING FOR; "REPACKAGE" IT COMPLETE WITH A CLEVER NEW NAME THAT SINGS "LAND TO THE PEOPLE" TO ZIMBABWEANS AND "RULE OF LAW" TO CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE DONOR COMMUNITY; LET MUGABE DECLARE VICTORY AND CALL THE WAR VETERANS OFF THE FARMS; AND GET THE LAND PROGRAM BACK "ON-TRACK" AND THIS ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL TRANSITION OFF THE DIME. WITH THE RIGHT NEGOTIATING SKILLS, THIS COULD BE PULLED OFF IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE NEEDS A WIN. END COMMENT. MCDONALD CONFIDENTIAL >