C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 006956

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/10
TAGS: KHDP MOPS PARM PGOV PREL ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE PARLIAMENT RATIFIES OTTAWA CONVENTION
BANNING ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 06956 270833Z

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


1. (U) ON DECEMBER 5, ZIMBABWE'S PARLIAMENT PASSED THE
ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES (PROHIBITION) BILL, WHICH RATIFIES
THE OTTAWA CONVENTION BANNING ANTI-PERSONNEL LANDMINES.
PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ARE PROHIBITED FROM USING,
STOCKPILING, TRANSFERRING, AND PRODUCING ANTI-PERSONNEL
MINES. ON NOVEMBER 16, THE ZIMBABWE NATIONAL ARMY (ZNA)
DESTROYED ITS STOCKPILE OF APPROXIMATELY 4500 LANDMINES
IN A CEREMONY ATTENDED BY WESTERN MILITARY AND
DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS. AT THE CEREMONY, DEFENSE MINISTER
MOVEN MAHACHI DENIED RUMORS THAT ZIMBABWE WAS USING
ANTI-PERSONNEL LANDMINES IN THE DRC.


2. (C) COMMENT: IN ADDITION TO SUBSCRIBING TO A
WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR, THE PASSING OF THE ANTI-LANDMINE
BILL DEMONSTRATES THAT THE BITTERLY DIVIDED POLITICAL
PARTIES IN THE ZIMBABWE PARLIAMENT CAN WORK TOGETHER ON
ISSUES OF GLOBAL IMPORTANCE. THE RATIFICATION MEASURE
GOES TO PRESIDENT MUGABE FOR HIS SIGNATURE, AND, GIVEN
THE ZNA'S VISIBLE BACKING, WE EXPECT HIM TO ENACT IT
INTO LAW. END COMMENT.

MCDONALD

CONFIDENTIAL

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