GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE RESPONSES TO MALLOCH-

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001016

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR WILLIAMS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER

PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA - C. PALMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/11
TAGS: PGOV PREL ZI
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE RESPONSES TO MALLOCH-
BROWN LETTER

REF: HARARE 783

CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR
REASONS 1.5 B/D.


1. (U) THE MARCH 14 EDITION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF
ZIMBABWE (GOZ)-CONTROLLED "THE HERALD" NEWSPAPER
REPORTED THAT ON MARCH 13 THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS, STAINSLAUS MUDENGE, HANDED TO UNITED NATIONS
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (UNDP) RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE
VICTOR ANGELO THE LETTER CONTAINING THE GOZ'S RESPONSE
TO THE DECEMBER 15 LETTER OF UNDP ADMINISTRATOR MARK
MALLOCH BROWN. ALTHOUGH THE PRO-GOVERNMENT DAILY DID
NOT REVEAL THE CONTENTS OF THE LETTER, IT REPORTED
THAT ANGELO "PLEDGED TO STUDY THE RESPONSE
'POSITIVELY,'" AND FORWARD IT IMMEDIATELY TO MALLOCH
BROWN IN NEW YORK. THE ARTICLE FURTHER STATED THAT
MUDENGE HAD TOLD UN SYG KOFI ANNAN AND MALLOCH BROWN
AT A RECENT MEETING AT THE UN IN NEW YORK THAT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS IN MALLOCH BROWN'S LETTER HAD ALREADY
BEEN OVERTAKEN BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE "FAST-
TRACK" PROGRAM, AND THAT WHAT THE UNDP SHOULD NOW BE
CONSIDERING WAS HOW TO AID THE "70,000 PEOPLE" THAT
THE GOZ CLAIMS HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY RESETTLED UNDER
THE PROGRAM.


2. (C) SPEAKING TO CHARGE ON MARCH 14, ANGELO WAS
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT THE GOZ RESPONSE PROVIDED
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AN OPENING WITH WHICH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
COULD WORK. HE REPORTED THAT THE ZIMBABWEANS HAD
ACCEPTED PLACEMENT OF THE TECHNICAL UNIT WITHIN UNDP
PREMISES AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ADDITIONAL DIALOGUE ON
THE LAND REFORM PROCESS WAS NECESSARY AND THAT IT
SHOULD TAKE PLACE UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE NATIONAL
ECONOMIC CONSULTATIVE FORUM. THE UNDP RESREP SAID
THAT THE GOZ'S LETTER CONDITIONALLY ACCEPTED THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRUST FUND MANAGED BY UNDP.
FINALLY, THE LETTER MADE AN APPEAL FOR HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF FLOODING AS A RESULT OF
EXCESSIVE RAINS IN ZIMBABWE. ANGELO CONCLUDED WITH
HIS ASSESSMENT THAT THE GOZ HAD ADVANCED SOME
"POSITIVE HYPOTHESES" IN ITS RESPONSE.


3. (C) COMMENT: THE GOZ'S RESPONSE TO THE MALLOCH
BROWN LETTER, BASED ON MUDENGE'S COMMENTS IN "THE
HERALD" ARTICLE, WILL LIKELY NOT PROVIDE A WAY FOR THE
GOZ TO GET OUT OF THE CORNER THEY HAVE PLACED
THEMSELVES IN ON THE LAND ISSUE. ANGELO'S ACCOUNT,
WHILE ADMITTEDLY HURRIED, IS SILENT ON THE GOZ'S
RESPONSE TO MALLOCH BROWN'S RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING
THE FOLLOWING: THE NEED FOR A RETURN OF THE RULE OF
LAW ON THE OCCUPIED COMMERCIAL FARMS, AGREEING THAT
COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF LAND FOLLOWS THE RULES
ESTABLISHED BY LAW WITH OWNERS HAVING FULL RIGHT TO
COURT-ORDERED REMEDIES, COMMENCING SETTLEMENT ON LANDS
ALREADY STATE-OWNED AND LEGALLY ACQUIRED, ACCEPTING
AND SUPPORTING COMPLEMENTARY APPROACHES TO LAND REFORM
BY LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, AND ACCEPTING THAT THE
OVERARCHING GOAL OF LAND REFORM SHOULD BE REDUCING
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POVERTY IN RURAL AREAS AND THAT ITS BENEFACTORS BE
SELECTED WITH THAT IN MIND IN A TRANSPARENT MANNER.
OUR MOST RECENT SOUNDINGS OF THE GOZ POSITION SUGGEST
THE LATTER WILL CONTINUE TO ESCHEW ADVICE FROM THE
UNDP AND DONOR NATIONS AND PROCEED WITH THE CHAOTIC,
POLITICALLY DRIVEN "FAST-TRACK" RESETTLEMENT EXERCISE.
WHILE THE EVER SUNNY ANGELO MAY SEE A LIGHT AT THE END
OF THE TUNNEL, FROM WHAT WE KNOW OF THE GOZ'S POSITION
AND THE LIKELY CONTENTS OF THE RESPONSE TO THE MALLOCH
BROWN LETTER, THE UNDP INITIATIVE ON LAND REFORM IS
DEAD ON THE GROUND IN ZIMBABWE. UNDER THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES, WE WOULD BE LOATH TO PROVIDE ANY
FURTHER MATERIAL SUPPORT FOR THE TSU OR ANY OTHER UN
INITIATIVES ON THIS SUBJECT AT THIS TIME. END
COMMENT.

IRVING

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