Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01HARARE1354
2001-04-19 14:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:  

MUGABE ANNOUNCES RE-ELECTION BID AND LASHES OUT

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM ZI UK 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

191447Z Apr 01


 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ0657

PAGE 01 HARARE 01354 01 OF 03 191450Z 
ACTION AF-00 

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 
 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 
 INR-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 SS-00 STR-00 USIE-00 
 BBG-00 IIP-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W
 ------------------E171DA 191451Z /38 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8667
INFO NSC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 001354 

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER AND AFR/SA - CPALMA AND

NNEWMAN
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/11
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ZI UK
SUBJECT: MUGABE ANNOUNCES RE-ELECTION BID AND LASHES OUT
CONFIDENTIAL


PAGE 02 HARARE 01354 01 OF 03 191450Z
AT THE BRITISH AND WHITE ZIMBABWEANS WHILE MARKING
ZIMBABWE'S 21ST INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

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

-------
SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 001354

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER AND AFR/SA - CPALMA AND

NNEWMAN
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/11
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ZI UK
SUBJECT: MUGABE ANNOUNCES RE-ELECTION BID AND LASHES OUT
CONFIDENTIAL


PAGE 02 HARARE 01354 01 OF 03 191450Z
AT THE BRITISH AND WHITE ZIMBABWEANS WHILE MARKING
ZIMBABWE'S 21ST INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

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

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) PRESIDENT MUGABE, IN A ZIMBABWE BROADCASTING
CORPORATION (ZBC) TELEVISION INTERVIEW THE NIGHT OF
APRIL 17, AND THEN AGAIN IN HIS SPEECH AT THE OFFICIAL
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN HARARE ON APRIL 18,
REPEATEDLY CRITICIZED BRITAIN AND WHITE ZIMBABWEANS FOR
BEING THE PRINCIPLE CAUSES OF ZIMBABWE'S CURRENT
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. MOST OF THIS CRITICISM OF THE
BRITISH AND WHITES CENTERED ON THE LAND ISSUE, BUT HE
ALSO AGAIN ATTACKED THE OPPOSITION MOVEMENT FOR
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) FOR MERELY BEING A FRONT FOR
WHITES. HE CONFIRMED THAT HE WILL BE THE ZIMBABWE
AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION - PATRIOTIC FRONT (ZANU-PF)
CANDIDATE IN THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, AND
WILL ONLY RETIRE WHEN HE IS SURE THAT ZANU-PF HAS A
SECURE HOLD ON POWER. MUGABE ALSO THREATENED THAT THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ) WILL TAKE OVER COMPANIES
THAT ATTEMPT TO SHUTDOWN OPERATIONS WITHOUT "GENUINE
REASONS", ALLEGING THESE COMPANIES COMPLICITY IN
FRUSTRATING THE "FAST-TRACK" LAND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM.
WE SEE THIS THREAT AS A HARBINGER OF MORE URBAN VIOLENCE
TO COME. END SUMMARY.
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 01354 01 OF 03 191450Z

--------------
THE BRITISH ARE TO BLAME
--------------


2. (SBU) ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN BOTH THE
TELEVISION INTERVIEW AND DURING HIS SPEECH PRESIDENT
MUGABE CASTIGATED THE BRITISH FOR INTERFERING IN
ZIMBABWE'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND SEEKING TO TURN THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AGAINST ZIMBABWE. THE FOCUS OF
HIS ATTACK AGAINST THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT REVOLVED
AROUND THE LAND ISSUE, AND HIS BELIEF THAT THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT RENEGED ON ITS COMMITMENT TO PAY FOR LAND

REFORM IN ZIMBABWE. HE CRITICIZED THE BRITISH LABOR
GOVERNMENT, AND PRIME MINISTER BLAIR, BY NAME ON
NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND ALLEGED THAT "BRITAIN WAS
BEHAVING LIKE AN INTERNATIONAL DELINQUENT ON THE
MATTER." HE WENT ON TO ARGUE THAT THOSE COUNTRIES THAT
SUPPORT THE BRITISH POSITION NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT
ZIMBABWE IS A SOVEREIGN STATE AND THAT IT SHOULD BE
ASSISTED WITH THE PROGRAMS IT DEVELOPS WITHOUT
INTERFERENCE FROM ANY SOURCE. REVEALING HIS OBSESSION
WITH THE INDEPENDENCE STRUGGLE, DURING HIS INDEPENDENCE
DAY SPEECH HE SAID, "THIS LAND, THIS ZIMBABWE, IS A
SACRED INHERITANCE FROM OUR FOREFATHERS. IT WAS THE
'CASUS BELLI' OF OUR ARMED NATIONAL LIBERATION STRUGGLE.
IT CANNOT, THEREFORE, BE THAT WHICH WE HAVE TO BEG A
FOREIGN POWER FOR AND SO WE SAY HANDS OFF, BRITAIN,
HANDS OFF, BRITAIN!" HE WENT ON TO SHOUT, "WE ARE NOT
AN EXTENSION OF BRITAIN. SO MR. BLAIR HANDS OFF,
PLEASE!" TOWARDS THE END OF THE TELEVISION INTERVIEW,
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 HARARE 01354 01 OF 03 191450Z
MUGABE STATED THAT "LOOKING BACK 21 YEARS THE GREATEST
MOMENT IN MY LIFE WAS SEEING THE BRITISH FLAG GO DOWN
AND REPLACED BY THE FLAG OF THE NEW NATION OF ZIMBABWE."

--------------
AND SO ARE THE WHITES
--------------


3. (U) MUGABE CONTINUED HIS VITRIOLIC ATTACKS ON WHITE
ZIMBABWEANS IN BOTH THE TELEVISION INTERVIEW AND
INDEPENDENCE DAY SPEECH. HE CRITICIZED THE WHITES FOR
HAVING SPURNED THE HAND OF RECONCILIATION HE HAD
EXTENDED AT INDEPENDENCE, SAYING "RECONCILIATION WAS NOT
A ONE-SIDED AFFAIR. THE WHITES HAD NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING
AND BEHAVED AS IF THEY BELONGED TO BRITAIN AND WERE IN
ZIMBABWE ONLY TO MAKE MONEY." HE CONTINUED THAT, "THE
WHITES WANTED TO REVERSE THE GAINS ATTAINED AT
INDEPENDENCE BY OPPOSING THE 'FAST-TRACK' LAND REFORM
PROGRAM." AS HE OFTEN DOES, HE REFERRED NUMEROUS TIMES
TO WHITE ZIMBABWEANS, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM WERE BORN IN
THIS COUNTRY, AS "SETTLERS." ACCORDING TO MUGABE, "THE
SETTLERS ARE USING EVERY TRICK, INCLUDING THAT OF USING
SOME AMONG US, TO DERAIL THE EFFORT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO
ALLOW AN EQUITABLE REDISTRIBUTION OF LAND."

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ0658

PAGE 01 HARARE 01354 02 OF 03 191450Z
ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00
SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00
INR-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 SS-00 STR-00 USIE-00
BBG-00 IIP-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W
-------------- E171E3 191451Z /38
R 191447Z APR 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8668
INFO NSC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 001354

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER AND AFR/SA - CPALMA AND

NNEWMAN
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/11
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ZI UK
SUBJECT: MUGABE ANNOUNCES RE-ELECTION BID AND LASHES OUT
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 01354 02 OF 03 191450Z
AT THE BRITISH AND WHITE ZIMBABWEANS WHILE MARKING
ZIMBABWE'S 21ST INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

--------------
THE WHITES BEHIND THE MDC
--------------


4. (U) IN THE TELEVISION INTERVIEW MUGABE CRITICIZED THE
MDC AS BEING JUST A FRONT FOR WHITES, SAYING THAT THE
"MDC HAD MADE A MISTAKE BY PUTTING WHITES IN THE
FOREFRONT." HE LINKED THIS ALLEGED DOMINATION OF THE
MDC BY WHITES AS EVIDENCE OF THE CONSPIRACY TO RETURN
ZIMBABWE TO WHITE MINORITY RULE, STATING "IT INVOKES IN
ALL OF US A BELIEF THAT THE WHITE MAN DOES NOT CHANGE.
AS LONG AS THE WHITES DID NOT CHANGE, PEOPLE SHOULD
STRENGTHEN THEMSELVES TO FIGHT EVEN HARDER." IN HIS
INDEPENDENCE DAY SPEECH HE STATED "LET US WATCH OUT FOR
THESE VICIOUS ENEMIES AMONG US AND TRY TO OVERCOME
THEM", CLEARLY A REFERENCE TO BOTH THE MDC AND
ZIMBABWE'S WHITE MINORITY AND THEIR OSTENSIBLY VIOLENT
AGENDA.

--------------
MUGABE WILL RUN AGAIN
--------------


5. (U) MUGABE PUBLICLY CONFIRMED FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE THE ZANU-PF PARTY CONGRESS LAST FEBRUARY THAT HE
WILL BE THE PARTY'S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. HE ASSERTED
THAT HE IS IN GOOD HEALTH, AND THAT HE WILL ONLY
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 01354 02 OF 03 191450Z
CONSIDER RETIRING AFTER HE AGAIN LEADS ZANU-PF TO
VICTORY IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

--------------
NO COMPANY CLOSURES WITHOUT GOZ APPROVAL
--------------


6. (U) IN BOTH THE TELEVISON INTERVIEW AND THE
INDEPENDENCE DAY SPEECH MUGABE THREATENED THAT THE GOZ
WILL TAKE OVER THE OPERATIONS OF ANY COMPANIES THAT TRY
TO SHUTDOWN OPERATIONS WITHOUT GOZ APPROVAL. HE
ASSERTED THAT MANY OF THESE COMPANY CLOSURES DID NOT
RESULT FROM THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE IN ZIMBABWE, BUT WERE
BEING DONE AS PART OF THE BRITISH AND WHITE ZIMBABWEANS'
CAMPAIGN TO FRUSTRATE THE "FAST-TRACK" LAND PROGRAM. HE
STATED THAT "GOVERNMENT WILL IN THE FUTURE NOT ALLOW ANY
VIABLE MINING OR MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISE TO CLOSE FOR
UNCLEAR REASONS. ANY CLOSURES WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE
ASSENT OF THE GOVERNMENT."

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) PRESIDENT MUGABE'S TELEVISION INTERVIEW, AND
INDEPENDENCE DAY SPEECH AT THE HALF-FILLED NATIONAL
STADIUM (WHERE A SOCCER MATCH BETWEEN RIVAL TEAMS
HIGHLANDERS AND DYNAMOS THAT AFTERNOON WAS LIKELY THE
BIGGER DRAW),CONFIRMED THAT HE IS A LEADER TRAPPED IN
THE TIME WARP OF ZIMBABWE'S INDEPENDENCE STRUGGLE AND
HIS PERCEIVED GLORY DAYS. THE FACT THAT HIS "FAST-
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 HARARE 01354 02 OF 03 191450Z
TRACK" LAND REFORM PROGRAM WILL BE THE ISSUE ON WHICH HE
WILL RUN HIS 2002 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN WAS
EVIDENCED BY THE CENTRAL ROLE IT PLAYED IN THE INTERVIEW
AND THE SPEECH. IN REALITY, THIS IS THE ONLY ISSUE
MUGABE AND ZANU-PF CAN USE TO TRY AND GARNER SUPPORT
FROM THE ZIMBABWE PEOPLE. HE MENTIONED THE TREMENDOUS
STRIDES THAT ZIMBABWE HAD MADE SINCE INDEPENDENCE IN THE
FIELDS OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE, BUT THE COLD-HARD
TRUTH IS THAT BOTH THE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC
HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS ARE ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE.
INDEED, A TWENTY-ONE MINUTE POWER FAILURE AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE INDEPENDENCE DAY CEREMONIES WAS ALMOST
A LITERARY TROPE: A PATHETIC FALLACY TO ZIMBABWE'S
REACHING THE AGE OF MAJORITY UNDER MUGABE'S LEADERSHIP.
LASTLY, MUGABE'S BIZARRE AND PROBABLY UNENFORCEABLE
THREAT TO PREVENT COMPANIES FROM SHUTTING DOWN, ALLEGING
THEY ARE DOING SO JUST TO FRUSTRATE LAND REFORM,
PORTENDS MORE URBAN VIOLENCE TO US. WE SEE ZANU-PF
DEPLOYING WAR VETERANS IN EVEN GREATER NUMBERS TO FORCE
OWNERS OF FALTERING FACTORIES AND OTHER BUSINESSES TO
REMAIN OPEN THROUGH PSYCHOLOGICAL INTIMIDATION AND THE
OCCASIONAL VICIOUS BEATING. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS WILL
NOT HELP THE ZIMBABWE ECONOMY TO IMPROVE NOR RESTORE
INVESTOR CONFIDENCE. END COMMENT.

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ0661

PAGE 01 HARARE 01354 03 OF 03 191450Z
ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00
SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00
INR-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 SS-00 STR-00 USIE-00
BBG-00 IIP-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W
-------------- E171F8 191452Z /38
R 191447Z APR 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8669
INFO NSC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 001354

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER AND AFR/SA - CPALMA AND

NNEWMAN
PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/11
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ZI UK
SUBJECT: MUGABE ANNOUNCES RE-ELECTION BID AND LASHES OUT
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 01354 03 OF 03 191450Z
AT THE BRITISH AND WHITE ZIMBABWEANS WHILE MARKING
ZIMBABWE'S 21ST INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

IRVING

CONFIDENTIAL

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