AN UPDATE ON ZIMBABEWE'S "FAST-TRACK" LAND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 001492 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER LONDON FOR CGURNEY PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDICKSON-HORTON E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/11 TAGS: EAGR PGOV PHUM EAID PINR ZI SUBJECT: AN UPDATE ON ZIMBABEWE'S "FAST-TRACK" LAND CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 01492 01 OF 04 031833Z PROGRAM REF: HARARE 1276 CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D' AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR REASONS 1.5 (B/D). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) THE QUIET ATTEMPT BY THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU) TO RE-ENGAGE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ) ON LAND REFORM (REFTEL) HAS REACHED AN IMPASSE. THE GOZ IS INSISTING AS A PRECONDITION FOR FURTHER TALKS THAT THE CFU WITHDRAW ITS LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF "FAST-TRACK", EVEN THOUGH THE SUPREME COURT HAS ALREADY RULED IN FAVOR OF THE CFU. AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOZ, WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE AIR FORCE, ARMY, POLICE AND THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION (CIO),HAS BEGUN A NEW PUSH TO QUICKLY GET ADDITIONAL SQUATTERS ONTO COMMERCIAL FARMS NATIONWIDE. ON APRIL 25, THE GOZ-CONTROLLED "THE HERALD" NEWSPAPER REPORTED THAT THE GOZ PLANS TO SUBMIT A BILL TO PARLIAMENT THAT WILL LEGALIZE THE STATUS OF FARM INVADERS AND PREVENT THEIR EVICTION UNTIL THE GOZ IS ABLE TO RESETTLE THEM. LARGE-SCALE WHITE COMMERCIAL FARMERS, WHO GROW MORE THAN 80 PERCENT OF ZIMBABWE'S WHEAT CROP, HAVE NOT RECEIVED GUARANTEES FROM THE GOZ THAT THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO HARVEST IF THEY PLANT AND THEREFORE HAVE DELAYED PLANTING A CROP. CONTRARY TO CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 01492 01 OF 04 031833Z PUBLIC STATEMENTS BY THE GOZ THAT IT HAS BEGUN PAYING FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LAND ON ACQUIRED FARMS, THE CFU AND INDIVIDUAL FARMERS WE HAVE SPOKEN TO INSIST THAT TO DATE THEY HAVE RECEIVED NO PAYMENTS. A VISIT TO TWO FARMS IN A DISTRICT SOUTHWEST OF HARARE INDICATES THAT THE GOZ IS PROVIDING LITTLE OR NO ASSISTANCE TO THE RESETTLED FARMERS. END SUMMARY. -------------- -- CFU - GOZ QUIET TALKS ON LAND REFORM DEADLOCKED -------------- -- ¶2. (C) ON APRIL 27, ECONOFF SPOKE WITH TIM HENWOOD (PROTECT),PRESIDENT OF THE CFU, AT THE ZIMBABWE INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR IN BULAWAYO. HENWOOD SAID THAT THE QUIET TALKS INITIATED BY THE CFU WITH THE GOZ TO TRY AND FIND A WAY FORWARD ON LAND REFORM HAVE REACHED AN IMPASSE. THE GOZ IS INSISTING THAT THE CFU MUST WITHDRAW ITS LITIGATION AGAINST THE GOZ OVER THE "FAST- TRACK" RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM BEFORE THE GOZ WILL TALK FURTHER WITH THE CFU. THE CFU NEGOTIATING TEAM WAS TOLD BY GOZ OFFICIALS THAT THE LAWSUIT, AND THE SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT IN THE CFU'S FAVOR ON THE SUIT, IS VERY EMBARRASSING TO PRESIDENT MUGABE. HOWEVER, HENWOOD SAID THAT THE CFU CANNOT WITHDRAW A LAWSUIT UPON WHICH A COURT HAS ALREADY RENDERED JUDGEMENT. -------------- A NEW GOZ PUSH TO GET MORE SQUATTERS ON FARMS -------------- CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 01492 01 OF 04 031833Z ¶3. (C) ON APRIL 12 ECONOFF SPOKE WITH TIM EVANS (PROTECT),THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CFU MWENEZI DISTRICT FARMERS ASSOCIATION. (NOTE: MWENEZI IS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN ZIMBABWE NEAR THE BORDER WITH SOUTH AFRICA. END NOTE.) EVANS STATED THAT THREE TEAMS FROM THE GOZ NATIONAL LAND TASK FORCE (NLTF) HAD RECENTLY VISITED OCCUPIED FARMS IN MWENEZI AND TWO NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS. THE MWENEZI DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR (DA),WHO IS ON FRIENDLY TERMS WITH THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS, TOLD EVANS THAT THE THREE TEAMS WERE HEADED UP BY ZIMBABWE AIR FORCE VICE MARSHALL MUCHENA, ZIMBABWE NATIONAL ARMY MAJOR GENERAL NYAMBUZA, AND ZIMBABWE REPUBLIC POLICE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF CRIME MUTANGA. CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION AGENTS WERE ALSO TEAM MEMBERS. ACCORDING TO THE DA, THE PURPOSE OF THE NLTF TEAMS VISITS WAS TO GO TO OCCUPIED FARMS AND TELL THE INVADERS THAT THEY HAD TO STAY ON THE FARMS, AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO FIND ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO INVADE FARMS. ACCORDING TO THE DA, THIS IS PART OF THE GOZ'S EFFORT TO GET ANOTHER 2,500 INVADERS ONTO COMMERCIAL FARMS IN EACH OF ZIMBABWE'S TEN PROVINCES -- FOR A TOTAL OF 25,000 NEW INVADERS NATIONWIDE -- BY JUNE. EVANS STATED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE OCCUPIED FARMS IN MWENENZI AND THE TWO NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS HAVE NOT BEEN LISTED FOR COMPULSORY ACQUISITION BY THE GOZ. HE ADDED THAT IT WAS CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ2896 PAGE 01 HARARE 01492 02 OF 04 021425Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /009W -------------- E66A11 021425Z /38 R 021432Z MAY 01 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8769 INFO NSC WASHDC SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AMEMBASSY NAIROBI C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 001492 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER LONDON FOR CGURNEY PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDICKSON-HORTON E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/11 TAGS: EAGR PGOV PHUM EAID PINR ZI SUBJECT: AN UPDATE ON ZIMBABEWE'S "FAST-TRACK" LAND CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 01492 02 OF 04 021425Z PROGRAM COMPLETELY ILLOGICAL THAT THE GOZ WAS ENCOURAGING FARM INVASIONS AND RESETTLEMENT IN THIS REGION, SINCE MWENEZI AND THE OTHER TWO DISTRICTS ARE LOCATED IN AN EXTREMELY DROUGHT-PRONE REGION IN WHICH THE MAJORITY OF COMMERCIAL FARMERS ARE LARGE-SCALE CATTLE RANCHERS OR INVOLVED IN WILDLIFE RANCHING AND GAME PARK OPERATIONS. TIM HENWOOD TOLD ECONOFF THAT SIMILAR NLTF TEAMS HAVE BEEN VISITING FARMS IN ALL TEN OF ZIMBABWE'S PROVINCES OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS. -------------- A GOZ BILL TO LEGALIZE THE FARM INVADERS -------------- ¶4. (C) ON APRIL 25, THE GOZ-CONTROLLED "THE HERALD" NEWSPAPER REPORTED THAT THE GOZ IS GOING TO SUBMIT A BILL TO PARLIAMENT THAT WILL LEGALIZE THE STATUS OF ILLEGAL OCCUPIERS ON COMMERCIAL FARMS. THE BILL WILL NULLIFY SUPREME COURT AND HIGH COURT RULINGS REQUIRING THAT ILLEGAL OCCUPIERS BE IMMEDIATELY EVICTED FROM COMMERCIAL FARMS AND OTHER OCCUPIED LANDS. THE BILL INCLUDES SPECIFIC PROVISIONS REGARDING WHEN INDIVIDUALS MUST HAVE OCCUPIED FARMS, AND ENTITLES THEM TO LEGAL PROTECTION FROM EVICTION FOR SPECIFIC PERIODS UNTIL THE GOZ IS ABLE TO RESETTLE THEM. THE BILL GIVES PRESIDENT MUGABE, ALL CABINET MINISTERS, AND ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS DESIGNATED BY THE PRESIDENT, AUTHORITY TO CERTIFY ANY FARM INVADERS AS "PROTECTED PERSONS" WHO CANNOT BE EVICTED FROM THE FARMS THEY OCCUPY. (COMMENT: RECENT CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 01492 02 OF 04 021425Z GOZ PRACTICE INDICATES THAT THE RULING PARTY WILL FAST- TRACK THE BILL THROUGH PARLIAMENT, WITH LITTLE OR NO DEBATE AND NO AMENDMENTS, AND ITS LEGAL PROVISIONS WILL THEN BE INTERPRETED LIBERALLY BY THE GOZ. END COMMENT.) -------------- COMMERCIAL FARMERS NOT PLANTING WHEAT -------------- ¶5. (C) AS OF APRIL 27, COMMERCIAL FARMERS WHO NORMALLY GROW OVER EIGHTY PERCENT OF ZIMBABWE'S WHEAT AND PLANT AT THE END OF APRIL, HAD NOT BEGUN PLANTING THIS YEAR'S CROP. CFU PRESIDENT HENWOOD TOLD ECONOFF THAT THE FARMERS HAD STILL NOT RECEIVED ANY GUARANTEE FROM THE GOZ THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HARVEST A WHEAT CROP IF PLANTED. WITHOUT SUCH A GUARANTEE, ZIMBABWE'S BANKS WILL NOT LOAN MONEY FOR WHEAT PLANTING, AND THE FARMERS THEMSELVES WILL NOT RISK THEIR PERSONAL CAPITAL ON PLANTING A CROP THEY MAY NOT BE ALLOWED TO HARVEST AND SELL. IN ADDITION, HENWOOD SAID THAT MOST OF ZIMBABWE'S LARGEST WHEAT GROWERS ARE IN THE THREE MASHONALAND PROVINCES, WHERE WAR VETS HAVE RECENTLY BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE IN INTERFERING WITH FARM OPERATIONS. ZIMBABWE ONLY HAS AN ESTIMATED TWO-MONTH SUPPLY OF WHEAT REMAINING, AND IF THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PLANT WHEAT IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, ZIMBABWE WILL BE REQUIRED TO IMPORT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL TONS OF WHEAT OVER ITS NORMAL IMPORT REQUIREMENTS AT A TIME WHEN THE GOZ HAS NO HARD CURRENCY. WHEAT IS AN IRRIGATED CROP IN ZIMBABWE, AND THE MAJORITY OF COMMUNAL FARMERS DO NOT HAVE THE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS REQUIRED FOR CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 01492 02 OF 04 021425Z GROWING WHEAT AND THUS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FILL THE VOID LEFT IF COMMERCIAL FARMERS DO NOT PLANT. -------------- -------------- GOZ NOT PAYING FARMERS FOR FARMS ALREADY ACQUIRED -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) CONTRARY TO ITS STATEMENTS IN THE PRESS, THE GOZ HAS YET TO PAY COMMERCIAL FARMERS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LAND FOR FARMS THAT HAVE BEEN TURNED OVER TO THE GOZ. A NUMBER OF FARMS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE GOZ BY INDIVIDUAL FARMERS FOR RESETTLEMENT SINCE "FAST-TRACK" BEGAN LAST JUNE. THIS SITUATION HAS LEFT THESE FARMERS, WHO IN GOOD FAITH CEDED THEIR FARMS TO THE GOZ, FINANCIALLY HIGH-AND-DRY. IN ONE EXAMPLE, A CHEGUTU CATTLE RANCHER, WHO OWNED FOUR PIECES OF LAND THAT TOGETHER MADE UP HIS RANCH, OFFERED THE TWO OUTLYING PIECES OF LAND TO THE GOZ LAST JULY. HE STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THE GOZ REGARDING THESE TWO PIECES OF LAND, LET ALONE PAYMENT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LAND, WHEN ECONOFF VISITED HIM ON APRIL 10. IN ADDITION, THE MAIN PIECE OF LAND THAT IS THE HEART OF HIS RANCH, AND ON WHICH HIS HOUSE IS LOCATED, WAS INVADED BY ALLEGED WAR VETS AND OTHER PEOPLE IN SEPTEMBER. AS A RESULT OF AGGRESSIVE POACHING BY THE CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ2898 PAGE 01 HARARE 01492 03 OF 04 021426Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /009W -------------- E66A22 021426Z /38 R 021432Z MAY 01 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8770 INFO NSC WASHDC SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AMEMBASSY NAIROBI C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 001492 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER LONDON FOR CGURNEY PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDICKSON-HORTON E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/11 TAGS: EAGR PGOV PHUM EAID PINR ZI SUBJECT: AN UPDATE ON ZIMBABEWE'S "FAST-TRACK" LAND CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 01492 03 OF 04 021426Z PROGRAM INVADERS, HE WAS FORCED TO SELL OFF HIS CATTLE AND HAS BEEN LEFT WITHOUT A FARMING INCOME. MANY OTHERS ARE IN SIMILAR DIRE STRAITS. -------------- -------------- RESETTLED ZIMBABWEANS ARE LEFT BLOWING IN THE WIND -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) ON APRIL 10, ECONOFF TOURED CHEGUTU DISTRICT SOUTHWEST OF HARARE WITH ED GUNDRY (PROTECT),THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CFU MASHONALAND WEST - SOUTH REGION (WITHIN WHICH CHEGUTU DISTRICT FALLS),AND BEN FREETH (PROTECT),THE REGIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THIS SAME DISTRICT. IN ADDITION TO VISITING TWO COMMERCIAL FARMS WHERE TOBACCO IS THE PRINCIPAL CROP AND CATTLE RANCHING IS A SIDE VENTURE, ECONOFF VISITED TWO FARMS IN CHEGUTU THAT HAVE BEEN "RESETTLED" BY THE GOZ -- ONE DURING 1998, AND THE OTHER SINCE "FAST-TRACK" BEGAN IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR. BOTH OF THESE FARMS WERE FORMERLY LARGE- SCALE TOBACCO AND CATTLE RANCHING OPERATIONS. THE SOIL ON THESE FARMS IS VERY SANDY, MAKING IT IDEAL FOR GROWING TOBACCO, AND SUITABLE FOR CATTLE RANCHING GIVEN SUFFICIENT GRAZING AREA. THIS SOIL IS NOT WELL SUITED FOR GROWING MAIZE OR OTHER CROPS WITHOUT EXTENSIVE USE OF FERTILIZER AS WELL AS CROP ROTATION. ¶8. (C) THE FARM THAT WAS RESETTLED IN JUNE LAST YEAR WAS NEARLY DESERTED. ACCORDING TO FREETH, A YEAR EARLIER IT HAD BEEN A THRIVING TOBACCO FARM WITH A LARGE CATTLE CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 01492 03 OF 04 021426Z HERD. NOW VISIBLE WERE OCCASIONAL THATCH-ROOFED MUD HUTS, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH APPEARED UNOCCUPIED. ACCORDING TO FREETH, MOST OF THOSE RESETTLED LEFT SHORTLY AFTER BUILDING THE HUTS WHEN THEY REALIZED HOW POOR THE SOIL WAS FOR GROWING MAIZE AND THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOZ. IN EVIDENCE WERE A FEW SMALL PATCHES OF STUNTED MAIZE CROPS, NONE OF WHICH WERE GOING TO PRODUCE EDIBLE MAIZE. WEEDS WERE GROWING IN THE FORMER TOBACCO FIELDS AND THE GRAZING AREAS WERE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING OVERTAKEN BY SCRUB. ¶9. (C) THE FARM RESETTLED IN 1998 WAS MARGINALLY DIFFERENT IN CONDITION FROM THE ONE RESETTLED AFTER "FAST-TRACK" LAST JUNE. THIS PROPERTY HAD MORE FAMILIES VISIBLY LIVING ON SITE IN THEIR MUD HUTS, WITH MORE PLOTS OF STUNTED MAIZE, AS WELL AS COTTON, MOST OF WHICH HAD NOT FLOWERED TO PRODUCE A CROP. THERE WAS ALSO THE OCCASIONAL COW VISIBLE. THE FORMER TOBACCO FIELDS, EXCEPT FOR THE SCATTERED PLOTS OF STUNTED MAIZE AND COTTON, WERE COMPLETELY OVERGROWN WITH WEEDS. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE GOZ HAD PROVIDED ANY INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS DAMS, IRRIGATION SYSTEMS OR BUILDINGS IN THE MORE THAN TWO YEARS SINCE RESETTLEMENT. WHILE THE GOZ MAY HAVE PROVIDED SEED PACKS AND FERTILIZER TO THOSE RESETTLED, THIS WAS CLEARLY NOT SUFFICIENT ASSISTANCE EVEN TO MAKE THEM SUCCESSFUL SUBSISTENCE FARMERS. ¶10. (C) GUNDRY, THE CFU CHAIRMAN FOR THIS DISTRICT, SAID THAT THIS PATTERN WAS REPLICATED ACROSS THE DISTRICT WHERE THE GOZ HAD "RESETTLED" PEOPLE WITHOUT CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 01492 03 OF 04 021426Z INTERNATIONAL DONOR ASSISTANCE. ON THE WAY BACK TO THE REGIONAL CFU OFFICE, WE DROVE BY ANOTHER PIECE OF LAND THAT WAS OVERGROWN WITH WEEDS AND BRUSH AND APPEARED ABANDONED. GUNDRY STATED THAT THIS FARM HAD ALSO BEEN "RESETTLED" IN 1998 BY THE GOZ. HOWEVER, A FEW MONTHS LATER, ACCORDING TO GUNDRY, AN INDIVIDUAL WITH CONNECTIONS TO ZANU-PF DROVE DOWN TO CHEGUTU FROM HARARE, AND TOLD THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ALL HAD TO LEAVE THE LAND BECAUSE IT WAS NOW HIS PROPERTY. AS A RESULT, THE PEOPLE LEFT THE LAND, MOST LIKELY, ACCORDING TO GUNDRY, TO HEAD BACK TO THE COMMUNAL LANDS FROM WHICH THEY CAME. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶11. (C) ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE GOZ IS GOING TO CONTINUE MOVING AHEAD WITH ITS "FAST-TRACK" RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM REGARDLESS OF THE COSTS TO ZIMBABWE IN TERMS OF DRAMATICALLY DECREASED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND THE COUNTRY BECOMING A PARIAH STATE FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT. THE FACT THAT "FAST-TRACK" IS NOT LAND REFORM BUT AN ILL-CONCEIVED POLITICAL PATRONAGE PLAN TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT MUGABE IN THE UPCOMING CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ2899 PAGE 01 HARARE 01492 04 OF 04 021426Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /009W -------------- E66A27 021426Z /38 R 021432Z MAY 01 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8771 INFO NSC WASHDC SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AMEMBASSY NAIROBI C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 001492 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER LONDON FOR CGURNEY PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER PASS USAID FOR AFR/SD - DWELLER, AFR/SA - CPALMA, NNEWMAN, AA/AFR - VDICKSON-HORTON E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/11 TAGS: EAGR PGOV PHUM EAID PINR ZI SUBJECT: AN UPDATE ON ZIMBABEWE'S "FAST-TRACK" LAND CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 01492 04 OF 04 021426Z PROGRAM PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS PAINFULLY OBVIOUS TO NEARLY ALL, BUT IRRELEVANT TO THE GOZ. IN THE SHORT-RUN AND LONG-RUN IT IS GOING TO BE THE ZIMBABWEAN PEOPLE WHO SUFFER THE COSTS OF THIS FOLLY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE OF THE PEOPLE BEING "RESETTLED", WHO ARE LITERALLY DUMPED ONTO LAND, GIVEN NO TITLE DEED TO THE LAND, AND PROVIDED WITH NONE OF THE TRAINING, INPUTS OR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ARE NEEDED TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL FARMERS. COMPOUNDING THIS PROBLEM IS THE FACT THAT RESETTLEMENT IS ALSO BEING CARRIED OUT IN AREAS NOT SUITABLE FOR SMALL-SCALE OR EVEN SUBSISTENCE MAIZE FARMING. THE RESULT IS A TRAGEDY IN THE MAKING, OF A MAGNITUDE THAT SHOULD NOT SHOCK WHEN IT FINALLY ARRIVES. END COMMENT. IRVING CONFIDENTIAL >