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).

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SUMMARY
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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
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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.

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A NEW GOZ PUSH TO GET MORE SQUATTERS ON FARMS
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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

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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
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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.

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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
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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.)

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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
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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.

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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

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CONFIDENTIAL PTQ2898

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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
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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.

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RESETTLED ZIMBABWEANS ARE LEFT BLOWING IN THE WIND
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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
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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
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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.

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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

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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
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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

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