Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01HARARE2787
2001-09-21 10:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:  

FM MUDENGE LECTURES THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS

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

211022Z Sep 01


 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ3685

PAGE 01 HARARE 02787 01 OF 02 211042Z 
ACTION AF-00 

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-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 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 
 AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 
 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 
 R-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 
 /007W
 ------------------22B239 211042Z /38 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9786
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 002787 

SIPDIS

NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/11
TAGS: PGOV PINR ZI
SUBJECT: FM MUDENGE LECTURES THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS


CLASSIFIED BY CDA RICHARD ROTH FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND
(D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 002787

SIPDIS

NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/11
TAGS: PGOV PINR ZI
SUBJECT: FM MUDENGE LECTURES THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS


CLASSIFIED BY CDA RICHARD ROTH FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND
(D).


1. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: IN AN EXCRUCIATING TWO-
HOUR LECTURE TO THE FULL DIPLOMATIC CORPS SEPTEMBER 20
ZIMBABWE FOREIGN MINISTER MUDENGE EXTOLLED THE GREAT
SUCCESS OF THE ABUJA AGREEMENT BECAUSE "EVERYONE
AGREED ON THE CENTRALITY OF THE LAND ISSUE", PRAISED
THE SADC HEADS OF STATE MEETING (SEPTEMBER 10-11)
BECAUSE THEY AFFIRMED THE ABUJA AGREEMENT ON LAND
REFORM, AND LAID DOWN A MARKER ON THE NEED FOR FOREIGN
GOVERNMENTS TO "HONOR AND RESPECT" ZIMBABWE'S LAW
PROHIBITING THE FOREIGN FINANCING OF POLITICAL
PARTIES. HE ALSO DEVOTED A PORTION OF HIS
PRESENTATION ON THE RECENT KIGALI POLITICAL COMMITTEE
MEETING ON THE DRC (SEE SEPTEL). WHILE TRYING TO
REMAIN WITHIN HIS ROLE AS FOREIGN MINISTER MUDENGE
FREQUENTLY DONNED HIS FAR MORE PARTISAN HAT AS A ZANU-
PF MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT (MP),CONVENIENTLY SWEEPING
ASIDE THE OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ASPECTS OF THE ABUJA AND
SADC MEETINGS ON RULE OF LAW, CESSATION OF
INTIMIDATION AND GOVERNMENT-CONDONED VIOLENCE. IT
WILL BE VERY HARD TO LEVEL THIS PLAYING FIELD IF
MUDENGE ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE POLICY INTENTIONS OF
MUGABE AND HIS INNER CIRCLE, WHICH WE BELIEVE HE DOES.
END SUMMARY AND COMMENT.

--------------
ABUJA: LAND, LAND, LAND
--------------


2. (C) IN DESCRIBING THE SEPTEMBER 6 ABUJA MEETING,
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 02787 01 OF 02 211042Z
MUDENGE SAID THAT INITIALLY IT WAS HEADED FOR A
DISASTER BECAUSE OF THE TOTALLY INCOMPATIBLE
PERSPECTIVES OF THE GOZ WITH THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS.
IN HIS VIEW, IT WAS THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF NIGERIAN
PRESIDENT OBASANJO THAT THE MEETING WAS "SAVED"
BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO "DOWNPLAY" THE OTHER
"EXTRANEOUS" ISSUES THAT THE OTHER DELEGATES WANTED TO
DISCUSS AND PLACE THE FOCUS ON THE LAND REFORM
QUESTION. MUDENGE CLAIMED THAT THE OTHER DELEGATES
AGREED IN THE END TO THE "CENTRALITY" OF THE LAND
ISSUE, BUT EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT HOW IT WAS
BEING IMPLEMENTED. HE MENTIONED RULE OF LAW, VIOLENCE
AND THE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY AS BEING THE PRINCIPLE
CONCERNS OF THE OTHER DELEGATES. IN THE END THE

COMPROMISE WAS ACCEPTED OUTLINING THE PRINCIPLES OF
WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A "PACKAGE DEAL" WITH THE
COMMITMENTS OF EACH PARTY CLEARLY DEFINED.


3. (C) MUDENGE ASSERTED THAT THE GOZ INTENDS TO HONOR
THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER OF THE ABUJA AGREEMENT, BUT
WILL DO SO IN A VERY DELIBERATE FASHION. HE
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONDUCTED A 12-
HOUR INTERNAL MEETING OF THE POLITBURO TO DISCUSS THE
IMPLICATIONS OF ABUJA AND HOW TO IMPLEMENT IT. HE
CLAIMED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS ACCUSED BY SOME
POLITBURO MEMBERS OF SELLING OUT. NEVERTHELESS, THE
GOZ WILL PUT IN PLACE A MECHANISM TO IMPLEMENT THE
ABUJA AGREEMENT NEXT WEEK. HE FRANKLY ACKNOWLEDGED
THAT THERE HAVE BEEN INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE UP UNTIL
NOW, BUT ASCRIBED THIS TO THE FACT THAT THERE HAD NOT
BEEN AN IMPLEMENTING MECHANISM IN PLACE. HE STATED
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 HARARE 02787 01 OF 02 211042Z
FLATLY THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND ZANU-PF WILL GREATLY
REDUCE VIOLENT INCIDENTS AND BRING ABOUT A RETURN TO
NORMALCY. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE GOZ WILL STOP ANY NEW
OCCUPATIONS.


4. (C) MUDENGE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD
NOT YET HAD A SERIOUS MEETING WITH THE COMMERCIAL
FARMERS, SOME OF WHOM BELIEVE THERE WILL BE "FULL
COMPENSATION" FOR THEIR LAND. BUT, HE CLAIMED, MANY
WILL NOT TAKE COMFORT FROM THIS BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS
NOT MONEY, BUT LAND, AND MANY COMMERCIAL FARMERS WILL
TRY TO ENSURE THAT ABUJA WILL NOT SUCCEED. "WE INTEND
TO FULFILL OUR COMMITMENTS AND WE HOPE THAT THE UK,
AUSTRALIA AND CANADA WILL FULFILL THEIRS". HE ALSO
EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT OTHERS WOULD ASSOCIATE
THEMSELVES WITH THIS COMMITMENT, I.E. BE PREPARED TO
CONTRIBUTE MONEY FOR LAND REFORM.

--------------
SADC: WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
--------------


5. (C) MUDENGE'S DESCRIPTION OF THE SADC MEETING ALSO
EXCLUDED VIRTUALLY EVERY SUBSTANTIVE ISSUE EXCEPT
LAND. HE ATTEMPTED TO SPIN THE MEETING AS ONE IN

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ3686

PAGE 01 HARARE 02787 02 OF 02 211042Z
ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-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 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
R-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
/007W
-------------- 22B247 211042Z /38
O 211022Z SEP 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9787
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 002787

SIPDIS

NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER
LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/11
TAGS: PGOV PINR ZI
SUBJECT: FM MUDENGE LECTURES THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS

WHICH "EVERYONE" HAD AGREED THAT LAND WAS THE CENTRAL
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 02787 02 OF 02 211042Z
ISSUE. HE ALSO TRIED TO MAKE THE CASE THAT ZIMBABWE'S
ECONOMIC WELFARE AFFECTED THE WELFARE OF THE REST OF
THE REGION AND THAT WAS EXACTLY WHY SANCTIONS WOULD
HAVE VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR ZIMBABWE'S SADC
NEIGHBORS. "VILIFYING AND DEMONIZING ZIMBABWE HAS A
NEGATIVE ON THE WHOLE REGION AND DISCOURAGES ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY". MUDENGE THEN DRONED ON ABOUT ZIMBABWE'S
INTER-DEPENDENT ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH SOUTH AFRICA,
BOTSWANA AND MOZAMBIQUE. ONLY TOWARD THE END DID HE
ACKNOWLEDGE SADC'S CONCERN ABOUT THE "PERCEPTION OF
VIOLENCE AND RANDOM INTIMIDATION", BUT TRIED TO
DISMISS THIS AS "MANUFACTURED PROPAGANDA".

--------------
STAY OUT OF OUR POLITICS
--------------


6. (C) AFTER AN IMPASSIONED PLEA FOR UN SECURITY
COUNCIL PERM-5 MEMBERS TO URGE THEIR CAPITOLS TO
SUPPORT AN INSERTION OF A LARGE UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE
IN THE DRC TO REPLACE THE SMALL UN OBSERVER FORCE,
MUDENGE ADDED AN UNANNOUNCED ITEM TO HIS AGENDA.
TELLING THE ASSEMBLED DIP CORPS THAT HE WAS APPEALING
TO THEM AS A MINISTER AND NOT AS A ZANU-PF MP, HE
LAUNCHED INTO A NONE TOO THINLY VEILED WARNING THAT
THEIR GOVERNMENTS MUST "HONOR AND RESPECT" THE
RECENTLY PASSED GOZ LAW PROHIBITING THE FOREIGN
FINANCING OF POLITICAL PARTIES. HE SAID BLUNTLY THAT
THIS WOULD MEAN THAT DIRECT FOREIGN SUPPORT OF THE MDC
IS FORBIDDEN. AS FOREIGN MINISTER HE HOPED THAT
ACCREDITED GOVERNMENTS WOULD SEE ADHERENCE TO THIS LAW
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 02787 02 OF 02 211042Z
IN THE CONTEXT OF GOOD RELATIONS. TO STRENGTHEN HIS
POINT MUDENGE CLAIMED THAT THE GOZ HAD "COPIED FROM
SOME OF YOUR LAWS" IN WRITING ITS OWN SIMILAR
LEGISLATION. "THIS LAW IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR
SOVEREIGNTY, INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-RESPECT. LET US
MAKE OUR OWN MISTAKES ACCORDING TO OUR NATIONAL
CHARACTER. WE HAVE OUR OWN POLITICAL CULTURE, PLEASE
LET US FOLLOW IT ON OUR OWN."


7. (C) SHEDDING HIS MINISTERIAL CLOAK, MUDENGE
INFORMED THE AUDIENCE THAT ZANU-PF INTENDS TO FIGHT
VERY STRONGLY AGAINST EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE. AS
FOREIGN MINISTER HE HOPED THAT HE WOULD NOT HAVE TO
CALL IN ANY OF THE AMBASSADORS OR CHARGES TO CONFRONT
THEM WITH VIOLATIONS BY THEIR GOVERNMENTS OF
ZIMBABWE'S LAWS. HOWEVER, HE ADDED, HE WOULD NOT
HESITATE TO DO SO IF THE GOZ'S INFORMATION WAS
SUFFICIENT TO "PROVE" THAT FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS WERE
BREAKING THE GOZ'S LAWS.

--------------
ADDITIONAL COMMENT:
--------------


8. (C) AS ONE OF THE HARDLINERS WITHIN THE GOZ AND
ZANU-PF, MUDENGE GAVE A VERY FRANK OUTLINE OF THE
GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGY: PORTRAY RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AS
SUPPORTING THE GOZ'S POLICIES ON LAND REFORM, DOWNPLAY
ANY EFFORTS TO FOCUS ON RULE OF LAW, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND
INTIMIDATION ISSUES, AND CAST THE UPCOMING ELECTION AS
A "VICTORY" FOR ZANU-PF IN FINALLY GETTING BACK THE
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 HARARE 02787 02 OF 02 211042Z
LAND FOR THE MAJORITY OF ZIMBABWE'S CITIZENS. A
BACKGROUND THEME WILL BE TO BLAME ANY LACK OF SUCCESS
ON EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE AND TO TRY AND LIMIT ANY
SUPPORT TO THE MDC TO THE BAREST MINIMUM. IN THE
CONTEXT OF THIS MEETING THERE WASN'T EVEN A HINT AT
THE POSSIBILITY OF ELECTION MONITORS/OBSERVERS OR
PARTICIPATION BY EXTERNAL ACTORS. GIVEN MUDENGE'S
MARKER ON ASSISTANCE TO POLITICAL PARTIES, WE STRONGLY
BELIEVE THAT GETTING INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL PROGRAMS IN
HERE WILL BE A VERY TOUGH CHALLENGE AND HIGHLY
UNWELCOMED BY THE MUGABE GOVERNMENT.

ROTH

CONFIDENTIAL

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