ACTIVITIES RELATED TO 2002 PRESIDENTIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 003427 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF, AF/S, AND AF/EPS USAID FOR AAA/AFR - KBROWN, AFR/SD - MWILLIAMS, OTI - MSCOTT E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/11 TAGS: KDEM EAID PGOV ZI SUBJECT: ACTIVITIES RELATED TO 2002 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR JOSEPH G. SULLIVAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) THE FOLLOWING ELECTION RELATED ACTIVITIES IN ZIMBABWE ARE NOW IN THE PLANNING STAGES OR UNDERWAY. THE GOZ HAS NOT BEEN CONSULTED ON THESE ACTIVITIES, WHICH HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN BY NGOS AND/OR CIVIL SOCIETY, BUT IT WILL PROBABLY BE NECESSARY TO INFORM THE GOZ OF CERTAIN ASPECTS OF SOME OF THE PROPOSED ESF-FUNDED ACTIVITIES. ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUNDS - ZIMBABWE WAS THE LARGEST RECIPIENT OF ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUNDS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA IN FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2001; $3 MILLION WAS PROVIDED AND AN ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION WAS CARRIED OVER TO FY 2002. THERE IS A CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION ISSUE CONCERNING THE ROLL-OVER FUNDS; HOWEVER, USAID IS PREPARING PRE-OBLIGATION DOCUMENTS FOR THESE ACTIVITIES IN ANTICIPATION OF ITS RESOLUTION. THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN APPROVED: -- CIVIL SOCIETY SUPPORT - THE COUNTRY TEAM REVIEWED TWO UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS AND IRI WAS UNANIMOUSLY SELECTED TO IMPLEMENT THIS ACTIVITY. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING WILL BE OFFERED TO A BROAD RANGE OF CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS INCLUDING POLITICAL PARTIES. ($1.0 MILLION) -- INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS - IFES WAS SELECTED BY THE CEPPS PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT THIS ACTIVITY. THE SCOPE OF WORKS CALLS FOR SMALL TEAMS TO MAKE SHORT, PERIODIC VISITS TO DOCUMENT THE ELECTORAL ENVIRONMENT. DURING THE ACTUAL POLLING DAYS, A LARGER OBSERVER MISSION WILL BE IN COUNTRY. BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTIES WITH ZIMBABWEAN AUTHORITIES, IFES HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE ALL THE PLANNED VISITS. REPROGRAMMING OR CHANGES IN THE SCOPES OF WORK MAY BE NECESSARY. ($800,000) CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 03427 01 OF 03 160922Z -- REGIONAL MONITORS - FUNDS WOULD SUPPORT POSSIBLE TRAVEL AND OTHER RELATED COSTS OF THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM TO OBSERVE THE PRE-ELECTION PERIOD AND THE VOTING DAYS. THE CEPPS MECHANISM IS LIKELY TO BE USED TO COMMIT FUNDS. ($100,000) -- DOMESTIC MONITORS AND POLLING AGENTS - FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT A COMBINATION OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING PER DIEM AND TRAVEL COSTS FOR DOMESTIC MONITORS AND TRAINING COSTS FOR DOMESTIC MONITORS AND PARTY POLLING AGENTS. A COMBINATION OF THE CEPPS MECHANISM AND DIRECT GRANTS TO LOCAL NGOS IS LIKELY TO BE USED TO COMMIT FUNDS. ($400,000) -- ELECTION SUPPORT NETWORK "DESK" - BASED ON A SUCCESSFUL ACTIVITY IN THE 2000 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, FUNDS WILL BE USED TO ESTABLISH A SUPPORT DESK FOR THE MORE THAN 30-MEMBER NGO NETWORK -- THE ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS SUPPORT NETWORK (ZESN). THE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE A SPACE LARGE ENOUGH FROM WHICH ALL MEMBERS CAN COORDINATE THEIR MONITORING ACTIVITIES DURING THE POLLING PERIOD. IF FUNDING PERMITS, SMALLER SUPPORT DESKS WILL BE SET UP IN PROVINCIAL CAPITALS. ($75,000) -- VOTER EDUCATION MATERIALS - VOTER EDUCATION MATERIALS, INCLUDING PAMPHLETS, COMICS, POSTERS, PRINT ADVERTISEMENTS, WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR NATIONWIDE DISSEMINATION. THIS ACTIVITY WILL ALSO INCLUDE PREPARATION OF A BROCHURE CONTAINING ABBREVIATED MATERIAL FROM THE SADC NORMS AND STANDARDS FOR ELECTIONS IN BOTH SHONA AND SINDEBELE. A LOCAL NGO THAT CONDUCTED A CREDIBLE VOTER EDUCATION CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 03427 01 OF 03 160922Z CAMPAIGN IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS PERIOD IS LIKELY TO BE USED TO COMMIT FUNDS. ($100,000) -- VOTERS ROLLS - THIS ACTIVITY WILL FUND PURCHASE, REPRODUCTION AND DISSEMINATION OF THE VOTERS ROLLS. A PROPOSAL HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM ZESN FOR THIS ACTIVITY. ($20,000) -- GOZ ELECTORAL ADMINISTRATION - THERE ARE SEVERAL POSSIBLE OPTIONS; HOWEVER, PROCEEDING WITH ANY ACTIVITY WILL DEPEND ON THE WILLINGNESS OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL TO ACCEPT USG ASSISTANCE. OPTIONS INCLUDE: TRANSLUCENT BALLOT BOXES AND SUPPORT TO THE ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION. ($150,000) -- CRISIS IN ZIMBABWE SECRETARIAT - THIS ACTIVITY WILL BOLSTER THE CAPACITY OF MORE THAN 250 CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS TO PRESS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIONS INTENDED TO LEVEL THE ELECTORAL PLAYING FIELD. AN IMPLEMENTING TASK FORCE IS STAFFED BY A SMALL SECRETARIAT. FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR ONE FULL-TIME SIPDIS STAFF MEMBER, PUBLIC SEMINARS TO ESTABLISH CONSENSUS ON ELECTION STANDARDS AND FOR TRAVEL TO LIAISE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION. ($55,000) CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ1077 PAGE 01 HARARE 03427 02 OF 03 160923Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 USNW-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 OIGO-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 R-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W -------------- 3F2592 160923Z /38 O 160812Z NOV 01 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0296 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 003427 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF, AF/S, AND AF/EPS USAID FOR AAA/AFR - KBROWN, AFR/SD - MWILLIAMS, OTI - MSCOTT E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/11 TAGS: KDEM EAID PGOV ZI SUBJECT: ACTIVITIES RELATED TO 2002 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS -- PUBLIC OPINION POLLING - THIS ACTIVITY IS IMPLEMENTED THROUGH A GRANT TO THE MASS PUBLIC OPINION INSTITUTE (MPOI). THE INSTITUTE PLANS TO CONDUCT A NUMBER OF SURVEYS (E.G., VOTER APATHY, PRE AND POST CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 03427 02 OF 03 160923Z PRESIDENTIAL POLL, LAND, RULE OF LAW, RACE AND ETHNICITY). IT IS ALREADY HOLDING PUBLIC SEMINARS ON ELECTION TOPICS. ($300,000) -- VICTIMS OF TORTURE - THIS ACTIVITY IS IMPLEMENTED THROUGH A GRANT TO AMANI TRUST FOR SUPPORT TO VICTIMS OF TORTURE. THIS INCLUDES TREATMENT SERVICES, SAFE HOUSES FOR VICTIMS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE, WITNESS PROTECTION FOR THOSE WHO TESTIFIED IN THE ELECTORAL CHALLENGES CASES, ADVOCACY EFFORTS AND PUBLICATION OF REPORTS ON ORGANIZED VIOLENCE AND TORTURE. ($75,000 IN ESF PLUS $500,000 IN DA FUNDS) -- CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM - OTI HAS SUPPORTED THE NCA SINCE 1999, INCLUDING THE FIRST ALL STAKEHOLDERS CONFERENCE IN MARCH 2000. FUNDS HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE IN A GRANT AGREEMENT THAT CAN BE USED FOR THE SECOND ALL STAKEHOLDERS CONFERENCE, SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER ¶2001. GIVEN THE BROAD BASED NATURE OF THE NCA CONSTITUENCY, THE CENTRALITY OF A DEMOCRATIC AND PEOPLE DRIVEN CONSTITUTION TO THE RESOLUTION OF ISSUES OF DEMOCRACY, GOOD GOVERNANCE, AND THE RULE OF LAW THIS IS A KEY ISSUE IN THE RUN-UP TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. ($200,000 IS OBLIGATED, BUT NOT COMMITTED) -- STUDY TOURS AND JOURNALIST TRAINING - THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDES TRAINING FOR KEY MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA, ACADEMIA, AND CIVIL SOCIETY, AS WELL AS, STUDY TOURS FOR EMINENT ZIMBABWEANS AND AMERICANS. THIS PURPOSE IS TO STRENGTHEN THE CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 03427 02 OF 03 160923Z CAPACITY OF THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA TO REPORT ON ELECTORAL ISSUES AND ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF CIVIL SOCIETY TO EXPRESS ALTERNATIVE VIEWS. ($175,000) -- ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT - APPROXIMATELY $30,000 IS BEING USED TO PURCHASE 15 SATELLITE PHONES THAT WILL ALLOW USG EMPLOYEES WHO OBSERVE THE ELECTION TO BE WITHIN PHONE REACH AT ALL TIMES. THE BALANCE OF FUNDS IS BEING HELD IN RESERVE TO ALLOW HIRE OF ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF OR MEET OTHER USAID SUPPORT NEEDS. ($50,000) OTI SUPPORTED ACTIVITIES -- SHORT WAVE RADIO - ALL ELECTRONIC MEDIA IS CONTROLLED BY THE GOZ. AN OFF-SHORE RADIO WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY TO RURAL AREAS, IS BEING SUPPORTED. START-UP FOR BROADCASTING IS SCHEDULED FOR MID-DECEMBER. (APPROX $1.1 MILLION) -- COURT CASES - COSTS FOR A VARIETY OF COURT CASES ARE BEING FINANCED THROUGH A WELL RESPECT LOCAL NGO, INCLUDING THE CHALLENGES TO ELECTORAL OUTCOMES THAT HAVE BROUGHT PROMINENCE TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND VIOLENCE THAT OCCURRED DURING THE 2000 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. ADDITIONAL FUNDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO CHALLENGE OTHER POSSIBLE OR CURRENT LAWS, SUCH AS THE FARM OCCUPIERS ACT, PROHIBITIONS ON FOREIGN FUNDING OF NGOS, INFORMATION AND MEDIA LAWS, OR PROHIBITION ON NGO SPONSORSHIP OF ELECTION MONITORS. ($250,000) CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 03427 02 OF 03 160923Z -- ZESN MEDIA CAMPAIGN - A GRANT IS BEING CONSIDERED TO ALLOW THE ELECTIONS NETWORK TO SPONSOR CIVIC AND VOTER EDUCATION THROUGH THE MEDIA. THIS IS A COMPANION ACTIVITY TO THE PURCHASE OF VOTER ROLLS FOR ZESN. (TBD) -- NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY (NCA) MEDIA CAMPAIGN - A POSSIBLE MEDIA ACTIVITY WITH THE NCA IS BEING EXPLORED. (APPROX $40,000) -- ELECTION MONITOR TRAINING VIDEO - A GRANT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO PREPARE A TRAINING VIDEO FOR ELECTIONS MONITORS FOR USE BY ZESN AND ITS MEMBERS. ($23,000 TO DATE; ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS BEING CONSIDERED.) -- ELECTION SUPPLEMENTS - FUNDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS TO ALLOW PREPARATION AND PRINTING OF SUPPLEMENTS THAT PROVIDE NON-PARTISAN INFORMATION ON THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS. (FUNDS DIFFICULT TO DISAGGREGATE AS THIS IS AN ON-GOING ACTIVITY RUNNING SINCE THE PARLIAMENTARY PRE-ELECTION PERIOD.) -- NEWSPRINT DISSEMINATION - THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN PROVIDED A GRANT TO DISSEMINATE OVERRUN COPIES OF INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS IN RURAL AREAS. CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ1079 PAGE 01 HARARE 03427 03 OF 03 160923Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 USNW-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 OIGO-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 R-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W -------------- 3F259C 160923Z /38 O 160812Z NOV 01 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0297 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 003427 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF, AF/S, AND AF/EPS USAID FOR AAA/AFR - KBROWN, AFR/SD - MWILLIAMS, OTI - MSCOTT E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/11 TAGS: KDEM EAID PGOV ZI SUBJECT: ACTIVITIES RELATED TO 2002 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ($167,000) -- PEACE MONITORS - THIS TITLE IS LOOSELY DESCRIPTIVE OF A SERIES OF GRANTS TO LOCAL NGOS, SUCH AS THE CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE, AMANI TRUST, THE CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 03427 03 OF 03 160923Z ZIMBABWE LIBERATORS PLATFORM THAT ARE FOCUSING ON THE ISSUE OF VIOLENCE IN RURAL AREAS. PEACE MONITORS HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND THE NGOS ARE WORKING WITH TRADITIONAL AUTHORITIES, REAL WAR VETS AND OTHER RESPECTED RURAL LEADERS ON THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE MITIGATION. IN ADDITION, AN INTER-DENOMINATIONAL MEETING OF CHURCH LEADERS HAVE BEEN SPONSORED. (APPROX. $250,000) -- VIOLENCE MONITORING AND REPORTING - THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE VIOLENCE MONITORING THROUGH AMANI TRUST THAT PARTICIPATES IN A COALITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND LEGAL NGOS CALLED THE HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM. THE FORUM IS DOING REGULAR REPORTING ON VIOLENCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. (APPROX. $279,000) -- LAW SOCIETY AND INTERNATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION - FUNDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE IBA AND THE LOCAL LAW SOCIETY FOR TRAINING ACTIVITIES AND TO SPONSOR AND HOST INTERNATIONAL LEGAL EXPERTS TO PERIODICALLY VISIT ZIMBABWE AND DISSEMINATE THEIR FINDINGS CONCERNING THE RULE OF LAW. (APPROX. $120,000) -- SATELLITE PHONES - APPROXIMATELY 10 SATELLITE PHONES ARE BEING PURCHASED FOR KEY CIVIL SOCIETY PARTNERS TO ENABLE SECURE AND RAPID COMMUNICATIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER (COST TBD). -- TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY - OTI HAS RESERVED FUNDING FOR OTHER POSSIBLE ELECTIONS-RELATED ACTIVITIES TO FILL GAPS THAT MAY ARISE. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 03427 03 OF 03 160923Z UNFUNDED NEEDS -- NEWSPRINT - THE ESCALATING COST OF NEWSPRINT IS AFFECTING THE ABILITY OF THE INDEPENDENT PRESS TO KEEP THE COVER PRICE OF THEIR PUBLICATIONS AFFORDABLE TO THE GENERAL POPULATION. THIS IS BECAUSE THEY MUST BUY NEWSPRINT THAT INCLUDES ABOUT A 20% IMPORT CONTENT. BECAUSE FOREIGN EXCHANGE IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET AT THE OFFICIAL RATE, THE SUPPLIER IS FORCED TO PURCHASE FOREIGN EXCHANGE AT THE PARALLEL RATE. A GRANT TO COVER THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE COMPONENT OF NEWSPRINT BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE OF 2002 WOULD COST IN THE RANGE OF $1.5 TO $2.0 MILLION. THE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS WOULD PURCHASE THE NEWSPRINT AND LOCAL CURRENCY PROCEEDS WOULD BE PROGRAMMED FOR HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS - POSSIBLY DISPLACED FARM WORKERS. -- VOTER EDUCATION MATERIAL AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE MONITORING - GIVEN THE CURRENT HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, THE POSSIBLE USE OF ANY DONOR ASSISTANCE FOR PARTISAN PURPOSES SEVERAL ACTIVITIES COULD BE CONSIDERED. FOR EXAMPLE, VOTER EDUCATION MATERIALS MIGHT BE DISTRIBUTED WITH FOOD RELIEF. SIMILARLY, AN INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL NGO WITH HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERIENCE MIGHT BE ENGAGED TO MONITOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF SUPPLIES AND REPORT ON ABUSES. SULLIVAN CONFIDENTIAL >