Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01HARARE3691
2001-12-13 04:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:  

SADC MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE PLAYS IN HARARE,

Tags:  PREL PGOV EAGR ECON ZI 
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130437Z Dec 01


 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ9253

PAGE 01 HARARE 03691 01 OF 02 130533Z 
ACTION AF-00 

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 DODE-00 
 DOTE-00 DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 
 LAB-01 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 ACE-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 
 SS-00 TRSE-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /004W
 ------------------4AC1E6 130534Z /38 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0522
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 003691 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF AND AF/S

NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR NEARY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/06
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAGR ECON ZI
SUBJECT: SADC MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE PLAYS IN HARARE,
ACT II: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

REF: LUSAKA 2731

CLASSIFIED BY DCM REWHITEHEAD DUE TO 1.5 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 003691

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF AND AF/S

NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR NEARY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/06
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAGR ECON ZI
SUBJECT: SADC MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE PLAYS IN HARARE,
ACT II: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

REF: LUSAKA 2731

CLASSIFIED BY DCM REWHITEHEAD DUE TO 1.5 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY. THE LONG ANTICIPATED VISIT OF THE SADC
MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE DEALING WITH THE ZIMBABWEAN
SITUATION TOOK PLACE ON DECEMBER 10 AND 11, LONG ON
RHETORIC BUT SHORT ON RESULTS. THE GOZ MANAGED TO
CONTROL BOTH THE AGENDA AND THE FOCUS OF THE MEETING,
WHICH YIELDED A LARGELY TOOTHLESS FINAL COMMUNIQUE.
READOUTS FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES INDICATE THAT THE GOZ WAS
SPARED SERIOUS CRITICISM FROM THEIR SOUTHERN AFRICAN
BRETHREN, WHO SHOWED LITTLE SYMPATHY FOR "THE OTHER
SIDE" OF THE EQUATION. WHILE IT MAY BE TOO EARLY TO
WRITE OFF THE PROCESS ALTOGETHER, THE VISITING SADC
MINISTERS SHOWED LITTLE STOMACH FOR CONFRONTING ZIMBABWE
ABOUT ITS ESCALATING INTERNAL CRISIS. END SUMMARY.

--------------
THE MOZAMBICAN TAKE
--------------


2. (C) IN A CONVERSATION WITH THE AMBASSADOR,
MOZAMBICAN HIGH COMMISSIONER SUMBANA DESCRIBED THE VISIT
AS "GOOD." HE SAID THAT THE MINISTERS HAD AGREED, NOT
SURPRISINGLY, THAT ZIMBABWE NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD ON
THE LAND REFORM ISSUE. THEY ALSO AGREED THAT IT WAS
ESSENTIAL TO FIND EXTERNAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE
REFORM PROCESS, PRESUMABLY FROM BRITAIN. THEY ADMITTED
TO CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH VIOLENCE BUT OBSERVED THAT
THE VIOLENCE WAS LESS SERIOUS THAN SIX MONTHS AGO.

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PAGE 03 HARARE 03691 01 OF 02 130533Z

3. (C) SUMBANA SAID THAT THE GOZ ALSO AGREED TO DISCUSS
OTHER RELATED ISSUES, INCLUDING ELECTIONS. THE GOZ
AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO THE SADC-PF ELECTORAL NORMS AND
STANDARDS WITH THE CAVEAT THAT THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT
TIME LEFT TO IMPLEMENT ALL OF THESE BEFORE THE
ELECTIONS, AND SPECIFICALLY ESTABLISHMENT OF AN
INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION. HOWEVER, THEY WOULD
NOT YIELD ON THE ISSUE OF CIVIL SERVANTS SERVING AS
ELECTION MONITORS (VICE THE CIVIL SOCIETY
REPRESENTATIVES USED IN THE PAST, ALTHUOGH WE UNDERSTAND
FROM OTHER SOURCES THERE MIGHT STILL BE MOVEMENT ON

THIS). HE SAID THAT THERE WERE ASSURANCES THAT SADC-PF
WOULD BE ABLE TO OBSERVE THE ELECTION, WITH OBSERVERS
PERMITTED TO BEGIN THEIR WORK AT A STILL UNSPECIFIED
DATE IN JANUARY. SUMBANA DOFFED HIS SADC HAT FOR A
MOMENT AND POPPED ON HIS HONEST BROKER'S CAP. HE
OBSERVED THAT THE GOZ SEEMED RELUCTANT TO PICK A FIGHT
WITH THE U.S. AND ASKED WHAT MEASURES THE GOZ NEEDED TO
TAKE IN REVISING THE ELECTORAL LAW TO SUIT US.

--------------
THE CFU TAKE
--------------


4. (C) COMMERCIAL FARMERS' UNION (CFU) VICE PRESIDENT
MALCOLM VOWLES DESCRIBED TO DCM THE SADC MINISTERS'
ENCOUNTER WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CFU, THE PRO-ZANU-
PF ZIMBABWEAN FARMERS' UNION ZFU),AND THE ZAMBIAN JOINT
RESETTLEMENT INITIATIVE (ZJRI),WHICH VOWLES
REPRESENTED. HE SAID THAT THE CFU HAD RAISED THREE MAIN
POINTS: THE NEW ARTICLE 8 REGULATIONS (THAT PERMIT FARM
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PAGE 04 HARARE 03691 01 OF 02 130533Z
SEIZURE WITHIN 90 DAYS WITHOUT PRIOR REDRESS TO THE
ADMINISTRATIVE COURT); NEW REGULATIONS LIMITING THE
MAXIMUM SIZE OF FARMS; AND THE LACK OF CFU COURT ACCESS
FOLLOWING THE SUPREME COURT RULING THROWING OUT THE
RIGHT OF THE CFU TO CONTEST THE FAST-TRACK LAND REFORM
PROGRAM ON CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS. THE CFU ALSO
PRESENTED ITS MOST RECENT PRODUCTION ASSESSMENT.


5. (C) VOWLES SAID THAT THE SADC MINISTERS REACTED BY
POSING "TOUGH" AND DETAILED QUESTIONS TO THE CFU, WHILE
LOBBING ONLY A FEW SOFTBALLS TO THE ZFU AND ZJRI. HE
TERMED THE GENERAL SADC REACTION AS UNSYMPATHETIC,
ALTHOUGH NOT HOSTILE. THE UNDERLYING THEME SEEMED TO
BE, "NOW THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED ON THE
LEGALITY OF THE REFORMS, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?" ZFU
VICE PRESIDENT WAS BY CONTRAST BOTH HOSTILE AND
AGGRESSIVE, SNEERING AT THE CFU PRODUCTION ASSESSMENT
AND INSISTING THAT LOST PRODUCTION FROM "WHITES" WOULD
BE MORE OFFSET BY THE PRODUCTION FROM ENFRANCHISED
"BLACKS" RESETTLED ON FERTILE LANDS AND SUPPORTED BY GOZ
FUNDS AND AGRICULTURAL INPUTS. (IN ADDITION TO THE
CFU/ZFU/ZJRI, THE MINISTERS ALSO MET WITH WAR VETS,

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ9254

PAGE 01 HARARE 03691 02 OF 02 130534Z
ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 DODE-00
DOTE-00 DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00
LAB-01 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 ACE-00 IRM-00 SSO-00
SS-00 TRSE-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /004W
-------------- 4AC1F0 130534Z /38
O 130437Z DEC 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0523
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 003691

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF AND AF/S

NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR NEARY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/06
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAGR ECON ZI
SUBJECT: SADC MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE PLAYS IN HARARE,
ACT II: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

CHIEFS, CHURCHMEN, COMMERCIAL FARM WORKERS, ZANU-PF AND
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 03691 02 OF 02 130534Z
MDC, BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS, AND MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES,
THE SAME IF A SOMEWHAT THINNER LIST THAN IN THE INITIAL
SEPTEMBER 10 AND 11 SADC HEADS OF STATE MEETING.)

--------------
A MARSHMALLOW COMMUNIQUE
--------------


6. (C) THE COMMUNIQUE (WHICH WE HAVE FAXED TO AF/S) WAS
EVEN MORE OF A POWDER PUFF THAN THE ONE THAT EMERGED
FROM THE SEPTEMBER SADC HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING
(REFTEL). CHAIRPERSON LILIAN PATEL, THE MALAWIAN
FOREIGN MINISTER, INDICATED "THAT RATHER THAN MEDIATING
BETWEEN THE PARTIES, THE MANDATE OF THE TASK FORCE WAS
TO FACILITATE DIALOGUE AMONG STAKEHOLDERS..." THE
MINISTERS, AFTER A GOZ BRIEFING, "WELCOMED THE IMPROVED
ATMOSPHERE OF CALM AND STABILITY." THE MINISTERS "WERE
GRATIFIED TO LEARN THAT VIOLENCE ON THE FARMS HAD
REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY, AND THAT THE FEW REPORTED
INCIDENTS WERE BEING DEALT WITH UNDER THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULE OF LAW,
IRRESPECTIVE OF THE POLITICAL AFFILIATION OF THE ALLEGED
PERPETRATORS." THEY ALSO "WELCOMED THE SUPREME COURT
DECISION MADE IN NOVEMBER 2001, DECLARING THAT THE
(REFORM PROGRAM) WAS LAWFUL AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE COUNTRY."


7. (C) THE MINISTERS, IN A VERY WELCOMING MOOD, ALSO
"WELCOMED LEGISLATIVE AND OTHER MECHANISMS PUT IN PLACE
TO GUARD AGAINST VIOLENCE AND ENSURE TRANSPARENCY..."
THE MINISTERS "EXPRESSED CONCERN AT DISTORTED AND
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 03691 02 OF 02 130534Z
NEGATIVE PERCEPTION OF ZIMBABWE PROJECTED BY REGIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA." REGARDING ESTABLISHMENT OF A
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED EARLIER AT THE HEAD
OF STATE LEVEL, "IT WAS NOTED THAT MECHANISMS WERE
ALREADY IN PLACE FOR PARTIES TO INTERACT..." THE
COMMUNIQUE RECALLED THE 2000 SADC SUMMIT DECISION
OPPOSING SANCTIONS AGAINST ZIMBABWE, REITERATED THE
MINISTERS' OPPOSITION TO SANCTIONS, AND "CALLED UPON ALL
CONCERNED PARTIES TO REFRAIN FROM IMPOSING SANCTIONS
SUCH AS THE ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY
BILL."


8. (U) THE FOLLOWING DELEGATES SIGNED THE COMMUNIQUE:
ANGOLAN DEPUTY MINISTERS OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND
AGRICULTURE SERAO AND SAMBENI AND VICE MINISTER OF
DEFENSE RUFINO; BOTSWANA FONMIN MERAFHE; MALAWI DEFENSE
MINSTER MUNYENYEMBE; MOZAMBICAN PRESIDENTIAL MINISTER
MADEIRA AND DEPUTY FONMIN PATRICIO; NAMIBIA'S DEPUTY
FONMIN KALOMOH; SOUTH AFRICAN LABOR MINISTER MDLADLANA;
AND ZIMBABWE FONMIN MUDENGE.

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


9. (C) WE CANNOT AGREE WITH SUMBANA THAT THE VISIT WAS
GOOD, OR ANYTHING CLOSE TO IT. IN FACT, IT IS HARD TO
SEE THE VISIT AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A NON-EVENT AT
BEST, AND AT WORST A STEP BACKWARD ON SADC'S PART FROM
THE TOUGH ISSUES AT HAND. AS A RESULT, THE GOZ ONCE
AGAIN MANAGED TO CONTROL THE AGENDA AND FINAL COMMUNIQUE
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PAGE 04 HARARE 03691 02 OF 02 130534Z
TO ITS ADVANTAGE. IT MAY BE TOO SOON TO WRITE THE SADC
INITIATIVE OFF AS FAILED, BUT UNLESS FUTURE MISSIONS ARE
WILLING TO TAKE A HARDER LINE AND OPT FOR SOLUTIONS
RATHER THAN REGIONAL SOLIDARITY, WE DO NOT EXPECT THIS
PROCESS TO YIELD ANY MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS TO ZIMBABWE'S
MULTIPLYING PROBLEMS.

SULLIVAN

CONFIDENTIAL

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