POSITIVE ANSWER TO MALLOCH BROWN LETTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000488

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR
LONDON FOR GURNEY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA C. PALMA
PASS USTR FOR AFRICA DESK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2011
TAGS: PREL EAGR EAID EAGR EAID ZI
SUBJECT: POSITIVE ANSWER TO MALLOCH BROWN LETTER
CONFIDENTIAL


PAGE 02 HARARE 00488 01 OF 02 241249Z
EXPECTED

REF: 00 HARARE 6981

CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: THE UNDP RESREP IN HARARE INFORMED
HEADS OF MISSION AND AID DIRECTORS JANUARY 23 THAT THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ) HAS NOT YET RESPONDED TO
THE UNDP ADMINISTRATOR'S LETTER TO PRESIDENT MUGABE ON
BREAKING THE LAND REFORM IMPASSE, BUT EXPECTS A RESPONSE
SOON. THE RESREP BELIEVES THAT GOZ TECHNOCRATS ARE
DEVISING A POSITIVE RESPONSE TO THE LETTER, AND THAT THE
GOZ LEADERSHIP IS CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVE LAND PROGRAMS.
THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU) IS PULLING TOGETHER A
NEW TEAM TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE GOZ ON WAYS TO HAND OVER
FIVE MILLION HECTARES OF LAND FOR RESETTLEMENT IN AN
ORDERLY WAY. THE RESREP'S SUNNY APPRAISAL OF THE LAND
REFORM SITUATION DID NOT SIT WELL WITH MOST OF THE
DONORS, AND CALLS INTO QUESTION THE UNDP'S UNDERSTANDING
OF THE LAND SITUATION HERE. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (UNDP)
RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE IN HARARE, VICTOR ANGELO,
CONVENED A MEETING OF HEADS OF MISSION AND AID DIRECTORS
JANUARY 23 TO INFORM THEM THAT THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT
HAD NOT YET RESPONDED TO THE LETTER UNDP ADMINISTRATOR
MARK MALLOCH-BROWN SENT TO PRESIDENT MUGABE ON DECEMBER
15 (REFTEL). ANGELO ADDED THAT HE EXPECTED AN ANSWER
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SOON, PERHAPS BY THE END OF THE WEEK OF JANUARY 29, AS
HE HAD TOLD SEVERAL SENIOR GOVERNMENT INTERLOCUTORS THAT
IT WAS URGENTLY NEEDED IN ORDER FOR DONORS TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT WANTED NEXT AND WHAT KIND
OF ENGAGEMENT IT WOULD LIKE. BASED ON HIS SOUNDINGS OF
THE "TECHNICAL PEOPLE," THE UNDP RESREP EXPECTED A
"POSITIVE RESPONSE," AS THE TECHNOCRATS WISH THE DONORS
TO PERCEIVE THE ANSWER AS A SIGNAL THAT THE ZIMBABWEAN
GOVERNMENT WANTS TO RE-ENGAGE. HE CONTINUED THAT HE HAD
PROMPTED THESE INTERLOCUTORS TO INCLUDE IN THE RESPONSE
A COUPLE OF PARAGRAPHS DEALING WITH GENERAL ISSUES
(E.G., THE RULE OF LAW). HE TOLD THEM THAT THEY SHOULD
PICK A COUPLE OF PROPOSALS FROM THE MALLOCH-BROWN LETTER
THAT ARE EASILY IMPLEMENTED AS A START AND INCLUDE
LANGUAGE THAT PROMOTES INTERNAL DIALOGUE, A CREDIBLE
INFORMATION SYSTEM, A TECHNICAL SUPPORT UNIT WITHIN
UNDP, AND SIGNALS CLEAR SUPPORT FOR BOTH COMPLEMENTARY
APPROACHES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVE.


3. (SBU) ANGELO CHARACTERIZED "COMPLEMENTARY
APPROACHES" (TO LAND RESETTLEMENT) AS "LOCAL-LEVEL
INITIATIVES" DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED IN A HIGHLY
PARTICIPATORY MANNER BY CONCERNED DISTRICT/VILLAGE
STAKEHOLDERS. (NOTE: COMPLEMENTARY APPROACHES HAVE BEEN
PROPOSED AND SUPPORTED BY DONORS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
SINCE THE 1998 DONORS' LAND CONFERENCE AS ALTERNATIVE
RESETTLEMENT MODELS TO GOVERNMENT'S MORE RIGID,
CENTRALLY-ADMINISTERED APPROACHES TO THIS ISSUE. THEY
HAVE MET WITH ONLY MIXED RESULTS TO DATE. THEY ARE SEEN
BY SOME KEY PLAYERS AS A POSSIBLE MECHANISM FOR BREAKING
THE CURRENT IMPASSE THROUGH A LIMITED RE-ENGAGEMENT BY
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DONORS IN SPECIFIC, MUTUALLY-ACCEPTED SCHEMES. HOWEVER,
TO DATE, GOVERNMENT HAS YET TO APPROVE ANY SUCH
ALTERNATIVES TO ITS CURRENT "FAST-TRACK" PROGRAM. END
NOTE.)


4. (SBU) THE PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVE (PSI) IS ANOTHER
"ALTERNATIVE" PLAN DEVELOPED BY KEY LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS,
INCLUDING THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL LEADERSHIP OF THE LAND
TASK FORCE OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC CONSULTATIVE FORUM
(NECF). THE NECF IS AN IMPORTANT TRIPARTITE FORUM THAT
HAS BEEN LARGELY SIDELINED SINCE THE FARM INVASIONS AND
THE BEGINNING OF THE FAST-TRACK PROGRAM. IT FOCUSES ON
FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS UNDERTAKEN BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR
THE ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT OF AN INITIAL TRANCHE
OF 200 FARMS. ALTHOUGH SERIOUS CONCERNS REMAIN
REGARDING THE ALTERNATIVE PLAN, INCLUDING THE DEGREE OF
GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT AND CONTROL, AND ITS FAILURE TO
ADDRESS THE RULE OF LAW, THE PSI IS INCREASINGLY FAVORED
WITHIN GOZ CIRCLES, WITH A CABINET-LEVEL REVIEW
SCHEDULED FOR MID-FEBRUARY.


5. (SBU) THE COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU) AND THE
ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT BELIEVE IT IS NECESSARY TO SIT
AROUND THE TABLE AND AGREE ON A WAY FORWARD, ANGELO TOLD
US. THE CFU HAS A FOUR-MEMBER TEAM LED BY DAVID IRVINE,

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ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 COME-00
DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 VC-00 HHS-01
H-01 SSA-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
R-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
/010W
-------------- BAE5AE 241250Z /38
P 241247Z JAN 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8066
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 000488

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR
LONDON FOR GURNEY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA C. PALMA
PASS USTR FOR AFRICA DESK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2011
TAGS: PREL EAGR EAID EAGR EAID ZI
SUBJECT: POSITIVE ANSWER TO MALLOCH BROWN LETTER
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 00488 02 OF 02 241249Z
EXPECTED

A POULTRY PRODUCER. THE TEAM MEMBERS ARE NOT MEMBERS OF
THE CFU EXECUTIVE, BUT HAVE "FULL CARTE BLANCHE" TO
DISCUSS THE ORDERLY TRANSFER OF 5 MILLION HECTARES OF
COMMERCIAL FARMLAND TO THE GOVERNMENT. THE GOVERNMENT
IS NOT YET READY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THIS GROUP, ANGELO
CONCEDED. ANGELO INDICATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME
DISCUSSION ABOUT CONSOLIDATING THIS NEW COMMITTEE WITHIN
THE PSI, OR (MORE LOGICALLY) PURSING BOTH OF THESE
INITIATIVES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE NECF LAND TASK
FORCE. HOW THIS SHAKES OUT WILL BECOME CLEARER OVER THE
NEXT FEW WEEKS, HE REMARKED.


6. (C) FINALLY, THE UNDP RESREP ADVISED THAT HIS AGENCY
HAD BEEN WORKING ON A PREPAREDNESS PLAN, IN THE EVENT
ALL ITS EFFORTS COME TO NOUGHT AND A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
EMERGES. THE PLAN WILL BE DISCUSSED WITH DONORS AT THE
TECHNICAL LEVEL ON FEBRUARY 7. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE
UNDP RULE OF LAW MISSION THAT WAS TO HAVE FOLLOWED THE
OCTOBER TECHNICAL MISSION, A FLUSTERED ANGELO RESPONDED
THAT ONE WAS IN TOWN, KEEPING A VERY LOW PROFILE. HE
WOULD NOT ELABORATE ITS MANDATE EXCEPT TO SAY THAT HE
CHARACTERIZED IT AS "OPENING DIALOGUE" ON THIS THORNY
SUBJECT.


7. (C) COMMENT: ANGELO STRAINED HIS CREDIBILITY WITH
THIS MEETING. MOST HEADS OF MISSION EXPRESSED OPEN
SKEPTICISM ABOUT THE UTILITY OF HIS QUEST, WITH ONE
AMBASSADOR NOISILY WALKING OUT IN APPARENT DISGUST WITH
THE RESREP'S SUNNY ACCOUNT OF GOVERNMENT INTENTIONS. AT
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THIS POINT, PEOPLE APPEAR FAR MORE INTERESTED IN ACTIONS
RATHER THAN WORDS OR INTENTIONS, FOLLOWING REPEATED
PUBLIC ASSURANCES THAT HAVE ENDED IN BROKEN PROMISES AND
DASHED HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS. TACTICALLY, IT MAY HAVE
BEEN MORE USEFUL FOR THE UNDP RESREP TO HAVE
DISSEMINATED THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE AND THEN CALL FOR
A MEETING TO DISCUSS IT, ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS SIGNED BY
MUGABE HIMSELF. END COMMENT.

IRVING

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