Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01HARARE919
2001-03-05 16:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:  

SEVENTY-TWO YEAR OLD FEMALE COMMERCIAL FARMER

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

051606Z Mar 01


 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ2640

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 /010W
 ------------------CDCB8A 051616Z /38 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8354
INFO NSC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000919 

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: 03/05/11
TAGS: PHUM EAGR PGOV EAID PINR
SUBJECT: SEVENTY-TWO YEAR OLD FEMALE COMMERCIAL FARMER
KILLED AMBUSH STYLE IN ZIMBABWE

REFS: A. HARARE 898, HARARE 815, C. 00 HARARE 7065,


D. 00 HARARE 7013

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

-------
SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000919

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: 03/05/11
TAGS: PHUM EAGR PGOV EAID PINR
SUBJECT: SEVENTY-TWO YEAR OLD FEMALE COMMERCIAL FARMER
KILLED AMBUSH STYLE IN ZIMBABWE

REFS: A. HARARE 898, HARARE 815, C. 00 HARARE 7065,


D. 00 HARARE 7013

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

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) ON MARCH 4, A 72-YEAR-OLD WHITE FEMALE COMMERCIAL
FARMER, GLORIA OLDS, WAS BRUTALLY AND VICIOUSLY
ASSASSINATED BY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE IN AN AMBUSH ON
HER FARM. HER SON MARTIN WAS KILLED BY "WAR VETS" ON
HIS FARM, WHICH WAS NEXT TO GLORIA'S, LAST QPRIL AND NO
ONE HAS YET BEEN ARRESTED. THE POLICE CLAIM THAT OLDS
APPEARED TO BE KILLED IN THE COURSE OF A VEHICLE ROBBERY
ON HER FARM. THE CFU REGIONAL PRESIDENT, MAC CRAWFORD,
DISPUTES THE POLICE THEORY, STATING THAT OLDS WAS SHOT
MULTIPLE TIMES WITH AUTOMATIC RIFLES, THE LAST FEW SHOTS
DONE AT CLOSE RANGE. CRAWFORD SPECQLATES THAT OLDS WAS
MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD IN ORDER TO FURTHER INTIMIDATE
ZIMBABWE'S WHITE COMMERCIAL FARMERS. END SUMMARY.

--------------
SEVENTY-TWO YEAR OLD FARMER BRUTALLY MURDERED
--------------

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 00919 01 OF 03 051615Z

2. (C) BOTH THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED AND INDEPENDENT
PRESS REPORTED IN THEIR MARCH 5 EDITIONS THAT ON MARCH
4, GLORIA OLDS, A 72-YEAR-OLD FEMALE WHITE COMMERCIAL
FARMER, WAS KILLED AMBUSH STYLE AS SHE WAS APPROACHING
THE SECURITY GATE TO HER FARM, LOCATED NEAR THE TOWN OF
NYAMANDLOVU, ABOUT ONE HOUR BY ROAD NORTHWEST OF
BULAWAYO. THE PRESS REPORTS SPECULATED THAT OLDS WAS
KILLED AT 6:30 A.M., SINCE THIS IS WHEN SHE REGULARLY
OPENED THE SECURITY GATES TO HER FARM. HER BODY WAS
DISCOVERED BY HER SON DAVID, WHO WENT TO THE FARM AT 9
A.M., AFTER FAILING TO REACH HIS MOTHER BY PHONE.
GLORIA OLDS WAS THE MOTHER OF COMMERCIAL FARMER MARTIN
OLDS, WHO WAS KILLED ON HIS FARM BY "WAR VETS" LAST
APRIL 18, ZIMBABWE'S INDEPENDENCE DAY. A PICK-UP TRUCK
BELONGING TO GLORIA OLDS WAS TAKEN BY THE ASSASSINS

AFTER SHE WAS KILLED, LEADING THE POLICE TO SPECULATE
THAT ROBBERY WAS THE MOTIVE BEHIND HER KILLING.
HOWEVER, COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU) OFFICIALS
DISPUTE THIS THEORY, STATING THAT MONEY AND OTHER
VALUABLES WERE NOT TAKEN FROM GLORIA OLDS' FARMHOUSE,
EVEN THOUGH THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THEY ENTERED THE
FARMHOUSE TO GET THE KEYS TO THE PICK-UP.

--------------
KILLING WAS A COLD-BLOODED AMBUSH
--------------


3. (C) ON MARCH 5, ECONOFF SPOKE WITH MAC CRAWFORD,
PRESIDENT OF THE MATABELELAND REGION OF THE CFU,
REGARDING THE KILLING OF GLORIA OLDS (OLDS' FARM IS
LOCATED IN MATABELELAND NORTH.) CRAWFORD STATED THAT
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 HARARE 00919 01 OF 03 051615Z
THE KILLING OF OLDS WAS AN AMBUSH-STYLE ASSASSINATION,
SIMILAR TO THAT OF ANOTHER WHITE FARMER, HENRY ELSWORTH
(REFS C AND D),LAST DECEMBER. ACCORDING TO CRAWFORD,
OLDS WOULD GO OUT AND OPEN THE SECURITY GATE TO HER FARM
EACH DAY AT 6:30 A.M. THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AT THE
SCENE OF THE KILLING INDICATES THAT OLDS WAS ABOUT A
METER FROM THE GATE, WHEN SHE WAS FIRST SHOT. SHE THEN
TURNED, BLEEDING, IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO HER
FARMHOUSE. SHE WAS THEN SHOT AGAIN. THE ASSAILANTS
THEN SHOT THE LOCK OFF THE SECURITY GATE, SHOT THREE OF
OLDS' DOGS, AND THEN APPROACHED OLDS' BODY. HOVERING
OVER HER, THEY SHOT HER A FEW MORE TIMES AT CLOSE RANGE.
CRAWFORD SAID THAT FIFTEEN SPENT BLACK AND GOLD
CARTRIDGES FROM AK-47 RIFLES WERE FOUND AT THE SCENE OF
%GEUNKQIQTHE CRIME, INDICATING THAT AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT
WEAPONS MAY HAVE BEEN USED. CRAWFORD ADDED THAT THE
CARTRIDGES WERE NEW, AS IF THEY HAD JUST COME OUT OF AN
ARMORY. WHEN ECONOFF ASKED HOW HE WAS SURE THAT THE
WEAPONS USED WERE AK-47S, AND THAT THE CARTRIDGES WERE
FROM TWO GUNS AND WERE NEW, CRAWFORD STATED THAT HE HAD
BEEN IN THE MILITARY, AND HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH SUCH
WEAPONRY.

--------------
ROBBERY: A POSSIBLE MOTIVE
--------------

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ2669

PAGE 01 HARARE 00919 02 OF 03 051619Z
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COME-00 INL-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 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 BBG-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
/010W
-------------- CDCC4A 051619Z /38
P 051606Z MAR 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8355
INFO NSC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 000919

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: 03/05/11
TAGS: PHUM EAGR PGOV EAID PINR
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 00919 02 OF 03 051619Z
SUBJECT: SEVENTY-TWO YEAR OLD FEMALE COMMERCIAL FARMER
KILLED AMBUSH STYLE IN ZIMBABWE


4. (C) CRAWFORD DISPUTES THE POLICE THEORY THAT OLDS'
KILLING WAS THE RESULT OF A ROBBERY. WHILE HER TOYOTA
HILUX 4X4 WAS TAKEN BY THE KILLERS, THEY DID NOT STEAL
OTHER VALUABLES FROM THE FARMHOUSE. THE KILLERS ENTERED
OLDS' FARMHOUSE, AND TOOK HER PURSE CONTAINING THE PICK-
UP KEYS, AS WELL AS SOME CHILDRENS' CLOTHES FROM A
CLOSET. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT TAKE A PILE OF CASH THAT
WAS SITTING ON THE KITCHEN TABLE, MADE NO EFFORT TO OPEN
A SAFE THAT HAD THE KEYS IN THE DOOR, TOOK NONE OF THE
WEAPONS THAT OLDS KEPT IN HER BEDROOM, OR APPARENTLY ANY
OTHER VALUABLES. WHEN ASKED WHAT OTHER MOTIVE THERE
MIGHT BE FOR HER KILLING, CRAWFORD STATED THAT OLDS WAS
IN THE PROCESS OF EVICTING A FEMALE SHOPKEEPER WHO
FAILED TO PAY RENT FROM A BUILDING SHE OWNED. THE
SHOPKEEPER'S HUSBAND IS A FORMER ZIMBABWE PEOPLES
REVOLUTIONARY ARMY (ZIPRA) FIGHTER FROM THE INDEPENDENCE
STRUGGLE. THERE HAD RECENTLY BEEN A DEMONSTRATION IN
NYMANDLOVU BY THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION GROUP (AAG),A
PRO-ZANU-PF CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP THAT ARGUES FOR GEATER
BLACK OWNERSHIP OF COMPANIES, DIRECTED AGANST OLDS
BECAUSE OF THE SHOPKEEPER'S PLIGHT. HOEVER, CRAWFORD
DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS SITUATIO WOULD HAVE LED
ANYONE TO BRUTALLY GUN DOWN MRS.OLDS IN COLD BLOOD AT
HER FARM.

--------------
OR: INTIMIDATION
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 00919 02 OF 03 051619Z
--------------


5. (C)CRAWFORD SPECULATED THAT GLORIA OLDS WAS KILLED
O SEND A SIGNAL TO THE WHITE COMMERCIAL FARMING
CMMUNITY. HE BELIEVED THAT THE MURDER OF A 72-YEAROLD
FEMALE WIDOW WAS MEANT TO SHOW THAT EVEN ELDRLY OR
FEMALE FARMERS ARE NOT SAFE ON THEIR FARC. CRAWFORD
ALSO BELIEVED THAT OLDS WAS SINGLED UT FOR
ASSASSINATION BECAUSE SHE WAS THE MOTHER O MARTIN OLDS.
HER KILLING WOULD RE-IGNITE IN THEMINDS OF WHITE
FARMERS THE KILLINGS AND VIOLENCETHAT PREVAILED IN THE
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION PEROD. CRAWFORD LINKED THIS
KILLING TO THE UPCOMIN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND
GOVERNMENT PRESS-TOUTE DIVISIONS WITHIN THE CFU (REFS A
AND B).


6. C) ZANU-PF HAS BEGUN A CAMPAIGN BY "WAR VETS" IN
MATABELELAND, A STRONGHOLD OF THE OPPOSITION MOVEMNT
FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC),TO INTIMIDATE MD
SUPPORTERS. AS PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN, A GROUP O 15 TO
20 "WAR VETS" HAS BEEN GOING RECENTLY FRO FARM TO FARM
BEATING UP FARM WORKERS AND THREATNING FARMERS SO THAT
THEY DO NOT SUPPORT THE MDC IN THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION. CRAWFORD ADDED THAT THE MATABELELAND REGION
OF THE CFU WAS ONE OF THE MOST UNITED REGIONS IN ITS
SUPPORT FOR THE CFU EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND ITS
STRATEGY OF CHALLENGING THE GOZ "FAST-TRACK"
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM THOUGH THE COURTS. AT THE RECENT
CFU COUNCIL MEETING IN HARARE, CRAWFORD REVEALED THAT IT
WAS THE MATABELELAND REGION OF THE CFU THAT UNITED THE
COUNCIL BEHIND THE EMBATTLED CFU EXECUTIVE, AND WARDED
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 HARARE 00919 02 OF 03 051619Z
OFF THE CHALLENGE OF NICK SWANEPOEL AND OTHER RENEGADE
CFU MEMBERS (REF A). CRAWFORD WAS ADAMANT THAT IT IS
FOR THESE REASONS, AND NOT A SIMPLE ROBBERY, THAT GLORIA
OLDS WAS BRUTALLY KILLED.

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


7. (C) WE ARE VERY SKEPTICAL THAT GLORIA OLDS WAS KILLED
IN THE COURSE OF A ROBBERY. ONE DOES NOT NEED TO SHOOT
A 72-YEAR-OLD UNARMED GRANDMOTHER MULTIPLE TIMES WITH
AUTOMATIC RIFLES IN ORDER TO TAKE HER VEHICLE. WE
SIMILARLY DOUBT THAT SHE WAS MURDERED AS A RESULT OF THE
COURT PROCEEDING TO EVICT THE SHOPKEEPER FROM A BUILDING
SHE OWNED. WHAT WE DO FIND CREDIBLE IS THAT SHE WAS
KILLED, IN A BRUTAL AND COLD-BLOODED MANNER, IN ORDER TO
SOW FURTHER FEAR IN THE WHITE COMMERCIAL FARMING
COMMUNITY. THIS COULD INCLUDE THE GOAL OF CAUSING MORE
FARMERS TO ABANDON THEIR FARMS AND LEAVE ZIMBABWE OUT OF
FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES AND FAMILY'S SAFETY. IT COULD ALSO
AIM TO CREATE FURTHER DIVIDES IN THE CFU, LEADING TO ITS
ULTIMATE BREAK-UP. ONE THING THAT WE ARE FAIRLY SURE OF
IS THAT THIS KILLING WILL JOIN THE LIST OF THE OTHER SIX
MURDERED WHITE COMMERCIAL FARMERS WHOSE KILLERS HAVE
NEVER BEEN APPREHENDED OR PROSECUTED SINCE THE FARM

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ2641

PAGE 01 HARARE 00919 03 OF 03 051616Z
ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00
COME-00 INL-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 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 BBG-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00
/010W
-------------- CDCB97 051616Z /38
P 051606Z MAR 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8356
INFO NSC WASHDC
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 000919

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: 03/05/11
TAGS: PHUM EAGR PGOV EAID PINR
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 00919 03 OF 03 051616Z
SUBJECT: SEVENTY-TWO YEAR OLD FEMALE COMMERCIAL FARMER
KILLED AMBUSH STYLE IN ZIMBABWE

VIOLENCE BEGAN IN FEBRUARY 2000. END COMMENT.

IRVING

CONFIDENTIAL

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