VISIT TO MUTARE AND MANICALAND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000161

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2007
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EAID ZI
SUBJECT: VISIT TO MUTARE AND MANICALAND


CLASSIFIED BY JOSEPH G. SULLIVAN FOR REASONS 1.5B/D


1. C) SUMMARY: A BRIEF JANUARY 10-11 VISIT TO MUTARE IN
MANICALAND PROVINCE CONFIRMED THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
THAT ZANU/PF IS FACING DIFFICULTIES IN THE CITY OF
MUTARE AND SURROUNDING AREAS AND IS VULNERABLE IN ALL
BUT THE MOST RURAL AREAS. THE AMBASSADOR MET WITH ACTING
PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATOR MBETSA IN THE ABSENCE OF THE
GOVERNOR, MAYOR LAWRENCE MUDEHWE, A GROUP OF COMMERCIAL
FARMERS AND BISHOPS FROM THE CATHOLIC, ANGLICAN,
EVANGELICAL AND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES. HE ALSO VISITED A
USAID FUNDED VOLUNTARY COUNSELING AND TESTING CENTER AND
A PRIMARY SCHOOL RECONSTRUCTED FROM DEVASTATING
HURRICANE ELAINE WITH DOD HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FUNDS.
THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC DECLINE, PROVOKED BY BAD ECONOMIC
POLICIES AND LAND INSTABILITY, WAS MUCH IN EVIDENCE.
POLITICAL VIOLENCE, ORGANIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT, WAS A
MAJOR CONCERN OF CHURCH LEADERS. BUT MOST INTERLOCUTORS
THOUGHT THAT ECONOMIC HARD TIMES AND ZANU-PF INATTENTION
TO MANICALAND MADE PRESIDENT MUGABE'S ELECTION PROSPECTS
IN THE PROVINCE POOR, A PERCEPTION WHICH THE OPPOSITION
MDC SHARES. END SUMMARY

ECONOMY AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION DOWN
--------------


2. (C) MUTARE AND MANICALAND PROVINCE ARE FEELING THE
IMPACT OF ZIMBABWE'S ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, WITH TIMBERLAND,
AGRO-INDUSTRY AND COMMERCIAL FARMING NEGATIVELY AFFECTED
BY LAND INSTABILITY AND OCCUPATIONS. CLOSE PROXIMITY TO
THE MOZAMBIQUE BORDER HAS ALSO SPAWNED A FLOURISHING
CLANDESTINE TRADE OF PRICE-CONTROLLED ITEMS FROM
ZIMBABWE TO MOZAMBIQUE WHERE TRADERS ARE ABLE TO REALIZE
A HANDSOME PROFIT. CONSUMERS IN ZIMBABWE FEEL THE
EFFECT IN SHORTAGES OF THESE BASIC COMMODITIES. CHURCH
LEADERS SAID THEIR POOREST CONSTITUENTS ARE FACING REAL
HUNGER BUT THAT GOVERNMENT DELAYS IN RECOGNIZING
SHORTAGES MEANT THAT THE CHURCHES DID NOT APPEAL TO
SUPPORTING INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN A TIMELY
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FASHION. PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES CLAIMED THAT THE IMPACT
OF LAND REDISTRIBUTION WAS MINIMAL ON TIMBER, COFFEE AND
FRUIT AGRO-INDUSTRY, A CLAIM CONTESTED BY PRIVATE
FARMERS. ALL AGREED THAT THE EFFECT WAS FELT MOST IN
SMALL AND MID-SIZED COMMERCIAL FARMS. AFFECTED
COMMERCIAL FARMERS TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THEY HAD ALL BEEN
AFFECTED IN VARIOUS WAYS. THE FARMER WHO HAD QUICKLY
SURRENDERED ONE OF HIS TWO FARMS WITHOUT CONTESTATION
FARED BEST, WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL WHO MADE THE MOST NOISE
AND WAS CONTESTING IN COURT WAS SUFFERING THE MOST. BUT
IN EVERY CASE, PRODUCTIVITY WAS SUFFERING GREATLY WITH
CROPS OR DAIRY PRODUCTION ON COMMERCIAL FARMS REDUCED
SUBSTANTIALLY AND FARM OCCUPIERS WITH LITTLE KNOW-HOW
AND FEW INPUTS, PRODUCING AT MOST A FEW SUBSISTENCE
CROPS. IN MANY CASES, THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE A-2
COMMERCIAL FARM DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM HAVE BEEN URBAN
DWELLERS PICKING UP A PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR THE WEEKEND
WITH LITTLE EXPERIENCE OR PROSPECTS IN SUCCESSFUL
FARMING. MUTARE MAYOR MUDEHWE WAS A PLEASANT EXCEPTION
TO THE TENDENCY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LAND
DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM WHILE THE GETTING WAS GOOD.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT HIS OWN LAND IN THE COMMUNAL AREAS
HAS INSUFFICIENT WATER FOR PRODUCTIVE FARMING, HE DID
NOT APPLY FOR A FARM IN THE A-2 PROGRAM TO AVOID THE
APPEARANCE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.


3. (C) THE VISIT TO THE DOD-REHABILITATED SCHOOL IN
ROWA, JUST 20 MINUTES OUTSIDE MUTARE IN A COMMUNAL AREA,
WAS INSTRUCTIVE. THE SCHOOLED WAS BASIC BUT
SERVICEABLE. THE PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, PRESENT DURING
THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS PERFORMING THEIR MANDATORY GROUNDS
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MAINTENANCE CHORES, WERE DRESSED POORLY BUT ADEQUATELY
AND SHOWED NO SIGNS OF HUNGER OR MALNUTRITION. THE
REHABILITATION PROJECT WAS WELL EXECUTED AND A REAL
CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE
PARTICIPATION OF OFFICIALS FROM THE SCHOOL, THE
PROVINCE, THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND THE PARENTS'
ASSOCIATION IN THE BRIEF CEREMONY.

VIOLENCE AND POLITICS
--------------


4. (C) IN TWO SEPARATE MEETINGS, THE CATHOLIC AND
PROTESTANT CLERGYMEN COMPLAINED OF FREQUENT POLITICAL
VIOLENCE ORCHESTRATED BY ZANU/PF AND THE GOVERNMENT.
THE PROTESTANT CLERGY COMPLAINED THAT THE STATE MEDIA
HAD DISTORTED THEIR RECENT MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MUGABE
TO CLAIM THAT IT FOCUSED ON THEIR SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT
LAND REFORM. THEY HAD PUT OUT SUBSEQUENT STATEMENTS
CLARIFYING THAT THEIR FOCUS HAD BEEN AN APPEAL FOR NON-
VIOLENCE. THEY SAID THAT ALL RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN THE
PROVINCE WERE UNITED IN THIS APPEAL. THEY DID NOT
BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT VIOLENCE WOULD BE EFFECTIVE IN
MANICALAND, EXCEPT IN THE MOST RURAL PARTS OF THE

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CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6260

PAGE 01 HARARE 00161 02 OF 02 160830Z
ACTION DRL-02

INFO LOG-00 AF-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00
EUR-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SS-00 STR-00 TRSE-00
T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 PRM-00 G-00 SAS-00 /007W
-------------- 5867DB 160830Z /40
P 160752Z JAN 02
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0729
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ4-HA//

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 000161

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2007
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EAID ZI
SUBJECT: VISIT TO MUTARE AND MANICALAND

PROVINCE, WHERE THE OPPOSITION WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY
GETTING ITS MESSAGE OUT. THEY PLANNED TO ORGANIZE MORE
PRESSURE AGAINST VIOLENCE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD. CATHOLIC
BISHOP MUTUME ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN AT POLITICAL
VIOLENCE IN THE PROVINCE AND THE GOVERNMENT'S
UNWILLINGNESS TO CURB IT. HE DID NOT THINK THAT THIS
VIOLENCE WOULD BENEFIT THE RULING PARTY, HOWEVER, AS
PEOPLE KNEW WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLENCE AND
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PAGE 02 HARARE 00161 02 OF 02 160830Z
ECONOMIC HARD TIMES. AS THE AMBASSADOR ARRIVED IN
MUTARE, HE ENCOUNTERED A GROUP OF 100 GREEN-UNIFORMED
YOUTH BRIGADE GRADUATES BEING SWORN IN AND WELCOMED BACK
TO MUTARE TO CARRY OUT THEIR SERVICE. ASKED WHAT WORK
THEY WOULD BE DOING IN MUTARE, THE ACTING PROVINCIAL
ADMINISTRATOR SAID THEY WOULD BE CARRYING OUT CIVIC
PROJECTS. (COMMENT: WOULD THAT IT WERE SO.)


5. (C) LAWRENCE MUDEHWE, WHO HAS BEEN ELECTED MAYOR OF
MUTARE TWICE, NOTWITHSTANDING THE OPPOSITION OF HIS OWN
ZANU-PF PARTY, WAS FRANK ABOUT ZANU_PF WEAKNESS IN
MANICALAND. HE NOTED THE POOR REPRESENTATION OF
MANICALAND IN THE ZANU-PF LEADERSHIP AND THE TENDENCY OF
HARARE PARTY HEADQUARTERS TO SEEK TO IMPOSE ITS
DECISIONS ON LOCAL PARTY STRUCTURES. HE BELIEVED THAT
POOR ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE ECONOMIC
POLICIES WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT AT THE POLLS AND
THAT ZANU-PF WOULD NOT DO WELL IN MANICALAND PROVINCE.

HIV-AIDS: A GROWING COMMUNITY FOCUS
--------------


6. (U) IN MEETINGS WITH CHURCH BISHOPS, HIV-AIDS WAS A
MAJOR CONCERN. THE CATHOLIC BISHOP, WHO HAS HAD
SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT IN HIS OUTREACH PROGRAMS FROM THE
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICE, SAID THAT HE NO LONGER NEEDED
TO PLEA FOR SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS. EVERYONE
HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY THE DISEASE, EVEN IN THE MOST RURAL
PARTS OF HIS DIOCESE. VILLAGE CHIEFS WERE ANXIOUS TO
HELP AND TO HAVE THE CHURCH'S ASSISTANCE IN CONFRONTING
THE PROBLEM. BISHOP MUTUME SAID THAT THE CHURCH HAS
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PAGE 03 HARARE 00161 02 OF 02 160830Z
SOUGHT TO ASSIST IN THE FAMILY CARE OF THOSE AFFECTED,
BUT THEN TO HELP TRANSPORT THE ILL TO THEIR RURAL
VILLAGES BEFORE DEATH IN ORDER TO SPARE THE FAMILY
EXPENSIVE FUNERAL COSTS. BISHOP MUTUME AND THE OTHER
BISHOPS WERE ALL FOCUSED ON BEHAVIOR CHANGE AS A KEY TO
ATTACKING HIV-AIDS. THEY WERE PLEASED TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE NEW START VOLUNTARY COUNSELING AND TESTING
CENTER WHICH IS FUNCTIONING IN MUTARE IN CONJUNCTION
WITH THE MUTARE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE RED CROSS. THE
AMBASSADOR VISITED THE MUTARE NEW START CENTER, WHICH
HAS SEEN IMPRESSIVE GROWTH IN ITS USAGE, PARTICULARLY
SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF QUICK TESTING KITS.

SULLIVAN

CONFIDENTIAL

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