JUNE 6 MDC HARARE MARCH CANCELED - MASS ACTION DAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001161 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR J. FRAZER LONDON FOR C. GURNEY PARIS FOR C. NEARY NAIROBI FOR T. PFLAUMER BANGKOK FOR WIN DAYTON DS/OP/AF E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2013 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR ASEC ZI SUBJECT: JUNE 6 MDC HARARE MARCH CANCELED - MASS ACTION DAY FIVE REF: A. HARARE 1149 ¶B. HARARE 1136 ¶C. HARARE 1122 ¶D. HARARE 1101 ¶E. HARARE 1097 ¶F. HARARE 1081 Classified By: Political Officer Audu Besmer for reasons 1.5 b/d Summary: -------------- ¶1. (C) Due to an overwhelming youth militia presence in downtown Harare on June 6, the MDC planned to call off planned marches for Harare. Business and traffic activity seemed close to normal on June 6, albeit slightly reduced from the previous day. In calling for a march, and then not making any visible appearance, we cannot help but wonder whether the MDC has lost further political capital today. End Summary. No Marches Anticipated in Harare -------------- ¶2. (C) In driving around Harare on the morning of June 6, Poloffs counted at least 200 youth militia members wearing white t-shirts on which were imprinted "No to Mass Action". Also visible were numerous groups of 3 - 4 police officers. According to a Canadian diplomat walking through Africa Unity Square later, at least 500 youth militia members had converged at Africa Unity Square in the center of Harare, the proposed destinations of the main MDC march in Harare. The diplomat said about 100 police officers, some armed, were surrounding the Square. According to an organizer, this pro-government group planned to hold a rally with speeches in the Square shortly. Job Sikhala, MP for St. Mary's (a high-density suburb of Harare) said that soldiers in military vehicles had been deployed in St. Mary's for the past two days. He said, due to their presence, the likelihood of MDC members marching in the streets was nil. ¶3. (C) According to Gandi Mudzingwa, MDC Presidential Advisor, due to the overwhelming presence of youth militia members in downtown Harare, (he estimated the number to be 2000) the MDC would call off marches for June 6 in Harare. He said up to 3000 MDC members were standing in bank or transport queues in downtown Harare waiting for the call to march, but instead would receive a stand down order as any attempt to march would certainly lead to violent clashes with the militia members. He considered their effort nonetheless a success for having elicited a major youth militia response from the GOZ. Mudzingwa said they had not yet made decisions on whether to go ahead with marches in other cities around Zimbabwe. Stayaway Better than June 5 -------------- ¶4. (U) Driving around Harare on June 6, Poloffs observed about 20 percent of shops in downtown Harare, and 90 percent of businesses in the light industrial areas of Harare were closed. Pedestrian and vehicle traffic in downtown Harare seemed normal. Activity in the high-density suburb of Mbare seemed normal. ¶5. (C) According to Richard Pope, a furniture manufacturer in Bulawayo, about 22 percent of his workers did not show up on June 6. He said many other factories nearby were open and operating, most with an average of 75 percent of their normal workforces. He said business and street traffic around Bulawayo seemed almost normal. Comment: -------------- ¶6. (C) In driving around Harare Poloff's did not observe anyone who appeared to be gathering for a march. In calling for a march, and then not making any visible appearance, we cannot help but wonder whether the MDC has lost further political capital. End Comment. SULLIVAN