MDC OFFICIALS REFLECT ON MASS ACTION - SUCCESSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 001359 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR J. FRAZER LONDON FOR C. GURNEY PARIS FOR C. NEARY NAIROBI FOR T. PFLAUMER BANGKOK FOR WIN DAYTON E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2013 TAGS: PGOV PINR ZI MDC SUBJECT: MDC OFFICIALS REFLECT ON MASS ACTION - SUCCESSES AND FAILURES REF: A. HARARE 1161 ¶B. HARARE 1149 ¶C. HARARE 1136 ¶D. HARARE 1122 ¶E. HARARE 1101 Classified By: Political Officer Audu Besmer for reasons 1.5 b/d Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) MDC Presidential Advisor Gandi Mudzingwa and MDC MP Roy Bennett both said recently that the June mass action was a success overall, but suffered from organizational problems that the party is resolving. Mudzingwa thought the problems were due to too many MPs becoming involved in key decision-making, but Bennett said parallel local MDC structures competed for resources, preventing adequate organizing for the mass action. It would appear that although the MDC would like to send the outward message that the June mass action was a resounding success, they acknowledge organizational and command and control problems that detracted from its overall impact. End Summary. Too Many Cooks -------------- ¶2. (C) Mudzingwa said the MDC viewed the June mass action as a success primarily because it forced Mugabe to use security forces against the populace. This was a sign that Mugabe acknowledges that the populace in sufficient numbers is sufficiently willing to protest so as to require a show of military force to prevent public protest. Gandi said that in contrast to the previous mass action, over which he had primary command and control, this most recent mass action suffered from too many others becoming involved in key decision-making. As a result of the success of the March 2003 stayaway, many MDC MPs wanted to get into the limelight, and in on decision-making, for the June mass action. Hence some bad decisions were made; in particular, public comments (like Tsvangirai's "Final Push" speech) were not cleared properly. Though scolding those responsible would be destructive at this point, Gandi said the party did have a plan to sort out decision-making and planning was already underway for future mass action. Parallel Local Structures Counterproductive -------------- ¶3. (C) On July 2 MDC MP Roy Bennett told Poloff the June mass action was a success, but suffered from organizational problems. MDC Action Committees received funding from party headquarters to plan for the mass action and organize at the local level. Bennett said that Mudzingwa spearheaded the creation of these committees in February 2002 to organize for the March 2003 mass action. Bennett said these committees were set up alongside existing party structures. The two groups apparently competed against one another for funding and control, and significant resentment arose. In some cases, each group informed police of the other's activities and police subsequently cracked down on one or the other, negating both groups' efforts to organize the people for mass action. According to Bennett, the Zimbabwean people heeded the call to protest, but the party leaders and organizers did not show up in significant numbers to galvanize people who had gathered into marches. Bennett said this problem has led to resentment between some elected MPs and Mudzingwa and technocrats under his leadership. The issue was hotly debated at the recent MDC executive meeting, and the two local structures are subsequently being incorporated and the MDC's reach hopefully deepened in the process. Bennett also confirmed that future mass actions were being planned. Comment: -------------- ¶4. (C) It appears that although the MDC would like to send the outward message that the June mass action was a resounding success, they acknowledge internally that there were shortcomings in its organization that detracted from its overall impact. The Party's message leading up to the mass action was ambiguous and led to exaggerated expectations of what could be achieved and consequent disappointment that no breakthrough in Zimbabwe's crisis was achieved. It would also appear there are internal power struggles and differences of opinion which need to be resolved before the party undertakes further mass action. End Comment. SULLIVAN