GOZ DENIES AFL-CIO REP RENEWED WORK PERMIT

UNCLAS HARARE 002209 SIPDIS SENSITIVE NSC FOR JFRAZER AID FOR MCOPSON, MSCOTT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ELAB PGOV ZI SUBJECT: GOZ DENIES AFL-CIO REP RENEWED WORK PERMIT SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (U) The GOZ has refused to extend the work permit of AFL-CIO's resident representative. The rep applied for renewal in July 2003, upon expiration of his previous annually-renewed permit. He received four separate one-month extensions before being notified that no further extensions would be granted, and that he "should go with this letter to his nearest Immigration Office so that departure arrangements may be made." The most recent monthly extension will expire on 21 November. ¶2. (SBU) The rep is not particularly surprised by this development, noting that both of his predecessors were similarly denied permit renewals and were both required to leave Zimbabwe before their five-year assignments were completed. Although he will appeal the decision, the rep will likely wind up his Zimbabwean residential obligations, and attempt to pursue remote operations from Gaborone. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: Post has suspected for some time that the work permit would not be renewed. The rep's final denial and departure will have a negative impact on the ongoing operations of a key sector of civil society. The GOZ continues to target labor both directly, as in the recent arrests of labor union leaders, and indirectly, as in this attack on a peripheral labor support group. The rep's departure will further strain the arm's length relationship of Post personnel with labor contacts, many of whom are reluctant to appear too close to Western influences. The Ambassador and visiting Congressional staff delegation raised our concerns over the AFL-CIO representative's status with Minister of Labor July Moyo several months ago and got evasive answers. Given that the GOZ has periodically expelled AFL-CIO representatives, we believe that there is no realistic prospect that the USG can alter the GOZ decision in its current, more repressive phase at a time of negative USG-GOZ relations. End comment. SULLIVAN