ZFTU- There's no there, there

UNCLAS HARARE 000864 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR AF/S NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER USDOC FOR AMANDA HILLIGAS PASS USTR FLORIZELLE LISER STATE PASS USAID FOR MARJORIE COPSON USDOL FOR ROBERT YOUNG STATE FOR MARINDA HARPOLE ¶E. O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PHUM ETRD ECON EINV PGOV ZI ZANU PF ZCTU SUBJECT: ZFTU- There's no there, there ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) is a ZANU-PF shell union seeking to undermine Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) ZCTU is a strong civil society voice for workers rights. Its advocacy and support for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) puts it at the top of GOZ reprisal targets. ¶3. (SBU) Two and an half years ago, GOZ created the ZFTU to undermine ZCTU credibility and support. Both the Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) and International Labor Organization (ILO) dismiss ZFTU as a mere nuisance. ZFTU has created splinter unions to compete with ZCTU-affiliated unions. The Solidarity Center representative in Zimbabwe stated Zanu-PF may give money to ZFTU for a national convention as part of its parliamentary election strategy. ¶4. (SBU) EconOff's failed in his numerous attempts to make contact with ZFTU. The organization apparently has no offices, landline phones, or professional staff. There appears to be no there, there. ¶5. (SBU) EconOff did find a cell phone number, but suspects it belongs to Joseph Chinotomba- the self-styled leader of the war veterans who led the lawless takeover of commercial farms. Post decided there was no sense in talking to Mr. Chinotomba as any conversation would only be misused to legitimize GOZ policies. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: While EconOff suspected ZFTU represented merely a ruling party destabilization effort, May Day celebrations in which ZFTU raised health and safety issues in the workplace suggested otherwise. However, in attempting to investigate this organization, EconOff comes back to the original conclusion. Sullivan