FORMER ZANU-PF OFFICIAL LAUNCHES NEW OPPOSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000764 SIPDIS SIPDIS AF/S FOR B. NEULING NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE AFR/SA FOR E. LOKEN COMMERCE FOR BECKY ERKUL E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2011 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ASEC ZI SUBJECT: FORMER ZANU-PF OFFICIAL LAUNCHES NEW OPPOSITION PARTY Classified By: Ambassador Chris W. Dell under Section 1.4 b/d ¶1. (U) Daniel Shumba, a former ZANU-PF provincial chairman for Masvingo, officially launched the United People,s Party (UPP) on June 24 in Harare before a smaller than advertised crowd of approximately 800 supporters. (N.B. Shumba was one of the six provincial chairmen forced out of the ruling party last year in connection with a botched attempt to back Emmerson Mnangagwa over Joyce Mujuru as the second vice president and heir apparent to succeed President Mugabe.) Poloff and several other diplomats were in attendance at the scheduled 9:00 a.m. launch, which did not get underway until noon. The UPP,s party administrator told poloff that the delay and the small crowd were due to the ruling party,s interference with the prearranged chartered bus transportation to the event. ¶2. (U) In well-received remarks to the crowd, Shumba, the interim UPP president, blasted ZANU-PF for having condemned Zimbabweans "to poverty, hunger and destitution" as a result of Operation Murambatsvina, economic collapse and failed land reform. Adding that the government had lost its legitimacy to rule, Shumba called for it immediate resignation and new and fair elections. Shumba laid out a near-term game plan for the UPP, including a road show to all the provinces before holding a national congress around July 31 to name an interim executive team. The party would then contest local government elections slated for August 2006. ¶3. (C) Comment: The UPP is not to be confused with Jonathan Moyo's United People's Movement (UPM) but like the UPM its ability to make an impact on Zimbabwe's political scene is doubtful. An egotistical businessman who lost his telecom concession in the wake of his party suspension, Shumba would seem to lack the financial wherewithal, public trust or distinguishing message to attract meaningful support from an opposition field still dominated by the Morgan Tsvangirai and his anti-senate MDC faction. DELL