Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HARARE764
2006-06-27 15:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
FORMER ZANU-PF OFFICIAL LAUNCHES NEW OPPOSITION
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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
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
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