PRO-SENATE MDC MP LLEGEDLY ATTACKED BY ANTI-SENATE FACTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000791 SIPDIS SIPDIS F/S FOR B. NEULING SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COUVILLE E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2015 TAGS: ASECPGOV PHUM PREL ZI SUBJECT: PRO-SENATE MDC MP LLEGEDLY ATTACKED BY ANTI-SENATE FACTION Clasified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell for reasons .5 b/d -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU)MDC pro-Senate faction MP Trudy Stevenson was severely assaulted on July 2 along with four other pro-Senate faction officials. Stevenson, who was reportedly attacked with a machete and rocks, has alleged that youths aligned to the anti-Senate MDC faction of Morgan Tsvangirai carried out the assault. In response, the anti-Senate leadership has denied involvement and established a commission of three lawyers to investigate Stevenson,s claims. For its part, the state-controlled media has given the incident front-page coverage and is exploiting the situation to reinforce its portrayal of the opposition as violent. See action request in paragraph 6. End Summary. -------------- The Attack -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Upon leaving a meeting in one of Harare's historically volatile high-density suburbs on Sunday, Stevenson and four provincial faction officials were assaulted by about 10 youths. Recounting the attack to reporters and diplomats on July 5, a visibly weakened Stevenson said the youths attacked her using large stones and a machete. Stevenson suffered a deep gash on the back of her head, a fractured cheekbone, and injuries to her arm. The faction's acting organizing secretary for Harare, Linos Mushonga, suffered injuries to his hand and arm, while the others sustained only minor injuries. The attackers also stole a number of items from the victims, including cell phones and wedding rings. (N.B. Accompanying Stevenson to the briefing was her son, who had met with Tsvangirai on July ¶3. The son made no comment regarding the meeting, but we will attempt to get a read out of what transpired.) -------------- Allegations of Anti-Senate Faction Complicity -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Stevenson and pro-Senate spokesman Gabriel Chaibva asserted that the attackers were aligned with the anti-Senate MDC faction. Stevenson said that attackers chanted, "Trudy, you are rebelling against Tsvangirai." Before the press conference, Chaibva told poloff that Stevenson knew several of the attackers and had identified them as loyal to Morgan Tsvangirai. Indeed, he claimed that the attack was SIPDIS controlled and directed from Tsvangirai's headquarters at Harvest House. Supporting this claim, Chaibva noted that Nelson Chamisa, the anti-Senate spokesperson, owned one of the vehicles used in the attack. The other vehicle, according to Chaibva, had been seized by Tsvangirai's faction earlier this year as the two camps fought over party resources. At the press conference, Chaibva criticized both civil society and the diplomatic community for not immediately condemning the violence. -------------- Anti-Senate Faction Response -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The anti-Senate faction of the MDC has publicly condemned the attack and denied its leadership was involved. Anti-Senate faction Deputy Treasurer Elton Mangoma told poloff on July 4 that Secretary General Tendai Biti and others earlier that day had attempted to visit Stevenson in HARARE 00000791 002 OF 002 the hospital to express their sympathies, but were turned away by hospital staff. Mangoma conceded that youths affiliated with the party could have carried out the unsanctioned attacks. To this end, Biti on July 4 publicly announced the formation of an independent group of three lawyers to investigate the pro-Senate claims on behalf of the anti-Senate faction. One of the lawyers, Irene Petras of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, told poloff that the commission had been established but had yet to set a time for its first meeting. -------------- State Media Spin -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The state-controlled daily media has seized on the attack, granting it front-page coverage in the Herald, which on July 4 also carried a large picture of a visibly battered Stevenson. The government press has highlighted the allegations that Tsvangirai's camp orchestrated the assault. ZANU-PF secretary for information Nathan Shamuyarira has also used the attack to deflect criticism of the ruling party's track record of violence, noting that "the incident confirms the violent nature" of the MDC. The Herald also reported that the assault contradicted the State Department's Human Rights Report, which noted that the GOZ was perpetrating violence but purportedly absolved the opposition. (N.B. the Human Rights Report in fact notes the reported implication of MDC elements in political violence.) -------------- Comment and Action Recommendation -------------- ¶6. (C) It is too soon to tell who ultimately bears responsibility for the attack on Stevenson and the other pro-Senate officials. Although it seems unlikely that the anti-Senate leadership would have ordered the attack, we cannot rule out the possibility that youths associated with the faction carried out the attack on one of the pro-Senate's highest profile officials in Harare. That said, the anti-Senate's quick response and formation of an independent inquiry are encouraging signs that the party is determined to tackle potential violent elements within its ranks. Chaibva's criticism of the lack of condemnation of the attack is not without merit, and Washington may wish to consider issuing a statement condemning political violence from all parties in Zimbabwe. DELL