Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HARARE331
2007-04-19 15:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:  

GOZ'S NEGATIVE REACTION TO CATHOLIC CHURCH'S

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM ZI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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R 191532Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1380
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1576
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1442
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1580
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RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0843
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1206
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RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 2063
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0703
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1797
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000331 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR S.HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E.LOKEN
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B.PITTMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI
SUBJECT: GOZ'S NEGATIVE REACTION TO CATHOLIC CHURCH'S
PASTORAL LETTER

REF: HARARE 284

Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell under Section 1.4 b/d

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000331

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR S.HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E.LOKEN
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B.PITTMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI
SUBJECT: GOZ'S NEGATIVE REACTION TO CATHOLIC CHURCH'S
PASTORAL LETTER

REF: HARARE 284

Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell under Section 1.4 b/d


1. (SBU) The hard-hitting pastoral letter (Ref) of the
Catholic Bishops Conference was made public on April 12 and
read by priests in churches throughout the country on Sunday,
April 15. We understand that many priests gave copies of the
letter to their parishioners to take home and discuss within
their communities. We don't yet know how widespread
knowledge of the letter is throughout Zimbabwe.


2. (C) We received some anecdotal reaction that ZANU-PF
pushed back against some priests in Harare. At St. Gerrards
Church on April 15, in the upscale Harare suburb of
Borrowdale, Father Raymond Mupandusekwa read the letter to
about 500 parishioners, including high-level ZANU-PF
officials. Minister of Justice Patrick Chinimasa, in
attendance, stood up with his wife and left. Chinimasa
subsequently told Father Raymond that this kind of criticism
of the government was not good for his career.


3. (C) Comment. The GOZ has in the past used its familiar
divide and rule tactics to mute church criticism, co-opting
some religious leaders while sanctioning critics. How it
reacts to the priests who read and circulated the pastoral
letter may depend on the government's perception of how
widespread dissemination of the letter has been and how
aggressively the Catholic Church pursues the letter,s
agenda. We will report septel.
DELL