PRO-DEMOCRCAY GROUPS STILL UNDER ATTACK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000870 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN USAID FOR L.DOBBINS AND E. LOKEN ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017 TAGS: PHUM PGOV ELAB ZI SUBJECT: PRO-DEMOCRCAY GROUPS STILL UNDER ATTACK REF: A. HARARE 00858 ¶B. HARARE 00869 ¶C. HARARE 00671 Classified By: Poloff Scott Higgins, reason: 1.4 d -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Zimbabwe security forces have intensified repression against labor and pro-democracy groups despite recent reports that the government has agreed to positive concessions in ongoing SADC mediation talks. Within the last week, security forces arrested labor leaders and intimidated workers, disrupted funeral services and arrested 55 mourners, and arrested and assaulted two student leaders. These actions raise legitimate questions as to whether positive change will emerge from the SADC talks. Additionally, a pro-democracy activist severely assaulted by police in July died as a result of complications related to her injuries. As one political observer noted, nothing will change until the government puts an end to the poisonous atmosphere of violence and fear. End Summary. -------------- Actions Speak Louder than Words -------------- ¶2. (U) In surprise news last week from the SADC mediation talks between the ruling ZANU-PF party and the opposition MDC factions, negotiators reportedly agreed, among other things, that the government would amend the notorious Public Order and Security Act (POSA) to remove sections that prohibit public gatherings without prior police notification (reftel A). The law has long been used to prevent political and civic groups considered critical of the government from holding meetings or public gatherings. However, in stark contrast to this seemingly conciliatory move, security forces have intensified repression against labor and pro-democracy groups. ¶3. (U) During the past week, security agents intimidated workers and arrested and assaulted labor leaders and organizers to quash a general strike organized by Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) for September 19 and 20 (reftel B). ¶4. (C) On September 15, police in Harare arrested 55 mourners and assaulted at least two of them at funeral services for Memory Jenaguru, a woman rendered homeless during the 2005 government-sponsored Operation Murambatsvina ("drive out the 
filth") campaign. A USAID officer was on a tour of the high-density suburb of Mbare with Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA),a local victim's assistance group, when Jenaguru's body was discovered. Jenaguru had died two days before; however, relatives could not afford the burial and had not reported the case to police for fear of victimization. CHRA stepped-in to arrange a Murambatsvina solidarity service for Jenaguru. ¶5. (U) Police released all arrestees the same day after forcing them to pay admission of guilt fines for "participating in a demonstration without prior warning to police." The government reportedly confiscated and buried Jenaguru's body. HARARE 00000870 002 OF 002 ¶6. (U) On September 18, university security arrested and assaulted two University of Zimbabwe (UZ) student leaders, Lovemore Chinoputsa and Fortune Chamba, after they delivered speeches at a student gathering called to address high tuition fees and concerns over the ongoing accommodation crisis at campus. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) lawyers told us that the two were beaten with sticks and interrogated by university security and intelligence officers before being taken to the Avondale Police Station where they were made to pay an admission of guilt fine and released. ¶7. (U) More than 4,000 students were evicted from campus housing in July following protests. Zimbabwe National Students' Union (ZINASU) reported that an estimated two-thirds of UZ students did not resume their studies when the semester began on September 10 due to the lack of housing and high fees. ¶8. (C) In another death related to government abuse, National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) officials reported that Bronislawa Kwinjo died on September 14 as a result of complications related to injuries sustained during an assault by police in July. Kwinjo was one of the more than 200 activists arrested and severely beaten for participating in an NCA demonstration in Harare on July 25 (reftel C). Frances Lovemore, director of Counselling Services Unit (CSU),a local NGO that provides medical assistance to victims of state violence, confirmed to us that Kwinjo's injuries contributed to her death. -------------- Comment -- The Proof is in the Pudding -------------- ¶9. (C) The government's continued repression of labor and pro-democracy groups can only fuel doubts among skeptics that the SADC mediation talks will lead to positive change. Iden Wetherell, group projects editor of the weekly newspaper The Standard, said it best yesterday when he told poloff that "they can amend all the laws they want, but nothing will change until the government puts an end to the poisonous atmosphere of violence and fear it perpetuates". End Comment. RAYNOR