ZANU-PF TARGETS MDC OFFICIALS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 000622 SIPDIS AF/S FOR S. HILL ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM KDEM ZI SUBJECT: ZANU-PF TARGETS MDC OFFICIALS REF: A. HARARE 621 ¶B. HARARE 532 ¶C. HARARE 513 Classified By: Charge d'affaires Katherine Dhanani for reason 1.4(d). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Even though the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) won a majority of seats in the March 29 parliamentary elections, MDC officials continue to battle trumped-up charges, evade bogus arrests, and endure harassment at the hands of the ZANU-PF-run security structures. 10 MDC MPs and two MDC Senators have been jailed and formally charged with crimes since March. Other MDC officials have been detained for days without charge, harassed, or pursued on unknown charges. This intimidation has disrupted the MDC's ability to organize, communicate, campaign, and plan. Should negotiations fail, it is possible, if not likely, that that there will be a renewal of arrests and harassment to further damage the MDC and prevent it from achieving a majority in the House of Assembly. END SUMMARY. -------------- MPs and Senator facing charges -------------- ¶2. (U) Below is a summary of the ten MDC MPs and two Senators who have been charged with crimes since the March 29 election. There are no ZANU-PF elected officials facing charges. Some of these cases were previously reported (Refs B and C). Naison Nemadziwa, MP-elect from Buhera South Arrested: June 30, 2008 Charges: Inciting violence. He was arrested at gunpoint by a group of six armed men, led by an army colonel, who loaded him into an unmarked truck outside the high court in Mutare. He was arrested just after winning a court case over the losing ZANU-PF candidate and war veteran leader, Joseph Chinotimba, who is believed to have played a significant role in masterminding the terror campaign in the June 27 runoff. Released on bail: July 4, 2008 Whereabouts: In hiding John Masaba, Senator-elect from Kariba Arrested: June 19, 2008 Charges: Inciting political violence. He was arrested as he traveled towards his rural homestead, transporting relief items for violence victims and campaign materials for Morgan Tsvangirai. Police impounded the vehicle. Released from remand prison: July 10, 2008 Shuwa Mudiwa, MP-elect from Mutare West Arrested: June 18, 2008 Charges: Kidnapping a 13-year-old girl. Police allege he kidnapped the girl on June 7 and locked her in a house; the girl escaped and reported it to police. Mudiwa is a former ZANU-PF member and Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) operative who defected to the MDC. Released: Date uncertain Tendai Biti, MP-elect from Harare East and MDC Secretary General (Ref B) Arrested: June 5, 2008 Charges: Treason, based on the alleged publication of a document prejudicial to the State; causing disaffection within the police force; insulting the President; and announcing the MDC had won the election before official results were announced. If found guilty of treason, Biti HARARE 00000622 002 OF 004 could face the death penalty. Released on bail: June 26, 2008. No trial date has been set. Eric Matinenga, MP-elect from Buhera West (Ref C) Arrested: May 31, 2008 Charges: Inciting public violence. In his court hearing on June 4, the magistrate refused to put him on remand, saying the State had failed to provide any evidence against him. She dropped the charges against him. Released: June 5, 2008 Re-arrested: June 7, 2008 Charges: The same public violence charges that the magistrate dropped days earlier. Ordered released: June 9, 2008 Released on June 26. His case has been remanded until August ¶18. Amos Chibaya, MP-elect from Gweru (Ref C) Detained and Released May 21, 2008 Charges: "Undermining public confidence in the police force" for comments he made at a rally about police officers having voted for MDC. Iain Kay, MP-elect from Marondera Central (Ref C) Arrested: May 20, 2008 Charges: Inciting violence. Kay is accused of masterminding violence in Mashonaland East. He was held for more than 48 hours before being formally charged. When he did appear in court, the State appealed bail, which was eventually granted. Released on bail: June 2, 2008. No trial date has been set. Heya Shoko, MP-elect from Bikita West (Ref C) Arrested: May 12, 2008 Charges: Public violence. He is accused of involvement in violence and arson. Released: May 14, 2008. No trial date has been set. Misheck Shoko, MP-elect from Chitungwiza South (Ref C) Arrested: May 12, 2008 Charges: Inciting violence. Accused of planning to raid a ZANU-PF youth militia base in Seke. Whereabouts: In jail. No trial date has been set. Trevor Saruwaka, MP-elect from Mutasa Central (Ref C) Arrested: May 11, 2008 Charges: Inciting violence. Saruwaka had gone to the Penhalonga Police Station to look for an MDC youth abducted by war veterans. He was ordered arrested at the police station. Awarded bail: May 14, 2008 Released from jail: May 20, 2008. No trial date has been set. Norman Mpofu, MP-elect from Bulilima East and Lutho Tapela, Senator-elect from Bulilima-Mangwe (Ref C) Detained: May 24, 2008 Charges: Holding an illegal meeting in Plumtree with two local activists. Released: May 27, 2008 -------------- MPs held without charge -------------- ¶3. (U) In addition to the MPs that face charges, four MPs and one Senator were held in jail without charge and later released: Contin Muguti, MP-elect from Gokwe. Muguti was abducted from his home by men in army uniforms. He was held for three weeks and severely beaten. After he was beaten, he was dumped in a police cell and denied medical treatment for more than a week. He was finally released on HARARE 00000622 003 OF 004 July 10. Mayemureyi Munhuru, Senator-elect from Chimanimani. Abducted with her husband from their home at gunpoint on June ¶24. No charges were filed, and both were later released unharmed. Abednico Bhebhe, MP-elect from Nyaki and Robert Rabson, Senator-elect from Nyaki. Detained: June 18, 2008 Released: June 27, 2008 They were detained when police impounded the vehicle Bhebhe was driving. The police later claimed he had violated Zimbabwean law by driving a vehicle (that belongs to his cousin) without the owner's permission. Despite two court orders demanding that police release the vehicle, they continue to hold the car. On July 16, Bhebhe filed contempt of court charges against the police for refusing to comply with the court orders. Patrick Sibanda, MP-elect from Binga North. Detained: June 18, 2008 for having a weapon (an ax) in his vehicle. Takalani Prince Matibe, MP-elect from Chegutu West. Detained: June 12, 2008 shortly after hosting MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai at his home. -------------- MPs on the "wanted list" -------------- ¶4. (SBU) At least ten MPs were in hiding, based on warrants for their arrest or warnings that they were on wanted lists. In light of the MOU to be signed between ZANU-PF and the MDC for negotiations, we believe police are no longer pursuing these individuals: Pearson Mungova, MP-elect from Highfield East. Charges: Causing discontent among state security officers. Elton Mangoma, MP-elect from Makoni North. Charges: Inciting political violence. On July 10, 2008, he was allowed to leave Zimbabwe to participate in talks between the MDC and ZANU-PF in South Africa, where he is one of the MDC's negotiators. Elijah Jembere, MP-elect from Epworth. Charges: Rape. The charges were initially thrown out by a Harare court, but the Zimbabwean Government appealed and put him on a wanted list on the same charges. Edmore Marima, MP-elect from Bikita East. Charges: Attempted murder and inciting public violence. Mathias Mlambo, MP-elect from Chipinge East. Charges: Inciting public violence. Broadwin Nyunde, MP-elect from Bindura South. Charges: Inciting political violence. Pineal Denga, MP-elect from Mbare. Charges: Inciting political violence. His home and office have been raided repeatedly. Thabitha Khumalo, MP-elect from Bulawayo East. Charges: Unknown. Shepherd Mushonga, MP-elect from Mazowe Central. Charges: Inciting political violence. He is wanted in connection with clashes in Chaona in May that left 13 people dead. On July 4, The Herald, the government mouthpiece, HARARE 00000622 004 OF 004 warned that Mushonga is armed and dangerous and also "wanted in connection with several other cases of political violence." Joel Gabuzza, MP-elect from Binga South. Charges: Unknown. He is in hiding after friendly police warned him they'd been ordered to pick him up. -------------- MPs face other forms of harassment, violence -------------- ¶5. (U) In addition, some MPs and their families have been attacked, beaten, or harassed. They include: Festus Dumbu, MP-elect from Zaka West. The whereabouts of five members of Dumbu's family are unknown after they were abducted by ZANU-PF militants at the end of June. Harrison Mudzuri, MP-elect from Zaka Central. Mudzuri's father's homestead was attacked by 10 people in army uniforms, some were armed. One of his relatives was shot three times during the attack. Marvellous Khumalo, MP-elect from St Mary's. Her home was petrol bombed. Nelson Chamisa, MDC Spokesman. Armed soldiers attacked and severely beat Chamisa's parents, 78-year-old grandmother, and younger brother for two hours at their rural home in Chiwara, Gutu South on May 31. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) Of the 110 MDC MPs (including both factions),almost one quarter have since the March 29 elections been arrested and charged, detained and released without charge, or placed on an arrest list and gone into hiding. Numerous other local MDC officials have been similarly targeted. The effect has been to seriously damage the MDC's organization and ability to function, and to intimidate local communities that supported these MDC MPs and officials. Another ZANU-PF objective may be, by attrition, to prevent the MDC from constituting a parliamentary majority when the House of Assembly is convened and, as a majority, electing the powerful House Speaker. A combined MDC would need 106 votes to achieve a majority. The MOU (Ref A) calls for a delay in convening Parliament while negotiations are ongoing and there has been a recent let up in the arrest and harassment of MDC officials. Should negotiations fail, it is possible, if not likely, that that there will be a renewal of arrests and harassment to further damage the MDC and prevent it from achieving a majority in the House of Assembly. END COMMENT. Dhanani