Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HARARE644
2008-07-30 15:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
DONORS DEMARCHE ON HUMANITARIAN SPACE
how-toVZCZCXRO9553 OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSB #0644 2121501 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 301501Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3233 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2185 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2304 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0836 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1581 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1939 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2360 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4791 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1450 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS HARARE 000644
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
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: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL EAID ZI
SUBJECT: DONORS DEMARCHE ON HUMANITARIAN SPACE
REF: HARARE 615
UNCLAS HARARE 000644
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
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: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL EAID ZI
SUBJECT: DONORS DEMARCHE ON HUMANITARIAN SPACE
REF: HARARE 615
1. (U) Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Goche refused to
meet with UN and donor reps to discuss humanitarian space
(reftel) because, he said, he was fully occupied as a ZANU-PF
negotiator in the South African facilitated power sharing
talks with MDC factions. On July 29, Dutch Ambassador Jos
Weterings delivered a demarche on behalf of the donor
community to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary
Joey Bimha. The demarche (text e-mailed to AF/S and PRM/AFR)
stressed the urgency of a blanket reauthorization of NGOs and
the GOZ's responsibility to protect IDPs. Weterings reported
that Bimha took the demarche seriously and promised to
discuss it with the relevant authorities.
2. (SBU) IOM and CRS representatives told Emboffs on July 30
that their contacts had told them the NGO ban would be lifted
this week.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: The GOZ will likely soon allow NGOs to
resume humanitarian activities, but will seek to exert
increased control by providing selective authorization only
to "well-behaved" NGOs and/or by closely controlling
activities at a local level. The donor community is
currently united in its insistence on full and complete
humanitarian access. As severe food insecurity increases in
the coming weeks and months, it will grow more and more
difficult to maintain a united front in the face of a
restricted opening of humanitarian space. END COMMENT.
MCGEE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
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: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL EAID ZI
SUBJECT: DONORS DEMARCHE ON HUMANITARIAN SPACE
REF: HARARE 615
1. (U) Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Goche refused to
meet with UN and donor reps to discuss humanitarian space
(reftel) because, he said, he was fully occupied as a ZANU-PF
negotiator in the South African facilitated power sharing
talks with MDC factions. On July 29, Dutch Ambassador Jos
Weterings delivered a demarche on behalf of the donor
community to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary
Joey Bimha. The demarche (text e-mailed to AF/S and PRM/AFR)
stressed the urgency of a blanket reauthorization of NGOs and
the GOZ's responsibility to protect IDPs. Weterings reported
that Bimha took the demarche seriously and promised to
discuss it with the relevant authorities.
2. (SBU) IOM and CRS representatives told Emboffs on July 30
that their contacts had told them the NGO ban would be lifted
this week.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: The GOZ will likely soon allow NGOs to
resume humanitarian activities, but will seek to exert
increased control by providing selective authorization only
to "well-behaved" NGOs and/or by closely controlling
activities at a local level. The donor community is
currently united in its insistence on full and complete
humanitarian access. As severe food insecurity increases in
the coming weeks and months, it will grow more and more
difficult to maintain a united front in the face of a
restricted opening of humanitarian space. END COMMENT.
MCGEE