ZAMBIA: INITIAL OUTREACH TO HUMAN RIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUSAKA 000502 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2018 TAGS: PHUM ZA ZI SUBJECT: ZAMBIA: INITIAL OUTREACH TO HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS REGARDING ZIMBABWE Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY DCM MICHAEL KOPLOVSKY REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) During a lunch with POLOFF on May 8, Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) Project Officer Robby Shabwanga (protect) said that his organization has been receiving information on post-election human rights abuses in Zimbabwe through their sister branch in Zimbabwe. Shabwanga bemoaned the situation and said that the LRF in Zimbabwe is constantly under scrutiny and threats from the government of Zimbabwe. Shabwanga indicated that LRF Zambia had no plans at this point to make a statement or to more widely distribute the materials that they had received; he indicated that he believed most organizations engaged on human rights in Zambia also were in possession of documentation of the human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. ¶2. (C) Post also received a PowerPoint presentation about post-election violence entitled "Operation Mavhoterapapi (Who Did You Vote For)" from the Dutch Embassy in Lusaka. Eduard Middeldorp, the Dutch ambassador to Zambia, is an outspoken advocate for good governance and human rights. In the presence of the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and the invited diplomatic corps, Middeldorp used his speech at the Dutch Embassy's April 30 celebration of the Queen's birthday to call on the GRZ to do more to pressure the government of Zimbabwe. Post believes that allowing the Dutch and/or other missions to take the lead in condemning post-election violence and encouraging GRZ action helps contain GRZ sensitivities about being perceived as a tool of the United States and Britain. However, Post will continue to meet with local human rights organizations to inform them on violence and human rights violations in Zimbabwe. MARTINEZ