MOZAMBIQUE-UNHCR CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR ZIMBABWE

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000373 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM SMIG PREF MZ ZM SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE-UNHCR CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR ZIMBABWE REF: 07 MAPUTO 1239 ¶1. (U) Poloff met on 4/21 with head of the UNHCR mission in Mozambique, Victoria Akyeampong to discuss UNHCR initiatives concerning Zimbabwe since the March 29 elections. Akyeampong noted that a UNHCR team from Geneva had recently visited Mozambique to work with the GRM on a contingency plan for a substantial increase in the number of Zimbabweans entering Mozambique. The UNHCR is preparing to receive an estimated 80,000 Zimbabweans in Mozambique and is working closely with the GRM on the logistical groundwork, which includes daily inter-ministerial meetings. Akyeampong does not personally believe that Zimbabweans will enter Mozambique seeking asylum "unless intimidation, beatings, and killings begin in earnest," but suggested that the contingency plan would still be useful in the future "when Mugabe eventually leaves power." ¶2. (U) The UNHCR-GRM contingency plan involves one major camp to be established in Manica Province, with an estimated capacity for 50,000 refugees. In addition, two temporary shelters with a capacity for 10,000 people each will be established in Tete and Gaza Provinces. The camp and temporary shelters share borders with Zimbabwe's Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, and Masvingo Provinces respectively. Akyeampong credited the new centralization of UN agencies in Mozambique for making the contingency plan possible. Under the plan, each UN agency in-country will be responsible for specific functions, such as food distribution, sanitation, transportation, etc. while ultimately reporting to UNHCR. A final component of the contingency plan involves the creation of a separate camp for returned Mozambicans living in Zimbabwe. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: GRM cooperation with the UNHCR represents a significant shift in thinking and initiative compared with before the elections. The GRM traditionally had maintained that cross border movement by Zimbabweans into Mozambique represented the natural movement of people from one SADC country to another (reftel). It appears clear that Zimbabwe's prolonged failure to end the election stalemate has forced the GRM to take a more pronounced role in contingency preparations. The UNHCR representative's praise of the GRM's recent commitment is a positive step and further evidence that the GRM recognizes that the situation next door could have a significant refugee impact in Mozambique. Chapman