TRAVEL ALERT - ZIMBABWE

UNCLAS STATE 058879 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC ASEC ZI SUBJECT: TRAVEL ALERT - ZIMBABWE ¶1. This Travel Alert updates safety and security concerns in Zimbabwe, advises U.S. citizens to consider relocating if necessary to ensure their security during the upcoming election period, and continues to recommend deferral of all non-essential travel to Zimbabwe at this time. This supersedes the Travel Alert for Zimbabwe dated May 14, 2008 and expires on August 1, 2008. ¶2. U.S. citizens should defer non-essential travel to Zimbabwe. U.S. citizens resident in Zimbabwe, particularly in rural areas, should carefully review their personal circumstances and consider moving to a more secure location in advance of, and immediately following, the June 27 runoff of the presidential elections between President Robert Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) candidate Morgan Tsvangirai. Since the March 29 general election, Zimbabwean security forces, including some military and police, as well as so-called war veterans, have created a climate of intimidation and fear across the country, particularly in rural areas and high-density suburbs. There have been numerous and widespread attacks on opposition supporters, renewed farm invasions, and arrests and beatings of election officials accused of vote tampering. There is a continued risk of arbitrary detention or arrest. ¶3. Americans should be particularly cautious when using still, video or telephone cameras in any urban setting, or in the vicinity of any political activity, as this could be construed by Zimbabwean authorities as presenting oneself as an accredited journalist, a crime punishable by arrest, incarceration and/or deportation. ¶4. American citizens traveling to or resident in Zimbabwe should register with the U.S. Embassy by completing a registration form online at https://travelregistration.state.gov. Registration enables the Embassy to contact American citizens in case of emergency and provide updates on the security situation. ¶5. As the Department of State continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its consular information program documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. ¶6. Minimize considered. RICE