ZIMBABWE TIER 3 TIP ASSESSMENT: MOVING IN THE

UNCLAS HARARE 000678 SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION G FOR A.C. BLANK AF/S FOR B. WALCH DRL FOR N. WILETT G/TIP FOR R. YOUSEY AND J. SIGMON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC KDEM KTIP PGOV PHUM PREL ZI SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE TIER 3 TIP ASSESSMENT: MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION--BUT SLOWLY REF: A. SECSTATE 64062 ¶B. SECSTATE 81476 ¶C. HARARE 650 ¶1. (U) This cable serves as a response to the Department's request for information (Ref B) on Zimbabwe's progress towards improving its performance in addressing anti-trafficking issues. In response to Zimbabwe's recent Tier 3 ranking in the Trafficking in Persons report, Post has encouraged the Zimbabwean gvernment to take action as described in the Tier 3 Action Plan on legislation, victim protection, and public awareness (Ref A). -------------- Pace Quickening Towards Anti-TIP legislation -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Officials in the Prime Minister's office, the Parliament, the Foreign Ministry and the Justice Ministry agreed that anti-trafficking legislation is important. The Prime Minister's office has taken up the issue and begun to consult with stakeholders with an eye towards drafting a comprehensive anti-trafficking bill. Advisor to the Prime Minister Rosie Zigomo, a lawyer by training, is consulting with local NGOs that provide assistance to trafficking victims and that are researching trafficking in Zimbabwe. The local office of the International Organization for Migration employs a consultant who has been working with the Parliament's legal advisor, Choice Damiso, to establish a framework for a new law. Zigomo told poloff that she and Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Gordon Moyo had brought the issue and the recent Tier 3 ranking to the attention of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who agrees that anti-trafficking legislation should be on the legislative agenda for 2009-2010. Minister Moyo has agreed to spearhead the issue. He plans on proposing draft legislation in Cabinet, which will then forward the issue to Parliament. Moyo has asked Zigomo to review sample legislation from other African nations (which Post has provided with the assistance of G/TIP) and to prepare briefing papers on trafficking in Zimbabwe. Post is helping Zigomo identify local civil society organizations to prepare the briefing papers and to serve as sources for consultation. Zigomo told us on August 10 that Minister Moyo plans to introduce the topic of anti-trafficking legislation in the cabinet meeting held during the week of August 17. After the issue is presented in cabinet, Zigomo told us that PM Tsvangirai plans on issuing a public statement against trafficking. ¶3. (SBU) We anticipate ZANU-PF members of parliament will agree with the push to prioritize anti-TIP legislation. Deputy Minister of Justice Jessie Majome told us on July 27 that Attorney General Johannes Tomana was recently invited to South Africa by the South African National Prosecuting Authority. The South Africans used the meeting to encourage Zimbabwe to pass anti-trafficking legislation in advance of the 2010 World Cup, to be held in South Africa in May and June 2010. According to Majome, Tomana was surprised that "even Mozambique" had introduced anti-trafficking legislation. On his return to Zimbabwe, Tomana told Minister Qlegislation. On his return to Zimbabwe, Tomana told Minister of Justice Patrick Chinamasa and Majome that Zimbabwe should move to introduce such legislation. In addition, a respected South African research organization, Durban-based Human Sciences Resource Council (HSRC),recently visited Zimbabwe and spoke with poloff on human trafficking in Zimbabwe. He told us that the HSRC had been commissioned by the South African Government to research trafficking in Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Swaziland in advance of the World Cup. This regional pressure is likely to be effective towards encouraging the Zimbabwean government to introduce and pass an anti-trafficking law. -------------- Victim Protection Still Weak -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Post has no evidence of enhanced law enforcement and social welfare capacity to meet trafficking victim needs; a recent trafficking case (Ref C) confirms this weakness. In this most recent case, the Zimbabwean embassy in Angola proved extraordinarily helpful in facilitating the repatriation of Zimbabwean trafficking victims. Unfortunately, when their case entered the Ministry of Labor -- the only appropriate venue to prosecute the trafficking perpetrators given the absence of anti-trafficking legislation -- the government's response quickly deteriorated. We have shared the details of this ongoing case with Zigomo and Magwenzi, who both recognized the need for a more holistic approach by the GOZ in providing support for trafficking victims. While the GOZ has not yet addressed these shortcomings, the acknowledgment of the need to expand support will pave the way for further government action. -------------- No Media Campaign Yet -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Post has recorded no progress on the third element in the action plan: an expanded nationwide awareness campaign. Post will continue engagement on this issue. DHANANI