ZIMBABWEAN FILM DOCUMENTS LAND, HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000760 SENSITIVE SIPDIS AF/S FOR B. WALCH DRL FOR N. WILETT STATE PASS TO USAID FOR L.DOBBINS AND E.LOKEN STATE PASS TO DOL FOR S. HALEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PHUM EAID EAGR ASEC PGOV PREL ZI SUBJECT: ZIMBABWEAN FILM DOCUMENTS LAND, HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) The Research Advocacy Unit (RAU),a local NGO dedicated to documenting various human rights abuses and launching advocacy campaigns, recently completed a film documenting human rights abuses involved in the recent land grabs. Although the land issue has largely revolved around the plight of white land owners, the film includes extensive interviews with black, indigenous Zimbabwean farm workers who have been beaten and tortured, and have seen colleagues killed in the chaotic land redistribution. RAU showed the film to a group of diplomats at the Dutch embassy on September 22 and solicited ideas on distribution. Diplomats and RAU hope that the film will be used as an advocacy tool in advance of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting of the ministerial troika of the Organ on Politics, Defense, and Security in Maputo in October; among other issues, the troika is expected to review Zimbabwe's decision to pull out of the SADC Tribunal. END SUMMARY. -------------- Documentary Shows Suffering Of Black Farm Workers -------------- ¶2. (U) On September 22, the Dutch ambassador hosted a screening for ambassadors in Harare (including most SADC ambassadors) of the locally produced documentary "House of Justice." The 26-minute film was produced by a local NGO, RAU, which received training in filmmaking from Witness, an American NGO started by Peter Gabriel. The documentary examines recent violence on three Chegutu farms which were subjects of the SADC Tribunal ruling that the takeover of 77 white-owned commercial farms was unlawful. Despite the ruling, the government has continued the violent land grabs. Minister of Justice Patrick Chinamasa rejected the ruling of the Tribunal, claiming it lacked jurisdiction, and recently declared Zimbabwe was withdrawing from the Tribunal. The film also highlights the human rights abuses suffered by black Zimbabwean farm workers since the land invasions began in 2000. Startling statistics flash on the screen during the film: 71 percent of Zimbabwe's farm workers have been evicted since 2000; 97.5 percent of victims of human rights violations have been farm workers; less than one percent of land has been redistributed to farm workers. -------------- Labor Leader Pushing for Action -------------- ¶3. (U) RAU Director Tony Reeler told us that the Secretary General for the General Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union (GAPWUZ), Gertrude Hambira, is currently in South Africa attending the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) National Congress. She is there to advocate for greater COSATU action in support of Zimbabwe's farm workers who continue to suffer in the violent farm invasions. Hambira hopes to show the film during the COSATU meeting. She will visit other Southern African countries in coming weeks to show the film and encourage regional labor movements to push their governments to pressure Mugabe to respect the SADC Tribunal and to ensure the restoration of human rights and rule of law. RAU hopes labor movements in Zimbabwe and the region will become a more effective voice on behalf of farm workers. ¶4. (U) RAU plans to officially launch the film in early October in connection with a written report; RAU will use regional labor movements to distribute and promote the issue, the film and the Qmovements to distribute and promote the issue, the film and the report. RAU also plans to take the film and report to the Zimbabwean parliament. RAU recently produced a short film on political violence against women which was viewed in parliament. Although members differed in their opinions of the film, RAU did not encounter any problems showing it. (NOTE: The film on political violence against women in Zimbabwe is online at: http://hub.witness.org/en /HearUs-ViolenceAgainstWomeninZimbabwe2 END NOTE.) ¶5. (SBU) During a candid discussion after watching the film, the Tanzanian ambassador suggested that it be shown to members of the Zimbabwean government as well as to decision-makers in the three countries currently in the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense, and Security troika (Mozambique, Angola,and Swaziland),who will meet in October in Maputo to discuss how SADC will respond to Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa's recent declaration that Zimbabwe had pulled out of the SADC Tribunal. (The MDC is asking the Troika to consider ZANU-PF's failure to fully implement the GPA as well.) Others suggested that RAU post the film on the internet as soon as possible to ensure broad distribution to the widest possible HARARE 00000760 002 OF 002 audience. Post will provide a link for the film to DOL and DOS as soon as one is available. PETTERSON