MOZAMBIQUE'S PROPOSAL FOR FY 2009 JULIA TAFT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000615

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF PREL
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE'S PROPOSAL FOR FY 2009 JULIA TAFT

REFUGEE FUND

REF: 08 STATE 014280


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In response to reftel 08 State 014280,
U.S. Embassy- Maputo submits the following proposal for
consideration under the FY 2009 Julia Taft Refugee Fund. The
Zimbabwe-Mozambique Solidarity Alliance (ZIMOSA),working in
partnership with the Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM)
proposes to undertake a comprehensive survey of displaced,
undocumented Zimbabwean's found within the borders of
Mozambique in order to identify and assist this vulnerable
population. ZIMOSA/CCM also proposes to conduct fundraising,
income generating activities, cultural events and counseling
for refugees. Their proposed budget request totals $20,000.
END SUMMARY.

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DISPLACED ZIMBABWEANS IN MOZAMBIQUE
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2. (SBU) Due to political reasons, Mozambique has not
officially recognized displaced Zimbabweans as refugees. As
such, the Government of Mozambique (GRM) has not undertaken
any studies or surveys to determine the number and/or
conditions of Zimbabweans currently in country. According to
ZIMOSA/CCM, however, thousands of Zimbabweans have fled the
political and economic instability in their home country and
are now living, undocumented, in various provinces in
Mozambique. This is the population that ZIMOSA/CCM intends to
help.

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ZIMOSA
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3. (SBU) The Zimbabwe-Mozambique Solidarity Alliance ZIMOSA)
is a membership-driven, civil society organization formed in
June 2008 to help mitigate the suffering of Zimbabwean
migrants whose flow into Mozambique drastically increased
after the March 29 National Elections. Zimosa consists of
220 members, many of whom are torture victims and political
escapees, now living in 5 different provinces of Mozambique.
They work under the umbrella of the Christian Council of
Mozambique, a well-established, government registered NGO in
Mozambique. ZIMOSA has already worked on setting up
provincial structures in Maputo, Gaza, Sofala, Manica and
Tete in order to identify and register personal profiles of
the migrants. Moreover, they have conducted a limited field
assessment to ascertain the problems and needs faced by the
displaced Zimbabweans. The results of this study showed that
Zimbabweans in Mozambique need assistance in shelter, health,
water, sanitation, food, employment and legal protection.

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THEIR PROPOSAL
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4. (SBU) ZIMOSA/CCM proposes to conduct a national survey to
determine the number of Zimbabwean refugees currently in
Mozambique and to identify both the problems that they face
and the assistance that they need. They further propose to
distribute food and supplies to vulnerable Zimbabweans in
country and to engage in fundraising activities in order to
fund counseling/mental health workshops for the displaced
migrants. Lastly, they propose to engage in advocacy with
the GRM for Zimbabwean refugees in Mozambique. In the budget
submitted with their proposal, ZIMOSA/CCM requested $20,000.

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AUTHORITY AND REQUIRED CHECKS
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5. (SBU) Post certifies that it has the authority and the
capacity to award a grant to the intended recipient agency
prior to the end of the fiscal year. As requested, Post has
consulted appropriate Terrorist Watch Lists/websites and
reviewed PRM's NGO guidelines as posted on the PRM website.

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COMMENT
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6. (SBU) Due to the GRM's failure to recognize the displaced
Zimbabweans in Mozambique as refugees, there is little
information available about exactly how many Zimbabweans are
currently living in Mozambique and the conditions under which
they are living. ZIMOSA/CCM's proposal to conduct a
nationwide survey of displaced Zimbabweans will provide this
necessary information making it easier to determine the
extent of the problems faced by this vulnerable group.

MAPUTO 00000615 002 OF 002


Although their proposal is not as sophisticated as those
submitted by more well-established NGOs, they appear to have
both the staff and the motivation to successfully complete
the project. Post therefore requests that PRM award a
$20,000 FY 2009 Julia Taft Refugee Fund grant to Zimosa/CCM.
Chapman