Ambassador Meets with Zim Home Affairs Co-Ministers

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000095 SIPDIS AF/S FOR BRIAN WALCH NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/10 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KTIP ASEC PINR ZI SUBJECT: Ambassador Meets with Zim Home Affairs Co-Ministers REF: 2009 HARARE 340 CLASSIFIED BY: Charles A. Ray, Ambassador, STATE, EXEC; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (SBU The Ambassador met February 8 with Khembo Mohadi (ZANU-PF) and Giles Mutsekwa (MDC-T),the co-ministers of Home Affairs, at their office. The meeting was friendly, especially when contrasted with Ambassador McGee's meeting with the two ministers in April 2009 (Ref). ¶2. (SBU) Mohadi expressed interest in police assistance, including exchange programs and training. ¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador asked about continuing reports of violence and intimidation in rural areas. Mohadi replied that there were isolated incidents. He said that the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (of which he is a member),established under the Global Political Agreement (GPA) to monitor the GPA, was working at the provincial level to preach tolerance. It would continue doing so at the district level. Mutsekwa added that the three main political parties were holding meetings in anticipation of the constitutional outreach process throughout the country. Frequently, they had not notified the police of their meetings, as required by law, and police were therefore not present to exercise control. ¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador raised the issue of trafficking, explaining that it is a scourge the U.S. takes seriously throughout the world. We should not let our differences get in the way of fighting transnational crime. He stated that Zimbabwe's Tier 3 status could potentially complicate U.S. assistance efforts in Zimbabwe, and that the Embassy would support Zimbabwe's efforts to fight trafficking and move from Tier 3 status. Mutsekwa replied that trafficking was a regional problem and was topical in regional meetings. Zimbabwe, according to Mutsekwa, was primarily a country of transit between the Great Lakes and the Horn, and South Africa. Police had difficulty investigating traffickers because many posed as refugees. Mohadi added that the government wanted to do more in education and advocacy, but was constrained by resources. Mutsekwa noted there is a draft anti-trafficking law currently being vetted within the Ministry of Home Affairs. (NOTE: An official from the Prime Minister's office told us last week that they hope to introduce the bill in Cabinet this year. END NOTE.) The Ambassador left with the ministers the 2009 worldwide Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, the TIP report specific to Zimbabwe, and the action plan for Zimbabwe. We agreed that the Embassy would follow up with the Ministry on Zimbabwe's efforts to comply with the action plan. ¶5. (SBU) We asked the ministers about police involvement in the Marange diamond fields. Mutsekwa, who is from Mutare (not far from the area),said police had nothing to do with mining. At one point, they had removed illegal panners to maintain law and order, but it was up to the companies to provide security. ¶6. (SBU) Mohadi and Mutsekwa said they worked well together, perhaps because they were both ex-military. As a result, the ministry was functioning smoothly. -------------- COMMENT -------------- HARARE 00000095 002 OF 002 ¶7. (C) Mutsekwa has been under fire from MDC-T for being too conciliatory with Mohadi. We continue to receive reports of intimidation of MDC-T members in rural areas and there is a sense that police have been passive observers and that Mutsekwa has not taken action. Part of the problem may be systemic. The Commissioner of Police, Augustine Chihuri, who has direct control of the police, is supposed to report to Home Affairs. He does not do so. He sits on the Joint Operations Command (JOC) where many police actions are coordinated. Also, the permanent secretary in the Ministry is a ZANU-PF apparatchik who has no interest in supporting any MDC-T minister. END COMMENT. -------------- Bio Notes -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Mohadi fought with ZAPU in the independence struggle. He was arrested in 1975 and sentenced to 15 years in custody. After his release at independence in 1980, he became an education officer in Beitbridge and became active politically with PF-ZAPU. He became a member of the party's Central Committee and was elected to Parliament in 1985. After the Unity Accord in 1987, he continued his political activity with ZANU-PF as a parliamentarian and Central Committee member. In 1999, he was investigated for the murder of his wife's lover. In 2000, President Mugabe appointed him Minister of Home Affairs and the investigation was dropped. Because he is from Matabeleland, one of the few ZANU-PF parliamentarians from that region, Mugabe considers him an important ally. ¶9. (SBU) Mutsekwa fought with the Rhodesian army and, after independence, served with the Zimbabwean army. He retired in the late 1980s with the rank of Major. Before MDC-T entered into government, he served as the party's shadow minister of defense. He continues to run an insurance business in Mutare. Mutsekwa was arrested in 2006 in the treason case on which Roy Bennett is now standing trial. He was released on bail and charges were ultimately dropped. END BIO NOTES. RAY