Mugabe to arrest Tsvangirai, ban the MDC and expel US ambassador - Source

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/

09 December, 2010 10:38:00    Staff Reporter

HARARE – This morning The Zimbabwe Mail has just heard from high-level
sources in the Zimbabwe security services that President Mugabe is under
pressure from Zanu PF hardliners to arrest Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai,
outlaw the MDC and also expel the United States ambassador.

We can reveal that an emergency high level meeting is currently under way in
Harare this morning between Senior Zanu PF leaders and Security Chiefs and
on the agenda is the plan to seize on the latest highly sensitive material
released by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks, amid reports that
hardliners in Zanu PF are pushing for the immediate banning of the Movement
for Democratic Change led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

There are now fears that the country could slide into a military state as
Zanu PF opportunists try to seize the moment to outlaw all political
activities in the country.

Last night, the classified communication documents released by the Guardian
newspaper revealed a catalogue of attempts by the United States government
to help nudge President Robert Mugabe out of power.

A senior government and Zanu PF official whose identity cannot be revealed
described the matter to our reporter as "very serious" and said they will
leave no stone unturned.

"Those collaborating with the Western forces to overthrow us from power must
not cry foul when the rule of law takes its course, we fought for this
country and we will not fold our hands and let this happen", he said.

"We will get to the bottom of this and I can assure you we have legal and
moral grounds to ban the MDC from engaging in any political activities in
this country.

"Tsvangirai is going to be locked up for a very long time, mudhara (Mugabe)
is very angry. I spoke to him this morning and he is breathing fire", the
source said before he rushed to the meeting.

The sources also said there will be efforts to pursue those exiled
businessmen who engaged in the conspiracy to unseat Robert Mugabe.
A bloodless coup was planned to remove Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwe's president
with the help of pressure from the UN secretary general, according to
classified US documents.A confidential memo from the US embassy in South
Africa is entitled "Secret power sharing plan" and dated 30 January 2007. At
the time Zimbabwe was plunging into an unprecedented economic crisis. The
cable names a group of prominent Zimbabwean businessmen living in South
Africa who were pushing for change but says their leader's identity should
be "strictly protected".

Despite the United States of American and Zimbabwe having for long had an
uneasy relationship, political commentators argue that the situation could
get worse following Mugabe’s mention in the leaked documents. According to
them, Zanu PF has been gifted with a propaganda coup.

Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi says diplomats
engaged in the "illegal regime change" plot will have to face the full wrath
of the law.

Mumbengegwi, who also doubles up as External Affairs official in Zanu PF
says diplomats engaged in the "illegal regime change" plot will have to face
the full wrath of the law.

"Now the good thing about all this is that we now have incontrovertible
evidence that the Western countries and the United States in particular has
been collaborating with MDC T in this country to destabilise this country
which is in total violation of the Vienna Convention," Mumbengegwi said.

Mumbengegwi added," In the Dell report, he admits that US is funding
political parties in this country. And everybody knows that this cannot be
Zanu PF. And in our laws this is absolutely illegal."

He warned that no diplomatic representative was allowed under international
law to violate any laws of the country to which they are accredited.

"And now we have this revelation to the effect that the former American
ambassador was interfering in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe. And this is
a matter we take extremely seriously," Mumbengegwi said.

"We intend to enforce the provisions of international law to the letter.
Zimbabwe will not accept, Zimbabwe will not tolerate any interference in the
internal politics of Zimbabwe by any of the diplomatic representatives of
any country no matter how powerful that country maybe.

"They are bound by international law, they must obey international law," a
tough-talking Mumbengegwi said.

However, despite Mumbengegwi’s claims, the United States is by far the
largest donor to humanitarian agencies in Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, the US embassy, based in the capital, Harare, is getting on with
the robust and confidential business of diplomacy without getting
sidetracked by the volatile WikiLeaks episode, which raises questions about
the need to maintain proper protection for the large body of classified
documents.

US deputy Ambassador David Abell says views contained in the leaks neither
reflect neither his government’s position nor policies.

"The American people have high opinion of the people of Zimbabwe. We want to
continue to have a friendly relationship with this country".

" We diplomats write reports from time to time and these reports are then
handed over to policymakers in our country. We do not make polices as
diplomats"

Traditional leaders refuse to set up militia bases in Buhera

http://www.swradioafrica.com/

By Tererai Karimakwenda
09 December, 2010

Retired officers from the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) have approached two
chiefs in the Buhera area, proposing to set up what they called a youth
training centre. But it’s reported that the chiefs refused.

Our Bulawayo correspondent, Lionel Saungweme, reported that the ZNA officers
wanted to set up youth militia training camps that would also be used as
torture bases by ZANU PF during the elections next year. They went to Chief
Gwebu and Chief Makumbe, both traditional leaders in Buhera district, and
tried to disguise the project as a skills training centre that would benefit
the area.

But according to Saungweme, the chiefs refused because ZANU PF has a long
history of terrorizing the area, especially because Buhera is the home of
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Our correspondent said people in Buhera still have fresh memories of the
brutal murder of MDC activists Talent Mabika and Tichaona Chiminya, back in
the year 2000. The two activists were campaigning for the MDC and were
burned to death by ZANU PF thugs.

Saungweme explained that the party took the case to court in 2002, claiming
that the violence had influenced the election results, and won. But the
docket went ‘missing’ and no-one has ever been arrested for the murders.

ZANU PF targeted Buhera again during the presidential runoff in 2008.
Saungweme said war vet leader Joseph Chinotimba went around the area
threatening MDC supporters. The MP for Buhera, Eric Matinenga, was also
arrested at that time for claiming that the military was involved in the
violence.

Saungweme said it is not clear whether Chief Gwebu and Chief Makumbe were
offered any bribes or whether they were threatened by the army officers who
approached them. But the incident is more confirmation that ZANU PF is
looking to target Buhera again, ahead of the elections in 2011.

Zim to nationalise alluvial diamonds

http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Tobias Manyuchi     Thursday 09 December 2010

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s government is nationalising all alluvial diamond
deposits while the state will assume controlling stake in all future mining
ventures involving other minerals including gold, platinum and non-alluvial
diamonds, economic indigenisation Minister Saviour Kasukuwere said
Wednesday.

At present, the government holds 50 percent stakes in each of the companies
that are mining alluvial diamonds in the controversial Marange fields to the
north of the country.

Addressing journalists in Harare, Kasukuwere said the ruling coalition of
President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had unanimously
agreed on the sweeping changes that although targeting new projects are
certain to leave investors in established mines wondering about how safe
their investments are in Zimbabwe.

Kasukuwere said: “At its weekly sitting…cabinet took far reaching decisions
on the issue of implementation of Indigenisation and Empowerment Act in
general and the mining sector in particular.

“The shareholding in the mining sector as it relates to the state shall be
as follows, 100 percent for alluvial diamonds.”

According to the regulations, government would establish a ‘Sovereign Wealth
Fund’ to function as a vehicle through which the state will acquire
controlling stake in all new mining ventures that do not involve alluvial
diamonds.

Kasukuwere said once the new rules came into force, communities would now
get 10 percent of gross profit from the exploitation of their mineral
resources. He said the new rules would become effective once gazzeted but
did not say when exactly that would be.

“Cabinet resolved that through a Community Share Ownership
Scheme…communities shall be entitled to 10 percent of profit before tax,” he
said.

The minister said the funds would be channeled towards supporting new
health, education and infrastructural projects in communities.

Government would soon be announcing new guidelines on how the controversial
Indigenisation Act would be implemented in other sectors of the economy, he
said.

Meanwhile, Kasukuwere dismissed claims by Minister of Industry and Commerce
Professor Welshman Ncube that government had suspended implementation of the
Indigenisation regulations.

“Let me say that the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and

Empowerment remains the sole mouthpiece on issues of indigenisation and
empowerment. We have not frozen indigenisation,” he said.

Under the empowerment programme, foreign-owned firms are required to cede
significant stake to local blacks by 2015 and those failing to comply risk
losing their operating licenses.

Mugabe, whose then sole ruling ZANU PF party passed the Indigenisation and
Economic Empowerment Bill in 2007, had initially wanted all foreign-owned
firms to cede 51 percent stake to locals.

He backed down after Tsvangirai opposed the requirement to force all
foreigners to surrender control of their investments and the coalition
government later modified the rules to allow varying percentages of
shareholding foreign-owned companies in various sectors of the economy must
transfer to local blacks.

The committees appointed to recommend to the government the various
shareholding thresholds are yet to report back to Kasukuwere.

Analysts say the empowerment drive is unlikely to succeed as most local
business people are unable to raise the required funding to buy shares from
foreign-owned companies.

A similar empowerment drive by Mugabe in agriculture destroyed the mainstay
sector, leaving once self sufficient Zimbabwe dependent on food aid after
the 86-year old leader failed to provide funding, inputs and skills training
to black villagers resettled on former white-owned commercial farms to
maintain production.

And critics fear that the economic empowerment is a ploy by Mugabe to reward
his allies and supporters with thriving businesses in the same way his top
backers in his ZANU PF party and the military were rewarded with the best
farms grabbed from whites.

Large multinational corporations such as cigarette manufacturer BAT
Zimbabwe, which is 80 percent British-owned; UK-controlled financial
institutions Barclays Bank and Standard Chartered Bank, food group Nestlé
Zimbabwe, mining giants Rio Tinto and Zimplats, and AON Insurance are some
of the big foreign-owned firms that will be forced to cede control to
locals. – ZimOnline.

Zimbabwe government to nationalize all mines: report

http://www.monstersandcritics.com

Dec 9, 2010, 10:04 GMT

Harare - The government of Zimbabwe plans to nationalize mining activities,
taking 100 per cent of alluvial diamond mining and 51 per cent of other
minerals, a cabinet minister was quoted Thursday as saying.

Indigenization and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere was quoted in the
state-owned Herald newspaper as saying that the cabinet of the country's
coalition government agreed 'unanimously' on Tuesday to the new measures.

They would take effect as soon as official regulations were published,
Kasukuwere said. No confirmation from other senior officials was immediately
available.

He was also quoted as saying that 'all new projects in the mining sector are
expected to comply with the above requirements of the law,' which analysts
said perhaps suggested that existing mines would not be affected.

Mining is Zimbabwe's largest source of income, dominated by a 1.5
billion-dollar platinum complex owned by South Africa's Impala Platinum, the
biggest producer in the world.

The country also has several foreign-owned gold mines as well as ferrochrome
and diamonds.

The Marange diamonds fields in the east have been plagued by charges of
human rights abuses and looting by the army and government officials.

There are currently about eight operators licensed to mine the
60,000-hectare fields, none of them major international producers.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti has frequently complained that the state
receives only 'peanuts' from Marange.

After eight years of catastrophic economic decline, Zimbabwe's economy began
growing again last year following the establishment of a power-sharing
government between President Robert Mugabe and former opposition leader,
Morgan Tsvangirai, who is now prime minister.

The mining industry was the fastest growing sector of the economy this year,
recording 47 per cent growth.

Zimbabwe sends mixed messages on mining

http://www.ft.com/

By Tony Hawkins in Harare

Published: December 9 2010 15:36 | Last updated: December 9 2010 15:36

Uncertainty surrounds claims that Zimbabwe’s alluvial diamond fields in the
Marange-Chiadzwya area are to nationalised following a ‘unanimous’ cabinet
decision .

Saviour Kasukuwere, indigenisation minister, said it had also been agreed
that the state would own 51 per cent of all other mining operations,
including non-alluvial diamonds.

He said:“The broad principle that has been set up by government is that the
alluvial diamonds belong to the state and they must benefit the people of
Zimbabwe”.

However, a source from the Movement for Democratic Change, the party of
Morgan Tsvangirai, prime minister, poured cold water on the minister’s
claim, saying his understanding was that a report on indigenisation had been
put forward, but not formally adopted.

Moreover, Mr Tsvangirai had not been present at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting
when Mr Kasukuwere said the decisions were “unanimously” adopted.

If the decision goes ahead, it will affect several mining companies,
including Rio Tinto which plans to expand operations at its Murowa
(non-alluvial) diamond mine, Zimbabwe Platinum, controlled by Impala
Platinum of South Africa and Anglo American’s Unki platinum mine which
started production recently.

Mr Kasukuwere said the cabinet also decided local communities would receive
10 per cent of the pretax profits from mining activities in their areas, and
that the government would establish a sovereign wealth fund – an idea first
mooted two years ago in a United Nations Development Programme report on
economic recovery in Zimbabwe.

These decisions would take effect as soon as the laws were gazetted, he
said.

The announcement came just 48 hours after Welshman Ncube, Zimbabwe’s
industry minister, was reported as saying in an interview that the cabinet
had agreed to freeze the country’s indigenisation laws, which stipulate 51
per cent local (black) ownership of all foreign owned businesses with assets
in excess of $500,000.

It also coincided with a forecast by Victor Gapare, president of the
Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines, that Zimbabwe’s gold production would increase
more than fivefold over the next five years and that gold would surpass
platinum as the industry’s main generator of foreign exchange.

The conflicting statements highlight the deep divisions within the coalition
government that took office nearly two years ago.

Mr Kasukuwere, a hardline member of president Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF, is
attempting to force through the indigenisation legislation against the
wishes of some ministers from Mr Tsvangirai’s MDC.

A mining company executive said Mr Kasukuwere had referred to “all new
projects” in his announcement, adding: “Hopefully this means existing
projects will be exempt”.

Economists and political analysts say Mr Kasukuwere’s insistence that he is
“the sole mouthpiece on issues of indigenisation and empowerment in
 Zimbabwe” can only increase uncertainty over the future direction of
government policy towards foreign investment.

Zimbabwe deputy PM, lawyer warn against rushed polls

http://news.yahoo.com

AFP

– 59 mins ago

HARARE (AFP) – Zimbabwe's deputy prime minister Thokozani Khupe on Thursday
warned against rushed elections, while a leading lawyer said there would be
a "bloodbath" if polls are held next year without international support.

"Yes to elections, but we do not want to hold an election for the sake of
it," said Khupe, vice president of the ex-opposition Movement for Democratic
Change, at the launch of a report by human rights lawyers on the political
situation.

"We want an election which is going to be credible and legitimate, an
election which will respect the will of the people," he said.

Human rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama, however, warned of a repeat of the
violence-tainted general elections in 2008 if new polls are held next year.

"The 2008 is a classic example of how not to do it," Muchadehama said. "If
we hold elections next year there could be mayhem and a bloodbath."

Khupe called on the regional Southern African Development Community bloc,
the African Union and other international bodies to ensure a suitable
environment for a free and fair vote.

The report analysed events in the lead-up to the country's disputed 2008
elections which President Robert Mugabe won after his MDC rival Morgan
Tsvangirai withdrew, citing violence against his supporters.

They formed an uneasy power-sharing government the following year which has
since been torn by tension and disagreement on the debt-wracked country's
budget, the appointment of top officials and other policy matters.

Khupe urged the political parties to "learn from mistakes of 2008" and
called for "critical electoral reforms."

Mugabe has indicated that the southern African nation would go for polls
next year, but government officials and diplomats say credible elections can
only be held either in 2012 or 2013.

In August, the head of the electoral commission indicated that it did not
have enough money to clean up the voters' roll, which has been cited as a
tool used in previous elections to hand victory to Mugabe's ZANU PF party.

Zim lawyers call for significant reforms ahead of elections

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tererai Karimakwenda
09 December, 2010

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) took part in a march in Harare
on Thursday to commemorate International Human Rights Day. The lawyers used
the occasion to deliver a petition to several government offices, calling
for improved working conditions for the magistrates in the country. They
also launched a report on future elections in Zimbabwe.

Kumbirai Mafunda, the ZLHR communications officer, said the march was
peaceful and the lawyers had a police escort. The lawyers passed by the High
Court, the Supreme Court and the Parliament building in order to deliver
their petition, ending the march at the ‘Human Rights Tree’ which they
planted in the Harare Gardens some years ago.

Mafunda said the ZLHR also launched a report that compares the laws and
practices relating to elections as they were before, during and after the
2008 elections. The goal was to assess what is required to hold free and
fair elections in the future in Zimbabwe.
Mafunda explained that the report also looks at the environment that existed
at the time for Human Rights Defenders, and compares that with the regional
norms and standards for democratic elections set by institutions such as
SADC.

“The report concludes that there should be a significant emphasis on
legislative and institutional reform before any elections are held,” said
Mafunda.
“The report also noted the establishment of the Human Rights Commission and
its potential role in monitoring human rights violations and protecting
fundamental rights during future elections,” he added.

He stressed that there should be key changes in institutions such as the
police, the Zimbabwe Media Commission and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission,
if there was to be any hope of a free and fair election.

Mafunda told SW Radio Africa that copies of the ZLHR report will soon be
available.
Meanwhile the Institute for Democratic Alternatives South Africa (Idasa)
also launched a report focusing on the targeted sanctions on the regime in
Zimbabwe. The report deals with the effects of three possible options around
these restrictive measures: maintaining the restrictions: lifting them
completely: a gradual removal based on performance in the unity government.

The report concludes that just maintaining the restrictive measures would do
nothing to encourage any concessions from ZANU PF and would prolong the
current stalemate between the parties. Completely lifting them would be
premature, because international donors and businesses do not trust Mugabe
and the situation in Zimbabwe.

The third option is seen as the one most likely to gain broad support. The
remove of restrictive measures; based on six benchmarks, which include a
credible voters’ roll, an independent electoral commission, media freedom,
constitutional reform, a land audit and reform in the security sector.

Both reports launched this week recommend significant reforms in Zimbabwe’s
institutions, ahead of future elections. The pressure on Robert Mugabe and
ZANU PF to make these changes is mounting ahead of the elections that they
are preparing for in 2011.

SADC to have input on election date in Zimbabwe

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
9 December 2010

The regional SADC bloc will carry out an assessment of the political
environment in Zimbabwe before the three parties in the inclusive government
can announce the date for elections.

ZANU PF leader Robert Mugabe has made proclamations that elections will be
held in the middle of next year. But Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
insists the elections cannot take place without reforms and a constitutional
review.

But a well placed source in the Civil Society in Zimbabwe told SW Radio
Africa the regional bloc told them Mugabe cannot unilaterally call for
elections without SADC’s involvement or input.

A delegation from the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition held a meeting with Tomaz
Salomao, the SADC executive secretary, on November 22nd in Gaborone,
Botswana.

The meeting focused on the bloc’s role in efforts to find a lasting solution
to Zimbabwe’s political conflict. They also discussed the sub-regional
position on elections and the lifespan of the coalition government.

‘Apparently Salomao observed during the meeting that contrary to calls by
Mugabe to hold elections next year, SADC will sit down with the three
parties in the GPA and draw up a roadmap that would lead to a new poll.

The executive secretary insisted ZANU PF cannot dictate terms as far as
elections are concerned. It has to be a tripartite agreement, with the
concurrence of SADC,’ a source said.

A SADC Troika summit to decide on the contents of an election roadmap will
meet in Lusaka, Zambia early next year. Civil Society Organisations and Non
Governmental Organisations are pushing hard for SADC and the African Union,
as guarantors of the GPA, to make an independent assessment of conditions on
the ground prior to that. They want SADC to deploy monitors to Zimbabwe and
to ensure the full implementation of the GPA. How SADC would manage to do
that, after two years of fruitless talks with Robert Mugabe, is not clear.

Tsvangirai told Reuters news agency this week it was not possible to have
elections in June next year because a referendum on the constitution was
needed first.

‘I don't think at the moment you can conduct an election. One of the
fundamental issues we need to handle is the issue of violence. All elections
so far have been conducted in a manner that is very violent ... this is
violence that is state-sponsored, the Prime Minister said.

‘When the police, army, militia, war veterans are used to intimidate,
coerce, and cause torture and death to the people, that is the kind of
violence we need to contain,’ he added.

Amendments to POSA sail through Parliament

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Tichaona Sibanda
9 December 2010

A Bill to amend the draconian Public Order and Security Act (POSA), passed
its first hurdle on Wednesday when it sailed through the House of Assembly.

‘One hurdle has been overcome and we will wait to see how ZANU PF reacts to
the Bill when it goes to the Senate,’ MDC-T chief whip and Mutare Central MP
Innocent Gonese said on Thursday.

It also marked the first time in the country’s parliamentary history that a
private member’s Bill sailed through the legislature.

Gonese introduced the motion to amend POSA through a private member’s Bill
in October last year. Proposed amendments to the Act, which has curtailed
basic freedoms, were passed in their entirety after the third reading.

‘The Bill has now been transmitted to the Senate and we just hope the same
spirit that prevailed during the third reading in the House of Assembly may
prevail in the Senate,’ Gonese said. The MDC holds a slight majority in the
Lower House, while ZANU PF has a huge majority in the Upper House which it
uses to block legislation.

Early this week, the former ruling ZANU PF party withdrew its support for
changes to POSA but the MDC managed to squeeze it past the Lower House
because of its majority. POSA was made a much more restrictive law by a ZANU
PF dominated parliament in 2002.

The draconian legislation gives untold powers to the police and the Ministry
of Home Affairs and the police are responsible for the administration of the
Act.

It’s reported ZANU PF legislators withdrew support for the amendments after
they received a tongue lashing, from Vice-President Joice Mujuru at a party
caucus meeting on November 18th for supporting the proposed changes.

‘We understand the securocrats have put some spanners into the works by
influencing members to oppose the amendment Bill, but we will cross that
bridge when we come to it,’ Gonese said.

The MDC-T party applauded its legislators for pushing through the amendments
in the Lowe House, but the Bill has a good chance of being blocked in the
Upper House. If it does pass through the Senate, it will still need the
signature of Robert Mugabe to be signed into law.

‘The passing of the Bill comes at a time when the people expected a new
political dispensation to take root and propel the country into a new era.

‘With its sweeping provisions, all pointing poisoned arrows at people’s
freedoms, POSA caused untold suffering to several generations of Zimbabweans
who sought to exercise their fundamental right to freedom of expression and
assembly,’ the MDC said.

The party added that it was encouraging the inclusive government to review
all retrogressive laws that curtail people’s freedoms across the board, to
bring meaning to the exercise of democracy and citizens’ rights.

‘In particular, all media laws—AIPPA, the Broadcasting Services Act, and the
Censorship and Entertainment Act—must be repealed as a matter of urgency,’
the statement said.

 

MDC Worried About Deaths

http://www.radiovop.com

09/12/2010 11:47:00

Masvingo, 09 December, 2010 - The Movement for Democratic Change led by
Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T) here has expressed concern over the continued
increase in death of their members who succumbed to injuries sustained
during the violent June 2008 Presidential election run-off and this year’s
post constitution outreach violence.

Speaking during the burial of a couple that succumbed to injuries sustained
in political violence in 2008 and this year at Nyazvidzi
village in Gutu north, local legislator, Edmore Maramwidze Hamandishe said
they were worried with the ever increasing number of their
members who are losing their lives as a result of torture and harassment by
members of the rival Zanu pf.

Crispen Gurajena and his wife, Raina were buried last Friday after they died
of severe internal injuries they sustained after they were
beaten in 2008 for spearheading MDCT campaign in their constituency before
they were also attacked last month by youth militias who
accused them of defying Zanu pf orders in contributing views during the just
ended constitution making out-reach programme.

Hamandishe said the couple that held the post of district secretary and
information and publicity was taken to hospital last week after
they started complaining of internal pains in their bodies. They were
admitted at Gutu Mission hospital where the wife passed away first
before the husband followed two days later.

“We are not pleased at all to watch our members perish from injuries they
sustained during acts of political violence. As a party we are
growing impatient with the failure by government to take action against
those who are responsible for the murders of our colleagues,
we know them and they are walking freely in the villages,” said Hamandishe.

Hamandishe said his party in the province was growing edgy by the National
healing organ he described as useless and a toothless bulldog
that has done nothing to heal the souls of political victims and their
relatives.

“When  we set up this organ in the Inclusive government we thought that it
was going to do its job of  healing the wounds of political
violence from our people but two years on it has done nothing and our people
continue to bear the pain of seeing perpetrators of violence
walking free when they killed their relatives,” he added.

He added that the organ should be disbanded and government bring the
perpetrators to book and face trial for the atrocities they committed.

Hamandishe said this year alone in Gutu, his party has buried over 30
activists who succumbed to injuries sustained in the infamous 2008
elections run-off were MDC claim that it lost over 200 members to political
violence.

Zim Deputy Premier Apologises For Murambatsvina

http://www.radiovop.com

09/12/2010 08:44:00

Harare, December 09, 2010 - Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe has
apologised for Operation Murambatsvina (Clean-up) carried out in 2005 and
resulted in the demolition of thousands of poor people's homes .

She said the government was guilty of treating people inhumanely.

Addressing scores of Hopley Farm residents on the outskirts of Harare on
Wednesday, Khupe said the clean up operation had given the government bitter
lessons for the future.

“I would like to apologise for the way you were resettled here, next time we
will make ensure that there is adequate infrastructure before resettling
them,” she said.

About 5 000 people were resettled at the farm in the aftermath of Operation
Murambatsvina, which saw more than 750 000 rendered homeless, while others
lost their livelihoods.

Khupe said the government will be proactive in future and ensure that
infrastructure is built for residents of Hopley and other resettlement
areas.

She said the government would start by building clinics and schools in
Hopley Farm for the residents, whom she said were suffering two fold, first
they were evicted and then they now they lacked basic necessities.

Khupe’s visit to the farm follows a report by Amnesty International that
revealed 21 newly born babies had died in the squatter camp.

“No woman should die while giving birth, so maternity fees here in Hopley
have been waived so that every woman can receive basic health care,” she
said.

The Amnesty International report urged the government to step in immediately
to investigate the deaths.

Michelle Kagari, the organisation’s deputy director for Africa, said the
government had neglected Hopley Farm after resettling people there in the
aftermath of Operation Murambatsvina.

Monitor Party Jingles - ZESN

http://www.radiovop.com

09/12/2010 08:42:00

Harare, December 09, 2010 - A Zimbabwe election watchdog has called on the
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to monitor all party jingles and
advertisements before allowing them to be broadcast to the public before the
elections next year.

Zimbabwe is scheduled to hold an election next year but analysts are saying
the playing field is not yet level for the main political parties that could
contest because the voter's role is currently in "shambles" and ZEC is
"incapacitated".

"The ZEC must enforce advertising ethics - Code of Conduct - for the
political parties and the public broadcaster (content and structure of
adverts and political messages)," read a statement by the Zimbabwe Electoral
Support Network (ZESN) made available to Radio VOP.

"The ZEC must give voters information and updates using the public media on
time. The ZEC must also have an independent agency to monitor and regulate
adverts, party jingles and music, and politically insensitive music."

This has been a very sensitive subject because Zanu (PF) is already running
adverts on ZBC TV showing President Robert Mugabe, Deputy Presidents, John
Nkomo and Joyce Mujuru, playing soccer as a "Team".

Zanu (PF) music is played while the "Team" adverts are broadcast almost
daily in Zimbabwe on ZBC TV which is the only national television station.

Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has already refused to remove the
Zanu (PF) jingles saying they are not political.

It has, however, refused to broadcast jingles belonging to Prime Minister,
Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T.

ZESN said the monitoring of adverts and jingles was among several conditions
that needed to be fulfilled for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe next
year.

"This is promoting democratic elections in Zimbabwe," ZESN said in the
statement. "These are some of the minimum conditions for free and fair
elections."

A few MPs declare assets to Speaker

http://www.dailynews.co.zw/

By Thelma Chikwanha
Thursday, 09 December 2010 17:24

HARARE - Only 24 Members of Parliament out of  210 in the Lower House have
declared their assets to the Speaker of Parliament as required under section
19 of the standing rules and orders of the house  in commemoration of  the
UN International Anti Corruption Day.

Speaking after a march organised by African Parliamentarians Network Against
Corruption (APNAC), the organisation’s chairperson and MP for Kambuzuma,
Willias Madzimure said those  who declared their assets had done so
voluntarily.

Madzimure also said that declaring assets would go a long way in curbing
corruption which he said hindered social and economic development and
increased poverty by diverting domestic and foreign investment from the
people.

“We are taking stock as a country, on the progress we made, on what we are
doing and we are prepared to be scrutinised by the public. We also want to
move for the adoption of section 19 of the standing rules and orders which
requires MP’s to declare their assets to the Speaker of Parliament,” he
said.

The APNAC chairperson also called upon members of the public to be very
observant and speak out against corruption which erodes education and health
systems thereby depriving people of their basic and fundamental rights.

“A lot of people are dying because they cannot afford to pay for
Antiretroviral Treatment yet the Government is offering them for free. It is
wrong for people to pay a headmaster to secure a learning place for your
child.

The headmaster should give your child a place at school without you paying
him anything,” he said.

APNAC’s initiative comes at a time when  Harare residents have called for a
probe into allegations of corruption by the  MP for Zvimba North, Ignatius
Chombo who is also the Minister for Local Government, Urban and Rural
Development.

Residents want the Minister investigated on his acquisition of 100 stands
and houses from various local authorities countrywide.

Loveness Nzungu,a member of the public who also attended the march said the
move by parliamentarians was admirable but the number of MP’s who declared
their assets was insignificant.

“We would have appreciated it if prominent MP’s like Ignatius Chombo, Nelson
Chamisa, Tendai Biti, Nicholas Goche and Bright Matonga had also declared
their assets,” she said.

Willias Madimure (Kambuzuma), Blessing Chebundo (Kwekwe Central), Ransome
Makamure(Gutu East), Jani Varandeni(Bikita South), Maina Mandava*, Lynette
Karenyi(Chimanimani West), Margaret Zinyemba(Mazowe South), Hamandishe
Maramwidze(Gutu North), Tall Chambati(Hurungwe West), Editor Matamisa
(Kadoma Central), Piniel Denga(Mbare), Jeffryson Chitando(Masvingo Central),
Betty Chikava(Mount Darwin East), Metrine Mudau(Beitbridge West), Steward
Garadhi(Chinhoyi) Ward Nezi(Murehwa West), David Anthony Chimhini(Mutasa
North), Gabriel Ndebele(Matobo South), Felix Magalela Sibanda(Magwegwe),
Dorothy Mhangami(Gokwe), were among the MP’s who declared their assets.

SA Public Protector called in over Zim documentation deadline

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
09 December 2010

South Africa’s Office of the Public Protector has this week been called on
to intervene on behalf of tens of thousands of Zimbabweans, trying to
regularise their stay before the end of the year.

The December 31st deadline for Zim nationals to get proper permits to remain
in South Africa is fast approaching, and fears are high that there will be a
return to mass deportations in the New Year. But despite clear signs and
warnings that the documentation process is doomed to fail, South Africa’s
department of Home Affairs has adamantly refused to extend the deadline past
December.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) and a group of 18 other civil society
organisations have now submitted an official complaint to the Public
Protector, over this refusal to extend the deadline. LHR’s head of the group’s
refugee and migrants rights programme, Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, told SW Radio
Africa on Thursday that Home Affairs is putting thousands of people at risk
of deportation.

“We all hoped that that the Minister of Home Affairs would understand the
difficulties and challenges associated with the implementation of the
documentation project, and allow people to collect the documents necessary
in order to apply for the permits. But it appears that the Minister has
decided not to exercise discretion or reasonableness in the exercise of her
public power in order to obtain a successful outcome of this project,”
Ramjathan-Keogh said.

LHR has been calling on Home Affairs to extend the deadline since it was
first announced earlier this year, calls that have been echoed by various
rights groups in recent weeks. Hundreds of thousands of Zim nationals have
been queuing, sometimes for days at a time, to get their paper work in
order. But to date there has only been an estimated 40 000 successful
applications, even though well over a million people are said to need
documents.

“It has become obvious that the deadline will not allow a success of the
project, because there are a number of difficulties that means a large
number of undocumented people will be left vulnerable,” Ramjathan-Keogh
said.

The civil society groups are calling on the Public Protector to intervene
with Home Affairs and departmental officials “to ensure that this project is
in fact capable of achieving its stated aims and objectives.” The groups
want the Public Protector discuss a number of issues with Home Affairs,
including reviewing the deadline and considering the current political
situation in Zimbabwe, before deportations resume.

Ramjathan-Keogh explained that a return to mass deportations is a huge
concern, because “such deportations not only result in widespread violation
of rights, but are a massive waste of public money and resources.” She also
expressed more concern that a newly built detention facility in the Musina
border town is about to become operational, calling the timing “worryingly
convenient.”

LHR will address a press conference about the Zimbabwe documentation project
on Friday, which will mark International Human Rights Day.

“We continue to call on government to reconsider this matter and abide by
its obligations under international law and the Constitution,” LHR said.

Madhuku on the verges of full-time politics

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/

09 December, 2010 07:45:00    By

Harare - Political analyst and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) founder
member, Dr Lovemore Madhuku has revealed that he is harbouring political
ambitions.
Madhuku, who is the current chairperson of the National Constitutional
Assembly (NCA) told Radio VOP in an exclusive interview that he will soon
turn to politics.

“Yes definitely I am going into politics, my contract at NCA is expiring at
the end of next year and besides I am already into politics,” said Madhuku.

Asked whether he will be forming a political party, Madhuku said, “I will
not be forming a political party but I will just be campaigning for a
particular political position.”

“I am a leader of a movement which is advancing a cause which is political
and that makes me a political player,” said Madhuku."

“I am a leader of a movement which is advancing a cause which is political
and that makes me a political player”Pressed to indicate when exactly he
might make his grand entry into the muddy Zimbabwean political arena,
Madhuku said, “The outcome of the referendum will determine the next move.”

Zimbabwe is due to hold a referendum next year to endorse or reject the new
constitution that is being put together following a process to gather views
from the public spearheaded by a Parliamentary Committee. The process was
however marred by political intimidation and violence in most parts of the
country.

Previously Madhuku who is blessed with incisive political thought and
judgement has been courted by senior members of the MDC party to join them
but he has turned them down.

Often times he has predicted how political events in this country will turn
out. Recently he predicted a chaotic constitution making process and his
prophetic warnings are today a reality after an MDC supporter was killed for
giving out his views while hundreds others were assaulted and arrested for
participating.

Meanwhile a committee of parliament (COPAC) tasked with coming up with the
country’s new constitution is struggling to complete the exercise.

The NCA is mounting a campaign to encourage Zimbabweans to vote against the
outcome of the process.

The COPAC process has been facing a plethora of problems ranging from
political interference to lack of cash to roll to its programmes.

The NCA which in 2000 successfully campaigned for a “No Vote” in the
constitutional referendum is pushing for a similar outcome of the exercise
to COPAC process.

The group argues that the whole exercise is “undemocratic” and suffers from
political interference.

It has launched a grassroots based campaign which aims to persuade
Zimbabweans to reject the outcome of the process in a referendum whose date
is not certain due to chaotic programming.

The campaign is being mounted under the theme “Take Charge.” “The campaign
is calling people to take charge of the constitution making process,” said
Madhuku who himself is a constitutional law expert and seasoned campaigner
for the country’s new constitution.

The campaign is structured around small community meetings of about 40 to
100 people in every ward of the country’s districts.

“We are going to the real grassroots to explain why they should Vote No,”
said Madhuku.

Madhuku argued that Zimbabwean citizens must reject the outcome of the
on-going constitution making process because they did not contribute to the
process in a democratic manner.

In 2000 when citizens rejected the proposed constitution President Robert
Mugabe’s government simply continued using 1979 Lancaster House
Constitution. The constitution has been amended 19 times since independence
in 1980 and is blamed for Zimbabwe’s bad human rights record.

Asked if the rejection of the proposed constitution will not worsen
Zimbabwe's political situation, Madhuku said, “We are between a rock and a
hard place but the only way to get a better constitution is to have a good
start and that comes with the rejection of the draft that shall come out of
this process.”

In addition he said the response from Zimbabweans for his campaign been
“overwhelming.”
“There is a false notion that Zimbabweans will listen to their political
parties, there are a few political activists in both Zanu (PF) and MDC, many
Zimbabweans who will vote in the referendum are just ordinary people who can
vote either way,” said Madhuku.

Madhuku said the draft that is going to be produced by the COPAC process
will largely reflect the views of Zanu (PF) and a few elements from MDC but
it will also ultimately reflect the “balance of power in the Government of
National Unity,” which is heavily tilted towards President Mugabe and his
Zanu (PF) party.

Madhuku said the adoption of a new constitution for the country will not
mean the death of the NCA.

“It will be naive for us to say immediately after the adoption of a new
constitution that we want a democratic constitution, we will accept the
result and revert back to some of our organisational mandate that is to
provide civic education on constitutional matters,” said Madhuku.

The constitutional process is critical to the future of the country because
any future elections are to be held based on it as agreed in the Global
Political Agreement (GPA) signed by Mugabe and the two MDC leaders, Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.

The agreement also sets a benchmark for future elections based on security
sector reform, establishment of an independent Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
(ZEC) and the eradication of political violence.

However the process is lagging behind by months. Mugabe said he is reluctant
to extend the lifespan of the GPA, thus he wanted fresh elections by next
June.

Meanwhile the COPAC process is now on the drafting stage, thereafter a draft
will be taken to Parliament before is put to a referendum. - Radio VOP

Zim cost of living rises by $8

http://www.iol.co.za/

December 9 2010 at 11:40am

Harare - The cost of living for an average urban Zimbabwean family of six
rose by $8 to $498,53 in November reflecting a 0,01 percent increase on the
previous month, Zimbabwe's Herald Online reported on Thursday.

The change was driven by rising food prices, the Consumer Council of
Zimbabwe (CCZ) said.

CCZ said the cost of the food basket increased by 0,04 from $136,76 in
October to $142,77 last month. The cost of the food and detergents basket
increased from $147 in October to $154,53

in November.

Generally, CCZ said, most of the products in the urban family of six
consumer basket increased and these included margarine, tea leaves, fresh
milk, bread, flour, onions, cabbages, white sugar, cooking oil, salt and
meat.

While retailers cite the strengthening Rand against the greenback for rising
prices, since Zimbabwe imports most basic products from South Africa, CCZ
attributes this to the traditional behaviour of retailers towards the
festive season.

“For some time now the rand has been very strong against the US dollar, but
CCZ is concerned that the increase in the food basket may be attributed to
the traditional behaviour of supermarket towards the festive season,” CCZ
executive director Rosemary Siyachitema said. - Sapa

Pauline Latham on how aid and reform can help Zimbabwe

http://conservativehome.blogs.com

By Paul Goodman

LATHAM PAULINE Pauline Latham, the MP for Mid-Derbyshire, made a very
thorough speech in yesterday's debate on Zimbabwe, setting the scene -

"Since 2000 we have seen the breadbasket of Africa turn into the basket case
of Africa. The commercial farming sector and the economy have collapsed,
even though Zimbabwe used to export produce all over the world, and to
neighbouring countries, as well as feed all its people. It is a tragedy that
that situation is not returning at the moment. The lack of food resulted in
the spread of chronic poverty, with about 2 million Zimbabweans depending on
food aid. At poverty's highest point, more than 80% of the Zimbabwean
population were living on less than $1 a day. With cholera, malaria and
HIV/AIDS at the worst level of any country in Africa and on the rise, and
with Zimbabwe's infrastructure on a sharp decline, the country fell into
dictatorial despair."

- Looking at trends in the delivery of aid -

"It is not how much money we spend, but how it is spent, that will make a
difference. The Secretary of State has said that a lot since taking office.
Between 2004-05 and 2008-09 the balance of DFID bilateral aid to Zimbabwe
shifted. At the beginning of the period, most aid was delivered by NGOs, but
at the end, most was delivered via multilaterals...Although I recognise the
importance of the co-ordination that multilaterals such as the UN offer, I
agree with critics who cite inefficiencies at ground level. I hope that as
NGOs move back into Zimbabwe, we will see the role of multilaterals change
from humanitarian to crisis management to overall strategic country growth.
It is not often that I agree with the TUC, but I concede that as Zimbabwe's
economy grows and the need for humanitarian relief declines, DFID should
look to move away from humanitarian relief and towards core
development-oriented interventions."

- And pointing to the indispensability of land reform and political change -

"One of the two most important ways in which DFID can help with the
redevelopment of Zimbabwe is helping to fund the land audit. The GNU Finance
Minister has allocated $30 million for a future audit, but previous Zimbabwe
Government land audit findings have not been released, and I am sceptical
that without the international community's involvement, the findings will be
unfair. It is not for me to suggest what conditions the international
community should impose on funding for the land audit, but as the DFID
Minister at the time of the International Development Committee report
stated, a land audit would be the first step towards reform, but it cannot
be carried with the current President and his cronies blocking international
efforts.

Finally, DFID has a role in developing the political system. I understand
the view that the inclusive Zimbabwe Government is not yet the partner that
we require to sustain a full development relationship. The global political
agreement and the resulting GNU are steps in the right direction, but
unfortunately, as Tsvangirai pointed out, things have not radically altered,
and Mugabe continues to act without consulting other GNU members. As a
result, I believe that DFID's strategy on providing technical assistance and
policy support will strengthen the political process in Zimbabwe. I hope
that the desired outcome of political change will take place, but if the
recent Act concerning white-owned businesses is anything to go by, we have
some way to go, as we heard from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield
and my right hon. Friend the Member for Gordon."

Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2010 at 06:25

Transcript: Assistant Secretary Crowley on "WikiLeaks and Other Global Events"

WikiLeaks cables reveal secret plan to push Mugabe out in Zimbabwe

http://www.guardian.co.uk

Bloodless coup plotted by exiles involved president sharing power with a
prime minister – as eventually happened

    * David Smith in Johannesburg
    * guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 8 December 2010 21.30 GMT

Robert Mugabe, right, swears in Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister Robert
Mugabe, right, swears in Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister during the
February 2009 installation of their power-sharing administration.
Photograph: Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images

A bloodless coup was planned to remove Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwe's president
with the help of pressure from the UN secretary general, according to
classified US documents.

A group of exiled Zimbabwean businessman proposed in 2007 that Mugabe could
be persuaded to hand over executive power to a prime minister before leaving
office completely three years later. American officials welcomed the idea,
noting that it was "increasingly in circulation" in the capital, Harare, and
"may not require outside intervention".

The plot came to nothing, although it does bear similarities to the power
sharing deal that saw Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan
Tsvangirai become prime minister after violent elections in 2008.

A confidential memo from the US embassy in South Africa is entitled "Secret
power sharing plan" and dated 30 January 2007. At the time Zimbabwe was
plunging into an unprecedented economic crisis. The cable names a group of
prominent Zimbabwean businessmen living in South Africa who were pushing for
change but says their leader's identity should be "strictly protected".

Executive power was to be shifted from Mugabe to a "technocratic" prime
minister. "To get Mugabe to accept the deal, Mugabe would remain president
until 2010 with some power over the security apparatus, but the prime
minister would run the economy and get the country back on its feet," the
dispatch says.

"All parties would work together to draft a new constitution. [The
businessman] was open to ideas on who best to sell the plan, but suggested
new UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, working through an envoy like former
Malaysian PM Mahathir, as possible mediators."

Mugabe would have retained the power to appoint the ministers of defence,
home affairs and national security. The prime minister would have appointed
other cabinet members, particularly in the economic arena. Deployment of
troops would have required the approval of both the PM and president.

In return for various reforms the international community was to agree on a
phased lifting of sanctions, the "acceptance" of the extension of Mugabe's
term to 2010 and economic assistance to help rehabilitate the Zimbabwean
economy.

The prime minister would have needed the backing of 85% of parliament and
therefore the support of the opposition MDC.

The US embassy said it could not comment on the merits of the plan but found
it "encouraging" that senior Zimbabwean businessmen abroad were discussing
solutions to the country's political and economic malaise.

"The four businessmen agreed that there is a 'window of opportunity' to
bring positive change to Zimbabwe, opened by the deteriorating economic
situation and Mugabe's advancing age and declining health."

Little detail was given on how Mugabe, a hero of the liberation struggle who
came to power in 1980, could be persuaded to stand aside.

Moeletsi Mbeki, a South African businessman and brother of its then
president, Thabo Mbeki, recommended against South Africa playing the
mediation role, arguing instead for a combination such as Ban and Mahathir.

An additional note from the US embassy in Harare suggests the MDC endorsed
the concept. It says Tsvangirai told embassy officials that "this is
Mugabe's Plan B as he runs into growing resistance" and that the prime
minister would be Simba Makoni, a former Mugabe ally turned rival.

"Significant outside intervention, therefore, may not be necessary; however,
gentle encouragement from Pretoria is unlikely to be amiss. UN SYG
[secretary general] Ban may not wish to engage on this issue at the
beginning of his tenure, especially in view of the way Mugabe treated former
UN SYG [Kofi] Annan.

"He fears for his future if he steps down – citing the Charles Taylor
example [the former Liberian president now on trial for war crimes] – and
perhaps even more importantly fears for the future of his wife and young
children."

Another memo from the US embassy in Harare – with subheadings that include
"How to get Mugabe out" – shows that a decade ago the MDC considered a "mass
action" intended to force the president from office.

It details a breakfast meeting on 16 November 2000 between Tsvangirai and
Susan Rice, then-president Bill Clinton's assistant secretary for African
affairs.

"Mass action would be intended to pressure president Mugabe to resign," it
says. "The MDC understands the serious risks associated with mass action,
Tsvangirai professed, and recognises that it is in the country's best
interest to avoid bloodshed."

Mass action would most likely have taken the form of a general strike that
December, it adds. But brutal government retaliation was a genuine fear:
"Tsvangirai believed the army wouldn't hesitate to shoot a lot of people.

"Tsvangirai was frank, confident and relaxed. However he did not convince us
that the MDC has a clear or well thought out plan for mass action or what it
would accomplish.

"Everyone is focused on seeing Mugabe go but it will probably take a
convergence of opposition from Zanu-PF, the military and regional leaders to
force him out."

The MDC leader was seeking foreign assistance with little success.
"Tsvangirai mentioned that on his last visit to South Africa he met with
former president [Nelson] Mandela – who still exerts great influence in
South Africa, he stated – and urged the leader to intervene in Zimbabwe. He
did not receive a firm commitment from Mandela, however, and did not see
[Thabo] Mbeki.

"Tsvangirai said that when he was in the UK recently he told the British to
refrain from making public statements on land reform in Zimbabwe and to use
their influence behind the scenes to resolve the problem."

Even in 2000 Tsvangirai said that ideally the MDC would like to see a
"transitional arrangement" over two years where Mugabe's Zanu-PF remained in
power but brought in MDC ministers to arrest economic decline. Another eight
years, with much bloodshed and hardship, were to pass before this became
reality.

Wikileaks - US embassy cables: Zanu-PF like 'a troop of baboons incessantly fighting'

http://www.guardian.co.uk

    * guardian.co.uk, Thursday 9 December 2010 11.50 GMT

Wednesday, 10 February 2010, 13:00
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000093
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR BRIAN WALCH
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN
ADDIS FOR USAU
EO 12958 DECL: 2020/02/10
TAGS PREL, PGOV, ZI
SUBJECT: XXXXXXXXXXXX's observations on the political landscape and
U.S.-Zimbabwe relations
REF: HARARE 87; HARARE 36
CLASSIFIED BY: Charles A. Ray, Ambassador, STATE, EXEC; REASON: 1.4(B), (D)

1. (SBU) Pol/econ chief met February 9 with XXXXXXXXXXXX offered his
observations on various topics including the state of ZANU-PF,
indigenization, and elections.

2. (C) ZANU-PF. XXXXXXXXXXXX described the party as badly fractured. It was
like a stick of TNT, susceptible to ignition and disintegration. ZANU-PF was
holding together because of the threat of MDC-T and foreign pressure. He
likened ZANU-PF to a troop of baboons incessantly fighting among themselves,
but coming together to face an external threat. New leadership was essential
and would emerge as some of the old timers, including Robert Mugabe, left
the scene. XXXXXXXXXXXX opined that Vice President Joice Mujuru or S.K. Moyo
(former ambassador to South African and now party chair) were possibilities,
although Mujuru's fear of Mugabe was affecting her ability to lead.

3. (C) MDC-T. According to XXXXXXXXXXXX, MDC-T is alienating supporters
because of corruption. He pointed to the Harare suburb of Chitungwiza where
MDC-T is investigating its councilors for being on the take. Residents of
Chitungwiza blame the party. XXXXXXXXXXXX commented that part of the problem
was that many MDC-T local councilors and parliamentarians elected in 2008
had no independent income. Unable to survive on their US$200/month salaries,
they were now turning to graft. He also noted that the national party was
not enabling parliamentarians to demonstrate, e.g. by bringing home pork,
that they were working for their constituents.

4. (C) Elections. XXXXXXXXXXXX believed elections would take place in 2012
or 2013. Parliamentarians from all parties, particularly those who had no
income before coming into office, had no interest in running again before
necessary. They would try to stall the constitutional process.

5. (C) Global Political Agreement (GPA). XXXXXXXXXXXX thought there would be
slow progress. In his opinion, the most important achievement of the GPA was
the sidelining of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono.

6. (C) Indigenization. Taking an opposite view to Minister of Youth and
Indigenization Saviour Kasukuwere (Ref A), XXXXXXXXXXXX said the
government's indigenization program benefitted nobody accept those who were
already wealthy. It did nothing for his constituents, who couldn't afford to
buy into companies and were living hand-to-mouth.

7. (C) Economic Recovery. XXXXXXXXXXXX said a primary focus should be
communal lands where 80 percent of Zimbabweans live. Before the economy
collapsed, he said the communal areas produced 80 percent of farm output
consumed in the country. (NOTE: These numbers are indicative but not
accurate. More than 30 percent of Zimbabweans live in urban areas, so
somewhat less than 80 percent live on communal lands. But communal lands
have long been the main source of Zimbabwe's domestic food supply. END
NOTE.) Production dramatically decreased with the collapse of the economy as
small farmers were no longer able to access inputs. Another factor was the
Grain Marketing Board's requirement that crops be sold to it. It then failed
to pay farmers. XXXXXXXXXXXX stated that international assistance would be
necessary to resuscitate the economy. But

HARARE 00000093 002 OF 002

lesser steps were important. He volunteered that the Ambassador's Self Help
Program had once been present in communal areas. It was a powerful
indication of U.S. interest in helping Zimbabweans, and was of tremendous
assistance to those who benefitted from projects.

8. (C) Sanctions and ZDERA. XXXXXXXXXXXX said sanctions on individuals
should remain if justified by the behavior of these individuals. Sanctions
on parastatals that were contributing or could contribute to the economy
should be lifted. With regard to ZDERA, XXXXXXXXXXXX acknowledged that the
IMF and World Bank had ceased activities in Zimbabwe before ZDERA was
enacted. The economy was already on a downhill trajectory because of
misguided economic policies and the disastrous land reform policy. But the
passage of ZDERA was like slashing an already deflating tire. Many
Zimbabweans viewed ZDERA as an attempt to hurt them when they were already
suffering. As such, said XXXXXXXXXXXX, ZDERA has a large symbolic value and
should be repealed.

9. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX

-------------

COMMENT

-------------

10. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX's comments on ZANU-PF are representative of a large
part of the party. There is little doubt that if a secret party election
were held, Mugabe and his inner circle would lose their positions. But
Mugabe, aided by the securocrats and through fear, still has control. On
sanctions and ZDERA, most ZANU-PF members, even moderates, tell us they
believe sanctions, especially on parastatals, and ZDERA have hurt the
economy (though they cannot cite evidence for this claim). XXXXXXXXXXXX's
view is more nuanced than most. XXXXXXXXXXXX's view on ZDERA is what many in
the MDC-T have been telling us: It is serving no real purpose other than to
provide a convenient whipping boy for ZANU-PF. END COMMENT RAY

WikiLeaks - Zimbabwe govt, c.bank in blood diamond trade

http://www.reuters.com/

Thu Dec 9, 2010 5:56am EST

* Mugabe's wife implicated in trade

* Central bank printed currency to buy stones

* Military gained money from diamonds

By Jon Herskovitz

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 9 (Reuters) - The illicit diamond trade in Zimbabwe has
led to the murder of thousands, enriched those close to President Robert
Mugabe and been financed in part by the central bank, according to U.S.
documents on WikiLeaks.

"In a country filled with corrupt schemes, the diamond business in Zimbabwe
is one of the dirtiest," according to a classified document dated in
November 2008 from the U.S. embassy in the country, released this week on
WikiLeaks.

Mugabe was forced into a unity government with long-time rivals nearly two
years ago and the state has been trying to boost the economy by winning
approval for diamond sales through the Kimberly Process, a world monitor of
the diamond trade.

In the classified documents that date from before the unity government came
to power, U.S. diplomats cite a well established British mining executive as
saying those close to Mugabe, including his wife, "have been extracting
tremendous profits" from the Chiadzwa mine in the eastern part of the
country.

"The diamonds that are sold to regime members and elites are sold for
freshly printed Zimbabwean notes issued by the RBZ (Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe)," one document from late 2008 cited British mining executive
Andrew Cranswick as saying.

The stones dubbed "blood diamonds" because of the human rights abuses
associated with their extraction, were then resold to foreign buyers,
earning each of the members of the powerful group hundreds of thousands of
dollars a month, it said.

Rights groups have accused Zimbabwe's military of widespread atrocities in
the diamond fields in 2008 as Mugabe's previous government moved to stop
thousands of illegal miners on the poorly secured fields in the east of the
country.

Mugabe has accused Western countries of working to stop Zimbabwe from
benefiting from its mineral resources.

Ministry of Mines secretary Thankful Musukutwa told a parliamentary
committee earlier this year the government was complying with demands from
diamond trade regulator Kimberly Process.

A separate document from January 2009 said that as the local currency became
essentially worthless, the Zimbabwe military stepped more deeply into the
diamonds trade, using hard cash from abroad to finance operations.

"This has not deterred the continued brisk diamond trade involving foreign
buyers, including most prominently the Lebanese," said a document from
January 2009 citing a classified report from an unnamed U.S. political
officer.

Just before the power sharing government was installed, the military
intensified its control over the diamond fields, aiming to gain as much
money as possible, it said.

The government deployed soldiers at the diamond fields in Marange in 2008 to
seal off the area and clamp down on illegal mining, but rights activists say
this resulted in serious rights abuses by the army. [ID:nLJ308759]

Villagers were uprooted and murders increased, the classified U.S. documents
said.

A classified document cited a village chief as saying the government had
relocated as many as 25,000 villagers in an attempt to secure more money.

Zimbabwe is now struggling to sell its Marange diamonds after the Kimberley
Process barred its members from dealing in the stones, saying their
certification by global regulators did not guarantee they were free from
human rights abuses.

Wikileaks - US embassy cables: Tsvangirai sets out options for nudging Mugabe

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com

08 December, 2010 10:30:00    -

Wednesday, 29 November 2000, 13:59

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 006677
SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

EO 12958 DECL: 11/29/10

TAGS PGOV, PREL, ECON, PINR, ZI, SA

SUBJECT: ASSISTANT SECRETARY MEETS WITH ZIMBABWE

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 06677 01 OF 03 291400Z OPPOSITION LEADER

REFTEL: HARARE 6584

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).

1. (C) SUMMARY: ASSISTANT SECRETARY SUSAN E. RICE MET MOVEMENT FOR
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) PRESIDENT MORGAN TSVANGIRAI ON NOVEMBER 16.
TSVANGIRAI OFFERED FOUR SIPDIS SCENARIOS UNDER WHICH THE CURRENT POLITICAL
CRISIS COULD UNFOLD.

HE BELIEVES A TRANSITIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT IS THE BEST WAY OUT OF THE
CRISIS PITTING THE PEOPLE AGAINST THEIR UNPOPULAR LEADER. MASS ACTION WILL
BE CONSIDERED INITIALLY AT THE MDC'S NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING NOVEMBER 24.
MASS ACTION WOULD BE INTENDED TO PRESSURE PRESIDENT MUGABE TO RESIGN. THE
MDC UNDERSTANDS THE SERIOUS RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MASS ACTION, TSVANGIRAI
PROFESSED, AND RECOGNIZES THAT IT IS IN THE COUNTRY'S BEST INTEREST TO AVOID
BLOODSHED. EVERYONE IS FOCUSED ON SEEING MUGABE GO, BUT IT WILL PROBABLY
TAKE A CONVERGENCE OF OPPOSITION FROM ZANU-PF, THE MILITARY, AND REGIONAL
LEADERS TO FORCE HIM OUT. END SUMMARY.

2. (C) ON NOVEMBER 16, ASSISTANT SECRETARY SUSAN E. RICE, HER DELEGATION,
AMBASSADOR MCDONALD, DCM, AND POLOFF (NOTETAKER) HAD A BREAKFAST MEETING
WITH MDC PRESIDENT MORGAN TSVANGIRAI. TSVANGIRAI WAS ACCOMPANIED BY MDC
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN ISAAC MATONGO.

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 06677 01 OF 03 291400Z

--------------------------------------

TSVANGIRAI LOOKS INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL

SIPDIS

--------------------------------------

3. (C) TSVANGIRAI BEGAN BY SAYING THAT HE SEES THREE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS IN
ZIMBABWE: LAWLESSNESS, THE LAND QUESTION, AND THE ECONOMY, AND EMPHASIZED
THAT THE ECONOMY IS THE MOST DIRE PROBLEM. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE (GOZ) IS TRYING TO POLARIZE THE POLITICAL PLAYERS IN
THE COUNTRY.

THE MDC LEADER SEES FOUR POTENTIAL SCENARIOS EMERGING FROM THE CURRENT
POLITICAL CRISIS: 1) THE PEOPLE WAIT 18 MONTHS TO VOTE MUGABE OUT--THIS IS
THE MOST CONSTITUTIONAL, BUT LEAST LIKELY SCENARIO. 2) THERE IS AN
ACCELERATED, BUT STILL CONSTITUTIONAL, PROCESS WHEREBY MUGABE RESIGNS OR IS
EASED OUT AT THE DECEMBER ZANU-PF CONGRESS. THIS IS NOT VERY LIKELY EITHER
SINCE MUGABE HAS OUSTED THE PROVINCIAL PARTY EXECUTIVES THAT MIGHT CHALLENGE
HIS INTENTION TO RUN AGAIN IN 2002. 3) MASS ACTION IS UNDERTAKEN, FORCING
MUGABE TO LEAVE THE SCENE EARLY. TSVANGIRAI STATED THAT THIS OPTION MUST BE
CAREFULLY SIPDIS CONSIDERED, AND HE ASKED RHETORICALLY: DO WE WANT TO PUSH
OUT AN ELECTED PRESIDENT BEFORE HIS TERM IS UP? 4) AN ARMY COUP THAT REMOVES
MUGABE, POSSIBLY WITH A GREAT DEAL OF BLOODSHED, FROM WHICH IT WOULD BE VERY
DIFFICULT FOR ZIMBABWE TO RECOVER.

4. (C) IDEALLY, TSVANGIRAI CONTINUED, THE MDC WOULD LIKE TO SEE A
TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENT FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS WHERE ZANU-PF REMAINED IN
CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT BUT BROUGHT IN MDC MINISTERS--ESSENTIALLY, A
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 HARARE 06677 01 OF 03 291400Z COALITION GOVERNMENT. THE GOAL OF A
TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT WOULD BE TO ARREST THE ECONOMIC DECLINE, RESTORE
INTERNATIONAL CONFIDENCE IN ZIMBABWE, AND ESTABLISH THE CONSTITUTIONAL
PROCESS FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. WHEN ASKED ABOUT AMENDING THE
CONSTITUTION FIRST TO MAKE A COALITION GOVERNMENT MORE FEASIBLE, TSVANGIRAI
STATED THAT A CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM PROCESS

SIPDIS SHOULD BE BROAD-BASED AND WELL-CONSIDERED. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS
NOT ENOUGH TIME TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS NOW. HE SAID THE ECONOMY IS THE
PRIORITY ISSUE BECAUSE CONFIDENCE MUST BE RESTORED IN IT BEFORE THE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN 2002. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO TALK ABOUT THE
CONSTITUTION WHILE THE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.

---------------------------

MASS ACTION IS ON THE TABLE

---------------------------

5. (C) THE OPPOSITION LEADER WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE COUNTRY CANNOT CONTINUE
AS IT HAS FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS. WE KNOW THAT ZIMBABWE IS NOT LIKE
YUGOSLAVIA, BUT THE PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING CHANGE BEFORE THE SITUATION GETS
WORSE, HE PROFESSED. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE MDC WOULD WAIT UNTIL
2002 FOR CHANGE, BUT THE ECONOMIC DECLINE IS SO STEEP THAT IF IT WAITS THAT
LONG,

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ1865

PAGE 01 HARARE 06677 02 OF 03 291401Z ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 DINT-00
DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 EXIM-01 E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00
VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO">IO">IO-00 ITC-01 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00
SP">SP">SP">SP">SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-02
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /012W ------------------A54E56 291401Z
/38 O 291359Z NOV 00 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7739
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AMEMBASSY
NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 006677

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/10 TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ECON, PINR, ZI, SA SUBJECT:
ASSISTANT SECRETARY MEETS WITH ZIMBABWE CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 06677 02 OF 03 291401Z OPPOSITION LEADER

THERE WILL BE "NOTHING TO VOTE FOR" BY THE TIME THE ELECTION ARRIVES. THE
MDC'S NATIONAL COUNCIL , AT LEAST INITIALLY, WILL MEET NOVEMBER 24 TO
CONSIDER MASS ACTION. IF THE EXECUTIVE DECIDES TO CONDUCT A MASS ACTION, IT
WILL MOST LIKELY BE IN THE FORM OF GENERAL STRIKE TO BEGIN IN MID-DECEMBER
WHEN CHILDREN ARE HOME FROM SCHOOL AND BUSINESSES BEGIN TO CLOSE ANYWAY FOR
THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. THIS WOULD MINIMIZE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE
POPULATION, TSVANGIRAI BELIEVES. (NOTE: THE MDC'S NATIONAL COUNCIL CANCELLED
PLANS FOR MASS ACTION AT ITS NOVEMBER 24 MEETING. SEE REFTEL. END NOTE.) HE
SAID THE MDC UNDERSTANDS THE MAGNITUDE AND SERIOUSNESS OF MASS ACTION, AND
IT HAS TRIED TO POSTPONE IT FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, BUT THE POPULAR
SENTIMENT IS TO DO IT. A GENERAL STAY-AWAY IS PREFERABLE TO CONFRONTATION
SINCE IT IS NOT IN THE COUNTRY'S BEST INTEREST TO HAVE VIOLENCE OR
BLOODSHED.

6. (C) ON THE GOZ'S REACTION TO A MASS DEMONSTRATION IN HARARE, TSVANGIRAI
BELIEVED THE ARMY WOULDN'T HESITATE TO SHOOT A LOT OF PEOPLE. HE THOUGHT ITS
REACTION WOULD BE LESS SEVERE IN OTHER CITIES LIKE BULAWAYO AND MUTARE,
WHERE THE NUMBER OF TROOPS IS MUCH FEWER AND THEIR LOYALTY TO MUGABE MORE
QUESTIONABLE. ON THE OTHER HAND, HE SEES THE MILITARY AS DIVIDED. MUGABE HAS
APPROPRIATED THE TOP BRASS FOR HIS OWN ENDS, AND THEY ARE LOYAL TO HIM.
HOWEVER, THE BULK OF THE MILITARY'S LOWER RANKS DO NOT SUPPORT THE
PRESIDENT, TSVANGIRAI CLAIMED. CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 06677 02 OF 03 291401Z

---------------------

HOW TO GET MUGABE OUT

---------------------

7. (C) THE MILITARY IS ONE OF THE THREE MAJOR INFLUENCES ON MUGABE,
TSVANGIRAI CONTINUED. THE OTHER TWO ARE ZANU-PF AND REGIONAL LEADERS. IF
MUGABE IS TO BE PRESSURED TO LEAVE THE SCENE, ALL THREE MUST TURN AGAINST
HIM, THE OPPOSITION LEADER DECLARED. WHEN ASKED WHAT ELSE MIGHT INDUCE
MUGABE TO STEP DOWN, TSVANGIRAI SAID THE PRESIDENT WILL DO SO ONLY AFTER HE
HAS HAD HIS REVENGE AGAINST THE WHITES AND ONLY AFTER HE HAS REIGNED IN
ZANU-PF DISSIDENTS AND UNIFIED HIS PARTY. MUGABE IS A VINDICTIVE PERSON,
TSVANGIRAI PROFESSED. FOR ITS PART, THE MDC RECOGNIZES MUGABE AS THE
NATION'S FIRST LEADER AND A VERY IMPORTANT ONE IN ITS HISTORY. THE MDC WON'T
ENGAGE IN RETRIBUTION AGAINST MUGABE AND HIS SUPPORTERS, TSVANGIRAI HINTED,
BECAUSE "WE CAN'T FOCUS ON THE PAST IF WE ARE TO MOVE FORWARD." WHILE MUGABE
IS PRESIDENT, THE MDC LEADERSHIP WON'T MAKE PERSONAL COMMENTS ABOUT HIM, AS
THAT WOULD JUST INFLAME THE SITUATION.

------------------------

ROLE OF REGIONAL LEADERS

------------------------

8. (C) THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY ASKED THE MDC LEADER ABOUT THE ROLE REGIONAL
LEADERS COULD PLAY IN RESOLVING THE SITUATION. TSVANGIRAI STATED THAT AFTER
INITIALLY CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 HARARE 06677 02 OF 03 291401Z SHOWING AMBIVALENCE TOWARD ZIMBABWE,
SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT MBEKI HAS RECENTLY STARTED TO TALK MORE FIRMLY AND
IS SHOWING SIGNS HE WILL NO LONGER TOLERATE THE SITUATION IN ZIMBABWE.
TSVANGIRAI MENTIONED THAT ON HIS LAST VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA, HE MET WITH
FORMER PRESIDENT MANDELA--WHO STILL EXERTS GREAT INFLUENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA,
HE STATED--AND URGED THE LEADER TO INTERVENE IN ZIMBABWE. HE DID NOT RECEIVE
A FIRM COMMITMENT FROM MANDELA, HOWEVER, AND DID NOT SEE MBEKI. ZAMBIAN
PRESIDENT CHILUBA HAS BEEN DISTANT WITH THE MDC..

------------------------

MDC'S VIEW ON LAND ISSUE

------------------------

9. (C) ON THE LAND ISSUE, TSVANGIRAI ACKNOWLEDGED THAT LAND REFORM WAS
"UNFINISHED" BUSINESS AND MUST BE ADDRESSED SERIOUSLY BY ANY GOVERNMENT OF
ZIMBABWE. HOWEVER, EQUITY, LEGALITY AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY MUST BE KEYSTONES
TO ANY SUCCESSFUL LAND REFORM PROGRAM. THE MDC SUPPORTS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
A LAND COMMISSION TO OVERSEE THE REDISTRIBUTION OF LAND. THE MDC ALSO SEES
THE 1998 DONORS CONFERENCE AS THE STARTING POINT FOR LAND REFORM, AND IT
WOULD SUPPORT THE UNDP LAND INITIATIVE, THE OPPOSITION LEADER STATED.
TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT WHEN HE WAS IN THE UK RECENTLY, HE TOLD THE

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ1866

PAGE 01 HARARE 06677 03 OF 03 291401Z ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 DINT-00
DODE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 EXIM-01 E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00
VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO">IO">IO-00 ITC-01 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00
SP">SP">SP">SP">SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-02
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /012W ------------------A54E5D 291401Z
/38 O 291359Z NOV 00 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7740
INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AMEMBASSY
NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 006677

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/10 TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ECON, PINR, ZI, SA SUBJECT:
ASSISTANT SECRETARY MEETS WITH ZIMBABWE CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 HARARE 06677 03 OF 03 291401Z OPPOSITION LEADER

BRITISH TO REFRAIN FROM MAKING PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON LAND REFORM IN ZIMBABWE
AND TO USE ITS INFLUENCE BEHIND THE SCENES TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

------------------------------------

ZIMBABWE NEEDS A PEACEFUL TRANSITION

------------------------------------

10. (C) THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF A PEACEFUL
POLITICAL TRANSITION TO THE OPPOSITION LEADER. THE USG SEES HUGE RISKS--WITH
FEW, IF ANY, UPSIDES--TO MASS ACTION, AND URGED THE MDC TO MANAGE THE
POLITICAL TRANSITION CAREFULLY. WE HAVE URGED THE GOZ NOT TO USE LETHAL
FORCE ON DEMONSTRATORS, AND WE URGE THE OPPOSITION NOT TO GET IN A SITUATION
WHERE LETHAL FORCE MIGHT BE USED, THE SECRETARY SAID. THE USG ALSO WANTS TO
ENCOURAGE THE MDC TO ENGAGE IN A DIALOGUE WITH MODERATES IN ZANU-PF, EVEN IF
PRIVATELY. A/S RICE AFFIRMED THE USG'S WILLINGNESS TO FACILITATE SUCH
CONTACTS, IF DESIRED. SHE ALSO PUSHED THE MDC TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
GOVERNANCE OF THE COUNTRY THROUGH ITS SUBSTANTIAL PRESENCE IN PARLIAMENT,
AND LAMENTED THE MDC FAILURE TO ENGAGE IN THE PREPARATION OF THE BUDGET,
DESPITE THE FINANCE MINISTER'S SOLICITATION OF MDC INPUT. SUCH ENGAGEMENT,
RICE ARGUED, WOULD SHOW THAT THE MDC IS A SERIOUS AND CREDIBLE ALTERNATIVE
TO ZANU- PF. TSVANGIRAI, WHEN PRESSED, RELUCTANTLY TOOK THIS POINT ON BOARD.

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 HARARE 06677 03 OF 03 291401Z 11. (C) COMMENT: TSVANGIRAI WAS FRANK,
CONFIDENT AND RELAXED. HOWEVER, HE DID NOT CONVINCE US THAT THE MDC HAS A
CLEAR OR WELL-THOUGHT-OUT PLAN FOR MASS ACTION OR WHAT IT WOULD ACCOMPLISH.
HIS COMMENTS SUGGESTED THE MDC IS PINNING HOPE ON INTERNAL ZANU-PF
MACHINATIONS TO FORCE MUGABE FROM POWER. HIS PUBLIC APPROVAL OF FINANCE
MINISTER MAKONI'S BUDGET, AS REPORTED IN THE NOVEMBER 17 "THE DAILY NEWS,"
MAY BE AN INDICATION OF HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE
CREDIBLE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP. TSVANGIRAI IS CLEARLY UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE
PUBLIC TO LEAD A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT. OTHER INTERLOCUTORS HAVE TOLD US THAT
IF HE DOES NOT DO SO SOON, HE HIMSELF MAY BE FORCED FROM THE PARTY
LEADERSHIP. NOW THAT THE QUESTION OF MASS ACTION IS MOOT FOR THE TIME-BEING,
IT WILL BE UP TO TSVANGIRAI TO CHANNEL THE PEOPLE'S, AND HIS OWN PARTY
MEMBERS', FRUSTRATION INTO CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGE. IF TSVANGIRAI CAN DO THAT,
HIS POSITION WILL BE STRENGTHENED IMMEASURABLY, BOTH HERE AND ABROAD. END
COMMENT.

12. (U) A/S RICE HAS CLEARED THIS MESSAGE.

MCDONALD

CONFIDENTIAL

Wikileaks - "Mugabe is knackered" - Tsvangirai told the US

http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/

08 December, 2010 09:43:00    The Guardian (UK)

US embassy cables: Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai tells US Mugabe
is increasingly 'old, tired and poorly briefed'

Thursday, 24 December 2009, 08:26

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 001004
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY CARSON, DAS PAGE, AND AF/S
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN

EO 12958 DECL: 12/24/2019

TAGS PREL, PGOV, PHUM, ASEC, ZI

SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI ASKS THE WEST FOR HELP ON CHANGING THE

STATUS QUO

REF: HARARE 987

Classified By: AMBASSADOR CHARLES A. RAY FOR REASONS 1.4 B,D

1. (SBU) This cable includes an ACTION REQUEST, please see paragraph 8.

2. (C) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said that while there was
tremendous progress in 2009 as compared to 2008, Zimbabwe and its coalition
government still faces challenges. Reforms must be implemented quickly, and
there has been some progress, though none that affects the ZANU-PF power
structure. Implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) has been
slow and Mugabe has been using delay to maintain control.

In 2010 there must be some progress to show the people, but it will require
actions by all parties, including the Western powers, to change the status
quo. He expects the recently announced commissions to be installed in early
2010, and is satisfied with their makeup. ZANU-PF has implemented a strategy
of reciprocity in the negotiations, using Western sanctions as a cudgel
against MDC. He would like to see some quiet moves, provided there are
acceptable benchmarks, to 'give' some modest reward for modest progress.

3. (C) Ambassadors of the U.S., UK, French, and the Netherlands, and a
representative of the EU were called to PM Tsvangirai's residence at 0730 on
December 24 for an update briefing on the current discussions among the
principals in the coalition government and a request from him for some
flexibility on the part of the West on the issue of sanctions.

He said that there has been tremendous progress in restoring confidence of
the people in government in 2009 as compared to 2008. The people generally
endorse the government, but the future holds both opportunities and
challenges. The principal challenge is how to quickly embark on reforms.
There has been a little progress on that front, but not what was expected.
Implementation of the GPA has been too slow, and he is not satisfied with
it. ZANU-PF has been using delay on the GPA to maintain control.

The negotiators have held 11 meetings up until the end of the year. On the
issues of media, land, and corruption, there has been some progress, but
none of it touches on the power structure. On the three stickiest issues,
Gono, Tomana, and Bennett, there has been no progress. He is hopeful,
however, that if some progress can be made on other issues, these too will
be settled.

4. (C) ZANU-PF seems to have introduced a new tactic in its agenda -
reciprocity. What this means, he said, is that Mugabe is asking, "What's in
this for us?" If MDC gets governorships, Mugabe asks, why can't the
sanctions against ZANU-PF be lifted? Tsvangirai said that it seems that
Mugabe plans to use the governors as a trade-off against sanctions. He said
he has repeatedly told Mugabe that MDC has no control over sanctions. But,
he added, lack of any flexibility on the issue of sanctions poses a problem
for him and his party. In this he assured us that Deputy Prime Minister
Arthur Q In this he assured us that Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara
is in full agreement with him. He also acknowledged that his public
statements calling for easing of sanctions versus his private conversations
saying they must be kept in place have caused problems.

5. (C) Tsvangirai said the challenges for 2010 are:

- Get the reforms moving on the constitutional process. - Open media space,
national healing, and anti-corruption. - Prepare for elections in 2011. -
Move from economic stability to growth. - Deal with human rights violations.

He said the coalition government must expedite action in all these areas
because, not only are Western governments watching, but the people of
Zimbabwe will expect improvement. He said Security Sector Reform will take
center stage in

HARARE 00001004 002 OF 002

2010, using a multilateral approach involving all parties here and SADC. In
early 2010, Tsvangirai and Mutambara will take the diplomatic lead on the
sanctions issue. The question before us, Tsvangirai said, is how to start
moving on rewarding progress without giving the impression we are rewarding
lack of progress or bad behavior. We need to establish acceptable benchmarks
of progress, and determine what each involved party needs to do to change
the status quo. If necessary, he said, he and Mutambara can quietly meet
with Western leadership to develop a plan on the issue of sanctions. He said
that he and Mutambara have decided to take this issue out of the hands of
the negotiators and handle it personally. What is needed is some kind of
concrete roadmap that all can agree on, linking easing of sanctions with
identifiable and quantifiable progress.

6. (C) Tsvangirai wants to go to Mugabe after the negotiators deliver their
final report on January 15, 2010, with some idea of what the Western
position is on sanctions. He said that in order to change the status quo,
all parties might have to take some risks, because maintaining the status
quo only guarantees continued stalemate in the reform process. Economic
recovery and democratic reform are the essential requirements in Zimbabwe
right now. The 2011 elections are a critical goal as well. Winning the
election, he said, is not the problem, but a peaceful transfer of power is.

The recently announced commissions will be installed early in 2010, he said,
and he is satisfied with their makeup. The heads of the Media and Electoral
Commissions are honest men who he believes will put the interests of the
country first. His goal is to have the Electoral Commission hire its own
staff and be independent. The key is to wrest control from the Securocrats.

7. (C) On the subject of Mugabe himself, Tsvangirai said that in his recent
meetings, though Mugabe seems mentally acute, he appears old and very tired.
He comes to many meetings unbriefed and unaware of the content. It appears
that he is being managed by hardliners. Tsvangirai said his goal now is to
find a way to 'manage' Mugabe himself. One way, perhaps, would be to give
him something to give his hardliners. Precisely what that something is, he
said, is something he is still wrestling with.

8. (C) COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST. We are skeptical of Mugabe's motives, and
worried a bit at what appears to be naivete on Tsvangirai's part. However,
we believe that in one area he is correct: changing the status quo here will
require some risk taking on everyone's part. As we've previously discussed
(reftel), we think it might be in USG interests to consider some form of
incremental easing of non-personal sanctions, provided we see actual
implementation of some of these reforms. Post would appreciate Washington's
view on what would be acceptable benchmarks, and possible moves on our part.
We also request guidance on what to tell Qmoves on our part. We also request
guidance on what to tell Tsvangirai at our next meeting, which is expected
early in the New Year.

END COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST.

RAY

Zimbabwe Benefit Foundation (ZBF) - Christmas fund-raising campaign launched

Dear All,

Many of you may have seen the True Vision documentary screened on the BBC this year called 'Zimbabwe's Forgotten Children'. This heart breaking film showed the struggle faced by three children in receiving an education in today's Zimbabwe.
i
http://zimbabweschildren.org/index.php/zim-pro/

After a generous outpouring of public support the three children featured in the film now have sufficient financial support to take them to adulthood. However there are thousands of other children just like them in Zimbabwe.

Because of this, those behind the film have partnered with the Zimbabwe Benefit Foundation (www.zbf.org.uk) on an education and agriculture project targeting ten primary schools in 2011. The plan is to get 2,500 children back into education next year, whilst also providing a meal for them each day and additional income generating capacity for the schools.

For just £2.50 a month or a one off donation of £30, you can pay for a child of primary school age to receive an education in Zimbabwe for an entire year. To find out more and to offer support, please visit:

http://www.justgiving.com/educatechildrenzimbabwe

Thank you for your support & Merry Christmas.

True Vision Foundation & Zimbabwe Benefit Foundation

Lexi Aisbitt
Programmes Manager
Zimbabwe Benefit Foundation
020 7637 1527 - www.zbf.org.uk 

​