Mnangagwa told US ambassador about his disdain for Jonathan Moyo


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Emmerson Mnangagwa told United States ambassador Joseph Sullivan that he hoped the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill would never be passed and voiced his disdain for Information Minister Jonathan Moyo.

Mnangagwa, who was Speaker of Parliament as well as the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front Secretary for Administration at the time, promised the ambassador to look at issues that were of concern to the ambassador.

They included political violence and intimidation, the “illogical” prohibition of foreign funding of non-governmental organisations’ voter education, and the possibility of finding a consensus candidate with the MDC or the Speaker’s nominees to the Electoral Supervisory Commission.

 

Full cable:

 

Viewing cable 01HARARE3813, ZIMBABWE PARLIAMENT POSTPONES PASSAGE OF

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Reference ID

Created

Released

Classification

Origin

01HARARE3813

2001-12-21 10:13

2011-08-30 01:44

CONFIDENTIAL

Embassy Harare

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

 

 

 

CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4314

 

PAGE 01       HARARE 03813 01 OF 03 211114Z

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——————4EE6B7 211114Z /38

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0604

INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE

SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 003813

 

SIPDIS

 

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER

LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY

PARIS FOR CHARLES NEARY

NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER

 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/11

TAGS: PGOV PHUM ZI

SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE PARLIAMENT POSTPONES PASSAGE OF

REPRESSIVE LEGISLATION

 

REF: HARARE 3690

 

CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL OFFICER TODD FAULK FOR REASONS:

1.5 (B) AND (D).

 

1. (C) SUMMARY: ON DECEMBER 20, THE ZIMBABWE PARLIAMENT

ADJOURNED FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITHOUT PASSING KEY

LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO TILT THE ELECTORAL PLAYING FIELD

IN FAVOR OF THE RULING PARTY. THE GENERAL LAWS

AMENDMENT BILL, WHICH INCLUDES SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS TO

THE ELECTORAL ACT, THE PUBLIC ORDER AND SECURITY BILL,

AND THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION BILL, HAD BEEN HELD UP IN

THE PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMITTEE (PLC). EDDISON

ZVOBGO, THE ZANU-PF MP WHO CHAIRS THE PLC, TOLD

AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN DECEMBER 20 THAT THE PENDING

LEGISLATION HAS SERIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL FLAWS, AND

ADVERSE REPORTS WOULD LIKELY BE ISSUED. AN ADVERSE

REPORT ON THE LABOR RELATIONS AMENDMENT BILL, WHICH

WOULD PLACE MAJOR RESTRICTIONS ON LABOR STRIKES, IS

ALREADY DUE TO BE TABLED. PARLIAMENT WILL RECONVENE ON

JANUARY 8 TO TAKE UP THE LEGISLATION AGAIN. ZANU-PF’S

LEGAL STRATEGY TO HEM IN THE OPPOSITION BEFORE THE

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION HAS HIT A SNAG IN THE PERSON OF

EDDISON ZVOBGO, ONE OF MUGABE’S MOST RECALCITRANT

CRITICS. END SUMMARY.

 

——————————

DRACONIAN LEGISLATION DEFERRED

——————————

 

2. (C) PARLIAMENT ADJOURNED DECEMBER 20 WITHOUT PASSING

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 03       HARARE 03813 01 OF 03 211114Z

THE DRACONIAN PUBLIC ORDER AND SECURITY BILL (POSB), THE

GENERAL LAWS AMENDMENT BILL (WITH ITS ELECTORAL ACT

AMENDMENTS), OR THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION BILL,

ACCORDING TO TSITSI TAWAMBA, WHO HEADS THE PAPERS OFFICE

IN PARLIAMENT. DESPITE ATTEMPTS BY ZANU-PF TO BULLDOZE

THE BILLS THROUGH THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY BEFORE THE

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY, THE RULING PARTY RAN OUT OF TIME, AND

THEY WERE DEFERRED UNTIL PARLIAMENT RECONVENES ON

JANUARY 8. PART OF THE HOLD UP WAS DUE TO LATE-NIGHT

FLOOR DEBATE FROM THE OPPOSITION ON THE ELECTORAL ACT

AMENDMENTS DURING THE DECEMBER 18 AND 19 SESSIONS.

MINISTER OF JUSTICE PATRICK CHINAMASA AND MDC LEGAL

AFFAIRS SECRETARY DAVID COLTART PUT TO THE FLOOR

ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS ON DECEMBER 19 DESIGNED TO

AMELIORATE THE OPPOSITION’S CONCERNS.

 

——————————————-

SOME GOOD, SOME BAD IN ELECTORAL AMENDMENTS

——————————————-

 

3. (C) SURPRISINGLY, CHINAMASA’S PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD

GIVE MORE POWER TO THE RELATIVELY TOOTHLESS ELECTORAL

SUPERVISORY COMMISSION (ESC). THE MAIN CHANGES WOULD:

 

— GIVE THE ESC THE AUTHORITY TO ACCREDIT MONITORS, IN

ADDITION TO ITS CURRENT POWER TO APPOINT AND DEPLOY THEM

 

— GIVE THE ESC THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT THE OBSERVERS’

ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE, A POWER CURRENTLY ENJOYED BY

THE GOVERNMENT-BACKING REGISTRAR-GENERAL. THE COMMITTEE

WOULD ACCREDIT INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS INVITED TO

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 04       HARARE 03813 01 OF 03 211114Z

ZIMBABWE BY THE FOREIGN MINISTER.

 

— ALLOW UP TO THREE INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS TO ENTER OR

REMAIN IN ANY POLLING STATION AND BE PRESENT FOR THE

COUNTING OF VOTES AT A COUNTING CENTER

 

4. (C) HOWEVER, CHINAMASA’S AMENDMENTS EXPAND ON,

RATHER THAN REPEAL, THE PROOF OF RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

FOR NEW VOTER REGISTRANTS. THEY ESSENTIALLY WOULD

CODIFY THE HIGH COURT’S RECENT RULING PROVIDING FOR

GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN THE TYPES OF DOCUMENTS NEW

REGISTRANTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PRESENT. AMONG THE

DOCUMENTS ALLOWED WOULD BE: 1) ELECTRICITY OR WATER

BILLS, 2) LETTER FROM A LANDLORD, 3) SWORN STATEMENT

FROM AN EMPLOYER, 4) A POST-MARKED ENVELOPE BEARING THE

REGISTRANT’S ADDRESS, OR 5) A VERBAL OR WRITTEN

STATEMENT FROM THE LOCAL CHIEF OR HEADMAN.

 

5. (C) DESPITE A FEW POSITIVE CHANGED PROPOSED BY

CHINAMASA, THE GENERAL LAWS AMENDMENT ACT, WHICH AMONG

MINOR REVISIONS TO MORE THAN THREE DOZEN OTHER LAWS,

SUBSTANTIALLY AMENDS THE ELECTORAL ACT TO DO THE

FOLLOWING:

 

— CLARIFY THE ROLES OF THE MYRIAD GOZ BODIES THAT

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4316

 

PAGE 01       HARARE 03813 02 OF 03 211114Z

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ACE-00   P-00     SP-00   IRM-00   SSO-00   STR-00   TRSE-00

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SAS-00   SWCI-00   /010W

——————4EE6CE 211115Z /38

O 211013Z DEC 01

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0605

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 003813

 

SIPDIS

 

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER

LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY

PARIS FOR CHARLES NEARY

NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER

 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/11

TAGS: PGOV PHUM ZI

SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE PARLIAMENT POSTPONES PASSAGE OF

REPRESSIVE LEGISLATION

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 02       HARARE 03813 02 OF 03 211114Z

OVERSEE AND RUN ELECTIONS

 

— DEFINE THE PROCEDURES AND CODES OF CONDUCT GOVERNING

DOMESTIC ELECTION MONITORS AND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS

 

— RESTRICT VOTER EDUCATION TO THE ESC OR TO

ORGANIZATIONS THAT IT APPOINTS AND REGISTERS,

 

— GIVE THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL GREATER POWERS TO AMEND

THE VOTERS’ ROLL

— REPEAL THE SECTION PERMITTING ABSENTEE BALLOTS

EXCEPT FOR MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS AND ILITARY

 

— RESTRICT THE PLACEMENT OF POLITICAL OSTERS.

 

———————————-

ZVBGO HOLDS UP BILLS IN COMMITTEE

———————————

 

6. (C) ZANU-PF MP FOR MASVING SOUTH AND CHAIR OF THE

PARLIAMENTARY LEGAL COMMTTEE (PLC) TOLD AMBASSADOR

SULLIVAN AND POLOFF DCEMBER 20 THAT THE POSB, ELECTORAL

ACT AMENDMENT AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION BILL HAVE

SERIOUS CONSITUTIONAL FLAWS. THE POSB, IN PARTICULAR,

WOULDCLEARLY VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION OF ZIMBABWE. HIS

COMMITTEE, WHICH REVIEWS EVERY PIECE OF LEGISLATON FOR

ITS CONSTITUTIONALITY, IS LIKELY TO ISSUE ADVERSE

REPORTS ON EACH OF THEM. HOWEVER, ZVOBGO SAID THE PLC

HAS NOT HAD ENOUGH TIME TO GIVE THE BILLS THE CAREFUL

REVIEW THEY REQUIRE. HE TOLD THE AMBASSADOR HE WAS

GOING TO INSIST THAT THE PLC BE GIVEN THE FULL 18 DAYS

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 03       HARARE 03813 02 OF 03 211114Z

IT NORMALLY HAS TO CONSIDER LEGISLATION. (NOTE: THE

ADJOURNMENT OF PARLIAMENT TO JANUARY 8 WOULD GIVE THE

PLC 19 DAYS, INCLUDING HOLIDAYS. END NOTE.) ACCORDING

TO TAWAMBA, THE PLC HAS ISSUED A ADVERSE REPORT ON THE

LABOR RELATIONS AMENDMENTBILL, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE

GOZ TO BAN NEARLY AL TYPES OF LABOR ACTIONS, BUT THAT

THE REPORT WASNOT TABLED BEFORE PARLIAMENT.

 

——————————

THE SPEAKER SOUNDS OUT ON BILLS

——————————

 

7. (C) SPEAKER O PARLIAMENT EMMERSON MNANGAGWA TOLD

THE AMBASSADR DECEMBER 21 THAT THE ZANU-PF CAUCUS HAD

NOT GOE ALONG WITH AN ALTERATION IN ELECTORAL

AMENDMENS TO PERMIT NGO ELECTION MONITORS ALONGSIDE

PUBLI SERVANTS (REFTEL). HE CLAIMED THAT THE MDC IN

HE END ACCEPTED THIS FORMULATION. MNANGAGWA SAID HAT

NONE OF THE DELAYED PIECES OF LEGISLATION WOLD BE

APPROVED DURING THE PARLIAMENTARY ADJOURNMNT. HE

INDICATED, AS WELL, THAT HE HOPED THAT TH SO-CALLED

“ACCESS TO INFORMATION” BILL WOULD NEER BE PASSED AND

VOICED HIS DISDAIN FOR INFORMATON MINISTER JONATHAN

MOYO. MNANGAGWA ALSO PROMIED TO EXPLORE ADDITIONAL

AREAS OF CONCERN EXPRESED BY THE AMBASSADOR: POLITICAL

VIOLENCE AND INTIIDATION, THE “ILLOGICAL” PROHIBITION

OF FOREIGN UNDING OF NGO VOTER EDUCATION, AND THE

POSSIBILIY OF FINDING A CONSENSUS CANDIDATE WITH THE

MDC OR THE SPEAKER’S NOMINEES TO THE ELECTORAL

SUPERISORY COMMISSION.

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 04       HARARE 03813 02 OF 03 211114Z

——-

COMMENT

——-

8. (C) ZVOBGO, WHO HAS BEEN ONE OF MUGABE’S MOST

RECALCITRANT CRITICS IN THE LAST YEAR, IS DOING WAT HE

CAN TO SLOW DOWN THE RULING PARTY’S PASSAG OF

REPRESSIVE LEGISLATION. THE FACT THAT PARLIMENT

ADJOURNED FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITHOUT PASSING TE BILLS IS

TESTAMENT TO ZVOBGO’S LINGERING INFLUNCE IN PARLIAMENT,

AND SHOWS THAT ZANU-PF WAS UNBLE TO BULLDOZE

LEGISLATION PAST THE OPPOSITION S WAS DONE EARLIER THIS

YEAR. HOWEVER, THIS TEMORARY SNAG IN MUGABE’S

ELECTORAL STRATEGY IS LIKEY TO BE OVERCOME WHEN

PARLIAMENT RECONVENES NEXTMONTH SINCE ADVERSE REPORTS

HAVE BEEN IGNORED INTHE PAST. WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL

ELECTION LESS TAN THREE MONTHS AWAY, THE RULING PARTY

IS NOT LIKELY TO ALLOW CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES STAND IN

ITS WAY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE SPEAKER, AND TO A

LESSER EXTENT ZANU-PF, APPEAR MORE INTERESTED THAN

PREVIOUSLY IN DEMONSTRATING SOME FLEXIBILITY TOWARD

INTERNATIONAL, OPPOSITION, AND CIVIL SOCIETY CONCERNS.

END COMMENT.

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4317

 

PAGE 01       HARARE 03813 03 OF 03 211115Z

ACTION AF-00

 

INFO LOG-00   NP-00   AID-00   AMAD-00 CIAE-00 INL-00   DODE-00

SRPP-00 DS-00   EB-00   EUR-00   VC-00   H-01     TEDE-00

INR-00   IO-00  LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01   NSAE-00

OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01 PA-00   PC-01   PM-00   PRS-00

ACE-00   P-00     SP-00   IRM-00   SSO-00   STR-00   TRSE-00

USIE-00 PMB-00   DSCC-00 PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00

SAS-00   SWCI-00   /010W

——————4EE6CF 211115Z /38

O 211013Z DEC 01

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0606

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 003813

 

SIPDIS

 

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER

LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY

PARIS FOR CHARLES NEARY

NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER

 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/11

TAGS: PGOV PHUM ZI

SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE PARLIAMENT POSTPONES PASSAGE OF

REPRESSIVE LEGISLATION

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 02       HARARE 03813 03 OF 03 211115Z

SULLIVAN

 

CONFIDENTIAL

(145 VIEWS)

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Charles Rukuni
The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

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