US ambassador said ZIDERA offered more incentives than sanctions


0

United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Joseph Sullivan told vibe-President Joseph Msika that the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act offered more incentives than sanctions.

Msika had asked the ambassador why the United States had decided to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe “heatedly disagreeing with the notion that Zimbabwe had abandoned the rule of law and democratic governance”.

Sullivan said the US had supported majority rule in Rhodesia and had opposed Ian Smith’s government.

It had provided over US$700 million since 1980 in fulfilment of the pledge it made at the Lancaster House negotiations.

The ambassador went on to say that the US supported the principles agreed to at the 1998 donors’ conference on land reform in Zimbabwe, but Zimbabwe had deviated from those principles.

US sanctions on Zimbabwe, which are still in force, barred the country from receiving funding from international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and institutions affiliated to the two IFIs.

 

Full cable:

 

Viewing cable 01HARARE3367, AMBASSADOR AND VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA DISCUSS

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Reference ID

Created

Classification

Origin

01HARARE3367

2001-11-13 14:08

CONFIDENTIAL

Embassy Harare

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

 

131408Z Nov 01

 

 

CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ1550

 

PAGE 01       HARARE 03367 131457Z

ACTION AF-00

 

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

SRPP-00 DS-00   VC-00   TEDE-00 INR-00   LAB-01   VCE-00

DCP-01   NSAE-00 EPAE-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02   NFAT-00 SAS-00

/004W

——————3D927E 131457Z /07

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0259

INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 003367

 

SIPDIS

 

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER

BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR NEARY

 

E.O. 12958: DECL. 10/31/11

TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI

SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA DISCUSS

TERRORISM,

LAND REFORM, RULE OF LAW, ELECTION OBSERVATION

 

 

CLASSIFIED BY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER BRUCE WHARTON. REASONS:

1.5. (B) AND (D).

 

SUMMARY

———–

 

¶1. (C) IN AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN’S INITIAL COURTESY CALL ON VICE

PRESIDENT JOSEPH MSIKA ON NOVEMBER 8, THE VICE PRESIDENT

OFFERED HIS VIEW OF ZIMBABWE’S RECENT HISTORY AND A SPIRITED

DEFENSE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE’S (GOZ) RECORD ON RULE OF

LAW AND LAND REFORM. HE PLEDGED CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE

GLOBAL EFFORT AGAINST TERRORISM AND SPOKE OF GOZ UMBRAGE AT

THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) DEMAND THAT INTERNATIONAL ELECTION

OBSERVERS BE INVITED TO ZIMBABWE. MSIKA ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN

THAT THE US WAS UNFAIRLY CRITICAL OF THE GOZ, SPECIFICALLY

NOTING THE POSSIBILITY OF SANCTIONS UNDER THE ZIMBABWE

DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT (ZDERA). END SUMMARY.

 

FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

—————————-

 

¶2. (U) AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN OPENED THE MEETING BY THANKING MSIKA

FOR GOZ SUPPORT IN THE GLOBAL EFFORT AGAINST TERRORISM. THE

AMBASSADOR MADE FUNDAMENTAL POINTS ABOUT THE FIGHT AGAINST

TERROR AND RECEIVED MSIKA’S ASSURANCE THAT ZIMBABWE UNDERSTOOD

THE ISSUES AND WOULD MAINTAIN A STRONG POSITION AGAINST

TERRORISM.

 

US POLICY TOWARD ZIMBABWE

———————————–

 

¶3. ( C ) VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA OFFERED A LENGTHY OVERVIEW OF THE

HISTORY OF ZIMBABWE SINCE 1979. THE POINTS HE MADE ABOUT THE

LANCASTER HOUSE NEGOTIATIONS, INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF LAND

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 03       HARARE 03367 131457Z

IN ZIMBABWE, THE COUNTRY’S HISTORY OF ELECTIONS, AND THE

POPULAR DEMAND FOR LAND FOLLOWED PRECISELY THE ARGUMENTS MADE

BY PRESIDENT MUGABE AT AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN’S PRESENTATION OF

CREDENTIALS TWO WEEKS EARLIER. MSIKA ENDED THE HISTORY LESSON

BY ASKING WHY THE UNITED STATES NOW WANTED TO “INTRODUCE

SANCTIONS” (AN APPARENT REFERENCE TO THE ZDERA) AND HEATEDLY

DISAGREEING WITH THE NOTION THAT ZIMBABWE HAD ABANDONED THE

RULE OF LAW AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE.

 

¶4. ( C ) AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN RESPONDED THAT HE WELCOMED THE

VICE PRESIDENT’S FRANKNESS AND WOULD ALSO SPEAK PLAINLY. THE

AMBASSADOR POINTED OUT THAT THE US HAD SUPPORTED AFRICAN

INDEPENDENCE SINCE BEFORE THE KENNEDY ERA, HAD OPPOSED THE IAN

SMITH GOVERNMENT AND HAD SUPPORTED MAJORITY RULE IN

RHODESIA/ZIMBABWE. HE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE US HAD PROVIDED

OVER US$700 MILLION SINCE 1980 IN FULFILLMENT OF THE PLEDGE IT

MADE AT THE LANCASTER HOUSE NEGOTIATIONS. THE AMBASSADOR WENT

ON TO SAY THAT THE US SUPPORTED THE PRINCIPLES AGREED TO AT THE

1998 DONORS’ CONFERENCE ON LAND REFORM IN ZIMBABWE, BUT THAT

ZIMBABWE HAD DEVIATED FROM THOSE PRINCIPLES. HE SPOKE OF THE

VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH POLITICS AND LAND REFORM AND SAID THAT

THE RULE OF LAW HAD NOT BEEN FOLLOWED IN ZIMBABWE. THE

AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE ZDERA, POINTED

OUT THAT IT OFFERED MORE INCENTIVES THAN SANCTIONS, AND SAID

THAT ZIMBABWE’S RETURN TO THE RULE OF LAW WOULD OPEN THE

POSSIBILITY OF TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SUCH INCENTIVES.

 

LAND REFORM AND ABUJA

————————–

 

¶5. ( C ) VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA STOUTLY DEFENDED THE GOZ RECORD

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 04       HARARE 03367 131457Z

ON LAND REFORM AND RULE OF LAW. HE STATED THAT VIOLENCE ON THE

FARMS HAD BEEN STARTED BY WHITE COMMERCIAL FARMERS AND BY

“PEOPLE WHO DID NOT WANT TO SHARE.” HE INSISTED THAT HIS

GOVERNMENT HAD NOT DEVIATED FROM THE PRINCIPLES OF THE 1998

DONORS’ CONFERENCE, IS PEACE LOVING AND BELIEVES IN THE RULE OF

LAW. HE SAID THAT “EXTERNAL FORCES” HAD MADE THE LAND REFORM

ISSUE “MORE COMPLICATED” AND HAD MADE “PEOPLE DO THINGS THEY

SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE.” AS MSIKA EXPLAINED IT, THE

PEASANTS’

HUNGER FOR LAND, THE PEOPLE’S ANGER, AND THE PRESENCE OF

“CRIMINALS MASQUERADING AS EX-COMBATANTS,” RESULTED IN THE

OCCUPATION OF FARMS THAT DID NOT MEET THE GOZ CRITERIA FOR

SEIZURE. AS EVIDENCE OF THE GOZ DETERMINATION TO ABIDE BY

THE RULE OF LAW, HE DETAILED HIS EFFORTS TO REMOVE MORE THAN

600 FARMS FROM THE LIST OF PROPERTIES APPROVED FOR SEIZURE. HE

DID NOT EXPLAIN HOW FARMS THAT DID NOT MEET GOZ CRITERIA FOR

ON TO SAY THAT THE GOZ HAD NEVER DEVIATED FROM ITS PRINCIPLED

STAND ON LAND REFORM OR THE RULE OF LAW, AND THAT THE ABUJA

AGREEMENT OF SEPTEMBER CONFIRMED THE JUSTICE OF ITS POLICIES

AND ACTIONS. MSIKA SAID THAT ZIMBABWE’S LAND PROBLEMS EXISTED

BEFORE THE ABUJA AGREEMENT AND WOULD TAKE MORE TIME TO RESOLVE.

HE AGAIN MADE THE POINT THAT ZINBABWE HAD “SUFFERED FROM

LAND REFORM, RULE OF LAW, ELECTION OBSERVATION

 

INTERNATIONAL INTERFERENCE THAT COMPLICATED OUR PATH.”

AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN URGED MSIKA TO PREVENT FUTURE VIOLENCE AND

TO CONTINUE TO MOVE INVADERS OFF OF ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED FARMS.

 

ELECTION OBSERVERS

———————-

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 05       HARARE 03367 131457Z

¶6. ( C ) AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN RAISED THE ISSUE OF ELECTION

OBSERVERS, EXPRESSING THE HOPE THAT THE GOZ WOULD INVITE

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS AND ASKING WHEN A DECISION MIGHT BE

MADE ON THAT ISSUE. MSIKA REPLIED THAT IT WAS HIS “CONVICTION”

THAT ZIMBABWE WOULD BE HAPPY TO INVITE OBSERVERS OR MONITORS IF

AND WHEN THEY WERE NEEDED. THE VP MADE A CLEAR DISTINCTION

BETWEEN OBSERVERS AND MONITORS AND SAID HE SAW NO NEED FOR

INTERNATIONAL MONITORS IN ZIMBABWE. MSIKA EXPRESSED ANGER OVER

WHAT HE CHARACTERIZED AS THE EU “DEMAND” THAT OBSERVERS BE

INVITED. HE SAID THAT ZIMBABWE’S SOVEREIGNTY AND INDEPENDENCE

ARE “NOT NEGOTIABLE” AND THAT NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO DEMAND

THAT THE GOZ INVITE OBSERVERS. HE SAID THAT ZIMBABWE HAD

NOTHING TO HIDE AND POINTED TO THE GOVERNMENT’S DEFEAT IN THE

FEBRUARY 2000 CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM AS EVIDENCE OF

ZIMBABWE’S CAPACITY TO RUN FAIR ELECTIONS. THE AMBASSADOR MADE

THE POINT THAT INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS ARE STANDARD PRACTICE

AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING IN THE US, AND THAT THEY ENHANCE

CONFIDENCE IN ELECTION RESULTS AND REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTION-

RELATED VIOLENCE.

 

WE ARE NOT THE ENEMY

—————————

 

¶7. ( C ) MSIKA ENDED THE MEETING BY SAYING THAT ZIMBABWE NEEDED

THE US – NEEDED ITS BUSINESS, ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT. HE THEN

ASKED WHY THE US WANTED TO “MAKE ZIMBABWE YOUR ENEMY – WE ARE

NOT THE ENEMY.” MSIKA RECOUNTED THAT HE HAD BEEN IN THE US

DURING THE 1988 ELECTIONS AND HAD BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE ABILITY

OF AMERICANS FROM DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES TO DISCUSS

ISSUES. HE SAID THAT HAD TAUGHT HIM AN IMPORTANT LESSON ABOUT

DIALOGUE BETWEEN PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW AND THAT

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 06       HARARE 03367 131457Z

HE HOPED THAT HE AND THE AMBASSADOR COULD CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN

OPEN, HONEST DISCUSSIONS.

 

COMMENT

———–

 

¶8. ( C ) VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA’S VERSION OF ZIMBABWE’S RECENT

ON LAND REFORM AND RULE OF LAW, FOLLOWS VERY CLOSELY RECENT

STATEMENTS BY PRESIDENT MUGABE AND OTHER HIGH-RANKING GOZ

OFFICIALS. THEY CLEARLY HAVE A UNIFIED SET OF TALKING POINTS.

THAT BOTH MUGABE AND MSIKA MADE THE EFFORT TO OFFER THE

AMBASSADOR A LENGTHY HISTORY LESSON -ALBEIT A ONE-SIDED ONE –

INDICATES BOTH THEIR VIEW OF THE WORLD AND THEIR BELIEF THAT WE

DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR APPRECIATE THAT VIEW. IN SPITE OF VP

MSIKA’S PROFESSED DESIRE FOR OPEN, FRANK DISCUSSION, THERE DOES

NOT SEEM TO BE MUCH ROOM FOR ALTERNATIVE POINTS OF VIEW ON HOW

ZIMBABWE HAS COME TO ITS CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS. RECENT

MEETINGS WITH VP MSIKA AND OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

INDICATE THE US ACCESS TO THE GOZ HAS IMPROVED FOR THE TIME

BEING. THE TOP ZANU-PF LEADERSHIP SEES THIS EXERCISE AS ONE OF

PERSUADING US NOT TO BE THEIR ENEMIES RATHER THAN LISTENING TO

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO AVOID FURTHER DETERIORATION OF

RELATIONS.

 

¶9. ( C ) ON NOVEMBER 12, THE AMBASSADOR WAS CONVOKED TO PAY A

COURTESY CALL ON ZIMBABWE’S OTHER VICE PRESIDENT, SIMON

MUZENDA; SLIGHTLY OLDER THAN VP MSIKA (79 V

¶S. 77), SLIGHTLY

MORE IRRELEVANT, AND EQUALLY LOYAL TO PRESIDENT MUGABE. THE

MEETING WAS EVEN LESS SUBSTANTIVE WITH MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION

DEVOTED TO TELLING MUZENDA WHY THE RHODESIANS’ LABELING OF

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 07       HARARE 03367 131457Z

LIBERATION FIGHTERS AS “TERRORISTS” OUGHT NOT INHIBIT THE ZANU-

PF GOVERNMENT FROM WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT OF THE WAR AGAINST THE

AL QAEDA TERRORIST NETWORK. MORE INTERESTING WAS THE FRANK AND

SOMEWHAT NAIVE.QUESTIONS FROM MUZENDA: “WHY DO YOU AMERICANS

WANT TO KICK OUT MUGABE?” WE GAVE THE STANDARD ANSWER THAT IT

WAS UP TO ZIMBABWEANS TO CHOOSE THEIR LEADERS THROUGH FREE AND

FAIR ELECTIONS AND MADE THE CASE FOR BROAD OBSERVATION OF

ELECTIONS.

 

SULLIVAN

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

>

@@@OASYS@@@

 

CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ1510

 

PAGE 01       HARARE 03367 01 OF 02 131451Z

ACTION AF-00

 

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

SRPP-00 DS-00   VC-00   TEDE-00 INR-00   LAB-01   VCE-00

DCP-01   NSAE-00 EPAE-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02   NFAT-00 SAS-00

/004W

——————3D917B 131452Z /38

P 131408Z NOV 01

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0259

INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

 

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 003367

 

SIPDIS

 

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER

BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR NEARY

 

E.O. 12958: DECL. 10/31/11

TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI

SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA DISCUSS

TERRORISM,

LAND REFORM, RULE OF LAW, ELECTION OBSERVATION

 

CLASSIFIED BY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER BRUCE WHARTON. REASONS:

1.5. (B) AND (D).

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 02       HARARE 03367 01 OF 02 131451Z

SUMMARY

———–

 

¶1. (C) IN AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN’S INITIAL COURTESY CALL ON VICE

PRESIDENT JOSEPH MSIKA ON NOVEMBER 8, THE VICE PRESIDENT

OFFERED HIS VIEW OF ZIMBABWE’S RECENT HISTORY AND A SPIRITED

DEFENSE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE’S (GOZ) RECORD ON RULE OF

LAW AND LAND REFORM. HE PLEDGED CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE

GLOBAL EFFORT AGAINST TERRORISM AND SPOKE OF GOZ UMBRAGE AT

THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) DEMAND THAT INTERNATIONAL ELECTION

OBSERVERS BE INVITED TO ZIMBABWE. MSIKA ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN

THAT THE US WAS UNFAIRLY CRITICAL OF THE GOZ, SPECIFICALLY

NOTING THE POSSIBILITY OF SANCTIONS UNDER THE ZIMBABWE

DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT (ZDERA). END SUMMARY.

 

FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

—————————-

 

¶2. (U) AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN OPENED THE MEETING BY THANKING MSIKA

FOR GOZ SUPPORT IN THE GLOBAL EFFORT AGAINST TERRORISM. THE

AMBASSADOR MADE FUNDAMENTAL POINTS ABOUT THE FIGHT AGAINST

TERROR AND RECEIVED MSIKA’S ASSURANCE THAT ZIMBABWE UNDERSTOOD

THE ISSUES AND WOULD MAINTAIN A STRONG POSITION AGAINST

TERRORISM.

 

US POLICY TOWARD ZIMBABWE

———————————–

 

¶3. ( C ) VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA OFFERED A LENGTHY OVERVIEW OF THE

HISTORY OF ZIMBABWE SINCE 1979. THE POINTS HE MADE ABOUT THE

LANCASTER HOUSE NEGOTIATIONS, INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF LAND

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 03       HARARE 03367 01 OF 02 131451Z

IN ZIMBABWE, THE COUNTRY’S HISTORY OF ELECTIONS, AND THE

POPULAR DEMAND FOR LAND FOLLOWED PRECISELY THE ARGUMENTS MADE

BY PRESIDENT MUGABE AT AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN’S PRESENTATION OF

CREDENTIALS TWO WEEKS EARLIER. MSIKA ENDED THE HISTORY LESSON

BY ASKING WHY THE UNITED STATES NOW WANTED TO “INTRODUCE

SANCTIONS” (AN APPARENT REFERENCE TO THE ZDERA) AND HEATEDLY

DISAGREEING WITH THE NOTION THAT ZIMBABWE HAD ABANDONED THE

RULE OF LAW AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE.

 

¶4. ( C ) AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN RESPONDED THAT HE WELCOMED THE

VICE PRESIDENT’S FRANKNESS AND WOULD ALSO SPEAK PLAINLY. THE

AMBASSADOR POINTED OUT THAT THE US HAD SUPPORTED AFRICAN

INDEPENDENCE SINCE BEFORE THE KENNEDY ERA, HAD OPPOSED THE IAN

SMITH GOVERNMENT AND HAD SUPPORTED MAJORITY RULE IN

RHODESIA/ZIMBABWE. HE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE US HAD PROVIDED

OVER US$700 MILLION SINCE 1980 IN FULFILLMENT OF THE PLEDGE IT

MADE AT THE LANCASTER HOUSE NEGOTIATIONS. THE AMBASSADOR WENT

ON TO SAY THAT THE US SUPPORTED THE PRINCIPLES AGREED TO AT THE

1998 DONORS’ CONFERENCE ON LAND REFORM IN ZIMBABWE, BUT THAT

ZIMBABWE HAD DEVIATED FROM THOSE PRINCIPLES. HE SPOKE OF THE

VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH POLITICS AND LAND REFORM AND SAID THAT

THE RULE OF LAW HAD NOT BEEN FOLLOWED IN ZIMBABWE. THE

AMBASSADOR EXPLAINED THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE ZDERA, POINTED

OUT THAT IT OFFERED MORE INCENTIVES THAN SANCTIONS, AND SAID

THAT ZIMBABWE’S RETURN TO THE RULE OF LAW WOULD OPEN THE

POSSIBILITY OF TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SUCH INCENTIVES.

 

LAND REFORM AND ABUJA

————————–

 

¶5. ( C ) VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA STOUTLY DEFENDED THE GOZ RECORD

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 04       HARARE 03367 01 OF 02 131451Z

ON LAND REFORM AND RULE OF LAW. HE STATED THAT VIOLENCE ON THE

FARMS HAD BEEN STARTED BY WHITE COMMERCIAL FARMERS AND BY

“PEOPLE WHO DID NOT WANT TO SHARE.” HE INSISTED THAT HIS

GOVERNMENT HAD NOT DEVIATED FROM THE PRINCIPLES OF THE 1998

DONORS’ CONFERENCE, IS PEACE LOVING AND BELIEVES IN THE RULE OF

LAW. HE SAID THAT “EXTERNAL FORCES” HAD MADE THE LAND REFORM

ISSUE “MORE COMPLICATED” AND HAD MADE “PEOPLE DO THINGS THEY

SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE.” AS MSIKA EXPLAINED IT, THE

PEASANTS’

HUNGER FOR LAND, THE PEOPLE’S ANGER, AND THE PRESENCE OF

“CRIMINALS MASQUERADING AS EX-COMBATANTS,” RESULTED IN THE

OCCUPATION OF FARMS THAT DID NOT MEET THE GOZ CRITERIA FOR

SEIZURE. AS EVIDENCE OF THE GOZ DETERMINATION TO ABIDE BY

THE RULE OF LAW, HE DETAILED HIS EFFORTS TO REMOVE MORE THAN

600 FARMS FROM THE LIST OF PROPERTIES APPROVED FOR SEIZURE. HE

DID NOT EXPLAIN HOW FARMS THAT DID NOT MEET GOZ CRITERIA FOR

ON TO SAY THAT THE GOZ HAD NEVER DEVIATED FROM ITS PRINCIPLED

STAND ON LAND REFORM OR THE RULE OF LAW, AND THAT THE ABUJA

AGREEMENT OF SEPTEMBER CONFIRMED THE JUSTICE OF ITS POLICIES

AND ACTIONS. MSIKA SAID THAT ZIMBABWE’S LAND PROBLEMS EXISTED

BEFORE THE ABUJA AGREEMENT AND WOULD TAKE MORE TIME TO RESOLVE.

HE AGAIN MADE THE POINT THAT ZINBABWE HAD “SUFFERED FROM

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ1512

 

PAGE 01       HARARE 03367 02 OF 02 131452Z

ACTION AF-00

 

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

SRPP-00 DS-00   VC-00   TEDE-00 INR-00   IO-00   LAB-01

VCE-00   DCP-01   NSAE-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02   NFAT-00 SAS-00

/004W

——————3D918D 131452Z /38

P 131408Z NOV 01

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0260

INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

 

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 003367

 

SIPDIS

 

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER

BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR NEARY

 

E.O. 12958: DECL. 10/31/11

TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI

SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA DISCUSS

TERRORISM,

LAND REFORM, RULE OF LAW, ELECTION OBSERVATION

 

INTERNATIONAL INTERFERENCE THAT COMPLICATED OUR PATH.”

AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN URGED MSIKA TO PREVENT FUTURE VIOLENCE AND

TO CONTINUE TO MOVE INVADERS OFF OF ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED FARMS.

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 02       HARARE 03367 02 OF 02 131452Z

 

ELECTION OBSERVERS

———————-

 

¶6. ( C ) AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN RAISED THE ISSUE OF ELECTION

OBSERVERS, EXPRESSING THE HOPE THAT THE GOZ WOULD INVITE

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS AND ASKING WHEN A DECISION MIGHT BE

MADE ON THAT ISSUE. MSIKA REPLIED THAT IT WAS HIS “CONVICTION”

THAT ZIMBABWE WOULD BE HAPPY TO INVITE OBSERVERS OR MONITORS IF

AND WHEN THEY WERE NEEDED. THE VP MADE A CLEAR DISTINCTION

BETWEEN OBSERVERS AND MONITORS AND SAID HE SAW NO NEED FOR

INTERNATIONAL MONITORS IN ZIMBABWE. MSIKA EXPRESSED ANGER OVER

WHAT HE CHARACTERIZED AS THE EU “DEMAND” THAT OBSERVERS BE

INVITED. HE SAID THAT ZIMBABWE’S SOVEREIGNTY AND INDEPENDENCE

ARE “NOT NEGOTIABLE” AND THAT NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO DEMAND

THAT THE GOZ INVITE OBSERVERS. HE SAID THAT ZIMBABWE HAD

NOTHING TO HIDE AND POINTED TO THE GOVERNMENT’S DEFEAT IN THE

FEBRUARY 2000 CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM AS EVIDENCE OF

ZIMBABWE’S CAPACITY TO RUN FAIR ELECTIONS. THE AMBASSADOR MADE

THE POINT THAT INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS ARE STANDARD PRACTICE

AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING IN THE US, AND THAT THEY ENHANCE

CONFIDENCE IN ELECTION RESULTS AND REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTION-

RELATED VIOLENCE.

 

WE ARE NOT THE ENEMY

—————————

 

¶7. ( C ) MSIKA ENDED THE MEETING BY SAYING THAT ZIMBABWE NEEDED

THE US – NEEDED ITS BUSINESS, ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT. HE THEN

ASKED WHY THE US WANTED TO “MAKE ZIMBABWE YOUR ENEMY – WE ARE

NOT THE ENEMY.” MSIKA RECOUNTED THAT HE HAD BEEN IN THE US

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 03       HARARE 03367 02 OF 02 131452Z

DURING THE 1988 ELECTIONS AND HAD BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE ABILITY

OF AMERICANS FROM DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES TO DISCUSS

ISSUES. HE SAID THAT HAD TAUGHT HIM AN IMPORTANT LESSON ABOUT

DIALOGUE BETWEEN PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW AND THAT

HE HOPED THAT HE AND THE AMBASSADOR COULD CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN

OPEN, HONEST DISCUSSIONS.

 

COMMENT

———–

 

¶8. ( C ) VICE PRESIDENT MSIKA’S VERSION OF ZIMBABWE’S RECENT

ON LAND REFORM AND RULE OF LAW, FOLLOWS VERY CLOSELY RECENT

STATEMENTS BY PRESIDENT MUGABE AND OTHER HIGH-RANKING GOZ

OFFICIALS. THEY CLEARLY HAVE A UNIFIED SET OF TALKING POINTS.

THAT BOTH MUGABE AND MSIKA MADE THE EFFORT TO OFFER THE

AMBASSADOR A LENGTHY HISTORY LESSON -ALBEIT A ONE-SIDED ONE –

INDICATES BOTH THEIR VIEW OF THE WORLD AND THEIR BELIEF THAT WE

DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR APPRECIATE THAT VIEW. IN SPITE OF VP

MSIKA’S PROFESSED DESIRE FOR OPEN, FRANK DISCUSSION, THERE DOES

NOT SEEM TO BE MUCH ROOM FOR ALTERNATIVE POINTS OF VIEW ON HOW

ZIMBABWE HAS COME TO ITS CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS. RECENT

MEETINGS WITH VP MSIKA AND OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

INDICATE THE US ACCESS TO THE GOZ HAS IMPROVED FOR THE TIME

BEING. THE TOP ZANU-PF LEADERSHIP SEES THIS EXERCISE AS ONE OF

PERSUADING US NOT TO BE THEIR ENEMIES RATHER THAN LISTENING TO

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO AVOID FURTHER DETERIORATION OF

RELATIONS.

 

¶9. ( C ) ON NOVEMBER 12, THE AMBASSADOR WAS CONVOKED TO PAY A

COURTESY CALL ON ZIMBABWE’S OTHER VICE PRESIDENT, SIMON

MUZENDA; SLIGHTLY OLDER THAN VP MSIKA (79 V

CONFIDENTIAL

 

PAGE 04       HARARE 03367 02 OF 02 131452Z

¶S. 77), SLIGHTLY

MORE IRRELEVANT, AND EQUALLY LOYAL TO PRESIDENT MUGABE. THE

MEETING WAS EVEN LESS SUBSTANTIVE WITH MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION

DEVOTED TO TELLING MUZENDA WHY THE RHODESIANS’ LABELING OF

LIBERATION FIGHTERS AS “TERRORISTS” OUGHT NOT INHIBIT THE ZANU-

PF GOVERNMENT FROM WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT OF THE WAR AGAINST THE

AL QAEDA TERRORIST NETWORK. MORE INTERESTING WAS THE FRANK AND

SOMEWHAT NAIVE.QUESTIONS FROM MUZENDA: “WHY DO YOU AMERICANS

WANT TO KICK OUT MUGABE?” WE GAVE THE STANDARD ANSWER THAT IT

WAS UP TO ZIMBABWEANS TO CHOOSE THEIR LEADERS THROUGH FREE AND

FAIR ELECTIONS AND MADE THE CASE FOR BROAD OBSERVATION OF

ELECTIONS.

 

SULLIVAN

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

>

 

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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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