Cablegate: Eu Interim Report On Elections Takes a Tough Stance

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

261439Z Jun 00

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ8687

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INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00
NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
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------------------670674 261435Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6436
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 003482

SIPDIS

AF FOR A/S RICE, P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS

E. O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV ZI EU ZANU PF
SUBJECT: EU INTERIM REPORT ON ELECTIONS TAKES A TOUGH STANCE
ON ZANU-PF INTIMIDATION AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 HARARE 03482 01 OF 03 261435Z
1. SUMMARY: THE EUROPEAN UNION OBSERVER MISSION ISSUED AN
INTERIM STATEMENT ON ZIMBABWE'S JUNE 24-25 PARLIAMENTARY
ELECTIONS AT MIDNIGHT ON JUNE 25-26. THE REPORT COVERS THE
PRE-ELECTION PERIOD AND THE VOTING; A LATER REPORT WILL
COVER THE VOTE COUNT AND THE POST-ELECTION PERIOD. THE EU
DETERMINED THAT:

-- THE ZIMBABWEAN PEOPLE VOTED IN LARGE NUMBERS, SHOWING
DETERMINATION TO INFLUENCE THE FUTURE OF THEIR COUNTRY
DESPITE VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION.

-- ELECTORAL OFFICIALS DID NOT OPERATE IN AN OPEN AND
TRANSPARENT MANNER, AND AS A RESULT FAILED TO SECURE THE
CONFIDENCE OF BOTH THE POLITICAL PARTIES AND OF THE
INSTITUTIONS OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

-- ADMINISTRATIVE OBSTRUCTIONS IMPEDED THE WORK OF DOMESTIC
AND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS. THIS WAS "NOT DUE TO
ADMINISTRATIVE INCOMPETENCE BUT TO A DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO
REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INDEPENDENT MONITORING OF THE
ELECTION."

-- HIGH LEVELS OF VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION, AND COERCION,
PARTICULARLY BY ZANU-PF, MARRED THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
"ZANU-PF LEADERS SEEMED TO SANCTION THE USE OF VIOLENCE AND
INTIMIDATION AGAINST POLITICAL OPPONENTS AND CONTRIBUTED
SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE CLIMATE OF FEAR SO EVIDENT DURING THE
ELECTION CAMPAIGN."

-- EU OBSERVERS' "OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE POLLING IS
HIGHLY POSITIVE." HOWEVER, THERE WERE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 HARARE 03482 01 OF 03 261435Z
THE VOTERS' ROLL AND A LARGE NUMBER OF INTENDING VOTERS WERE
UNABLE TO VOTE.

END SUMMARY.

2. FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE EU STATEMENT:

ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS 2000

INTERIM STATEMENT

PIERRE SCHORI
HEAD OF EU ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION

INTRODUCTION

THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE HAVE VOTED IN LARGE NUMBERS IN THIS
WEEKEND'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. DESPITE A HIGH LEVEL OF
VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION DURING THE CAMPAIGN, AND SERIOUS
FLAWS AND IRREGULARITIES IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS, THEY HAVE
SHOWN A CLEAR DETERMINATION TO INFLUENCE THE FUTURE OF THEIR
COUNTRY -- BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND THROUGH THE STRUCTURES OF
CIVIL SOCIETY.

THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS MEMBER STATES HAVE CO-OPERATED
WITH ZIMBABWE POLITICALLY AND FINANCIALLY SINCE INDEPENDENCE
IN 1980. THE EU IS THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
ASSISTANCE. AS AN ACT OF COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF
ZIMBABWE, THE EU DEPLOYED SOME 190 EXPERIENCED EU OBSERVERS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THE LARGEST INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER
MISSION, WITH THE AIM OF CONTRIBUTING TO A MORE FAVOURABLE
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PAGE 04 HARARE 03482 01 OF 03 261435Z
CLIMATE FOR THE ELECTIONS. WE SEE OUR PRESENCE HERE AS A
NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF OUR SUPPORT FOR THE STRUGGLE FOR
INDEPENDENCE; AND WE WISH TO BUILD A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH
A PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC ZIMBABWE.

EU OBSERVERS WERE IN GENERAL WARMLY WELCOMED. THEY
ESTABLISHED CONTACTS WITH POLITICAL PARTIES, LOCAL
AUTHORITIES AND CIVIL SOCIETY. THEY ATTENDED SOME ONE
HUNDRED POLITICAL RALLIES. THE EU MISSION ALSO BENEFITED
FROM CO-OPERATION WITH THE MONITORS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL
OBSERVER MISSIONS.

THE EU ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION'S ASSESSMENT OF THE
ELECTORAL PROCESS FALLS INTO THREE PHASES: THE ELECTION
PREPARATIONS AND CAMPAIGN; VOTING AND THE COUNT; AND THE
POST-ELECTION PERIOD. A FINAL REPORT WILL BE PRESENTED ON 3
JULY 2000.

THE PRE-ELECTION PERIOD AND THE CAMPAIGN

IT IS CLEAR FROM THE DAILY REPORTS AND WEEKLY ASSESSMENTS
MADE BY EU OBSERVERS IN EVERY PART OF THE COUNTRY THAT THERE
WERE SERIOUS FLAWS AND FAILURES IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

ELECTORAL MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ8688

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INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 DODE-00
SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00
NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
R-00 IIP-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00
NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W
------------------670688 261436Z /38
O 261439Z JUN 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6437
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 003482

SIPDIS

AF FOR A/S RICE, P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS

E. O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV ZI EU ZANU PF

SUBJECT: EU INTERIM REPORT ON ELECTIONS TAKES A TOUGH STANCE
ON ZANU-PF INTIMIDATION AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 HARARE 03482 02 OF 03 261435Z

THE BODY EFFECTIVELY RUNNING THE ELECTIONS, THE OFFICE OF
THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, DID NOT OPERATE IN AN OPEN AND
TRANSPARENT MANNER, AND AS A RESULT FAILED TO SECURE THE
CONFIDENCE OF BOTH THE POLITICAL PARTIES AND OF THE
INSTITUTIONS OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

THE ELECTORAL SUPERVISORY COMMISSION, WHICH IS
CONSTITUTIONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE ELECTORAL
PROCESS, WAS SYSTEMATICALLY RENDERED INEFFECTIVE BY BOTH
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MEANS.

CHANGES MADE TO THE ELECTORAL REGULATIONS ONLY DAYS BEFORE
THE VOTE, TOGETHER WITH A SERIES OF DELIBERATE
ADMINISTRATIVE OBSTRUCTIONS, SEVERELY UNDERMINED THE ABILITY
OF DOMESTIC MONITORS TO CARRY OUT THEIR WORK. THE EU
ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION REACHED THE CONCLUSION THAT
THIS WAS NOT DUE TO ADMINISTRATIVE INCOMPETENCE BUT TO A
DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
INDEPENDENT MONITORING OF THE ELECTION. SIMILAR OBSTRUCTIONS
WERE PLACED IN THE WAY OF INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS.

VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION

HIGH LEVELS OF VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION AND COERCION MARRED
THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. AN ASSESSMENT OF VIOLENCE AND
INTIMIDATION SINCE FEBRUARY 2000 MADE BY THE EU ELECTION
OBSERVATION MISSION, TOGETHER WITH REPORTS FROM EU OBSERVERS
OPERATING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY SINCE EARLY JUNE, INDICATE
THAT ZANU-PF WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BULK OF POLITICAL
VIOLENCE.
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PAGE 03 HARARE 03482 02 OF 03 261435Z

ZANU-PF LEADERS SEEMED TO SANCTION THE USE OF VIOLENCE AND
INTIMIDATION AGAINST POLITICAL OPPONENTS AND CONTRIBUTED
SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE CLIMATE OF FEAR SO EVIDENT DURING THE
ELECTION CAMPAIGN. CALLS FOR PEACEFUL CAMPAIGNING AND
EFFORTS TO RESTRAIN PARTY SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING THE WAR
VETERANS, WERE OFTEN AMBIGUOUS. OVERALL, THE CONDUCT OF THE
GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED TO UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW AND
COMPROMISED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

MDC SUPPORTERS WERE ALSO ENGAGED IN VIOLENCE AND
INTIMIDATION, BUT THE DEGREE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR
SUCH ACTIVITIES WAS FAR LESS. MOREOVER, MDC LEADERS WERE
CLEARER IN THEIR CONDEMNATION OF VIOLENCE.

THE LEVELS OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION, AND THE ABILITY TO
CAMPAIGN IN RELATIVE PEACE, VARIED CONSIDERABLY FROM ONE
PART OF THE COUNTRY TO ANOTHER. EU OBSERVERS MONITORED
SCORES OF POLITICAL RALLIES IN ALL PROVINCES OF THE COUNTRY
ORGANISED BOTH BY ZANU-PF AND MDC.

IN THE MAJOR CITIES, ALTHOUGH INTIMIDATION WAS FAR FROM
ABSENT, THE CAMPAIGN WAS ROBUST. IN MANY RURAL AREAS,
HOWEVER, THE LEVELS OF INTIMIDATION BY ZANU-PF WERE SO
INTENSE AS TO MAKE IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE
OPPOSITION TO CAMPAIGN.

MEDIA COVERAGE

DURING THE CAMPAIGN THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED MEDIA DID NOT
PROVIDE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE POLITICAL PARTIES CONTESTING THE
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PAGE 04 HARARE 03482 02 OF 03 261435Z
ELECTION. BOTH THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER, THE ZBC, AND
GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED NEWSPAPERS WERE USED AS PUBLICITY
VEHICLES FOR ZANU-PF. THE ZBC FAILED TO ENSURE INFORMED
POLITICAL DEBATE. PROPAGANDA CROWDED OUT THE REAL ISSUES OF
THE CAMPAIGN. OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE HAD TO RELY ON
COMMERCIAL MEDIA ONLY.

VOTING AND THE COUNT

GENERALLY SPEAKING THE VOTING WAS CALM AND WELL ORGANISED.
THE EU OBSERVER TEAMS, WORKING IN CO-ORDINATION WITH OTHER
INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS, AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF CIVIC
ORGANISATIONS, VISITED SOME 1,700 POLLING STATIONS OVER THE
TWO DAYS OF VOTING, MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL.

THEIR OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE POLLING IS HIGHLY POSITIVE.
PRESIDING OFFICERS AND THEIR STAFF ON THE WHOLE WERE
COMPETENT AND EFFICIENT. THERE WERE, HOWEVER, SERIOUS
PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE VOTERS' ROLL AND THE NUMBER OF
INTENDING VOTERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS.
MOREOVER, AS A RESULT OF THE OBSTRUCTIONS PLACED IN THE WAY
OF DOMESTIC MONITORS, THEIR EFFECTIVENESS WAS SERIOUSLY
COMPROMISED.

OUR VERDICT ON THE COUNTING PROCESS WILL BE MADE CLEAR AT A

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ8690

PAGE 01 HARARE 03482 03 OF 03 261436Z
ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 DODE-00
SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00
NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
R-00 IIP-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00
NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W
------------------670693 261436Z /38
O 261439Z JUN 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6438
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 003482

SIPDIS

AF FOR A/S RICE, P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS

E. O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV ZI EU ZANU PF

SUBJECT: EU INTERIM REPORT ON ELECTIONS TAKES A TOUGH STANCE
ON ZANU-PF INTIMIDATION AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 HARARE 03482 03 OF 03 261436Z
LATER STAGE.

INTERIM ASSESSMENT

IN SUMMARY, THE VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION DURING THE PRE-
ELECTION PERIOD MUST BE CONDEMNED. THE COURTS SHOULD DEAL
WITH ALL CASES OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE
ELECTORAL PROCESS. THIS WILL BE ESSENTIAL IN HELPING TO RE-
ESTABLISH RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW IN ZIMBABWE.

THE SERIOUS DEFECTS IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS, PARTICULARLY
IN REGARD TO THE VOTERS' ROLL AND THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
OF THE ELECTORAL AUTHORITIES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A MATTER
OF URGENCY.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE PRESENCE OF INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS HAD
A CALMING AND STABILISING EFFECT.

WE COMMEND THE IMPRESSIVE MANNER IN WHICH THE PEOPLE OF
ZIMBABWE HAVE SHOWN THEIR DETERMINATION TO INFLUENCE THEIR
OWN DESTINY.

THE POST-ELECTION PERIOD

OUR FINAL ASSESSMENT WILL COVER THE WHOLE PROCESS INCLUDING
THE IMMEDIATE POST-ELECTION PERIOD. THE REPORT WILL BE
PRESENTED TO EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERS STATES, TO THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT AND TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, AS WELL AS TO THE
EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT FUND (EDF) WHICH WILL MEET ON 5 JULY
2000. THE ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED WILL INCLUDE:

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PAGE 03 HARARE 03482 03 OF 03 261436Z
-- THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE NEW DISPENSATION IN ZIMBABWE
RESPECTS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE;

-- HOW THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE COUNTRY
ACCOMMODATES THE NEW POLITICAL REALITIES;

-- THE MANNER IN WHICH THE POLITICAL FORCES WITHIN THE
COUNTRY WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS CONFRONTING
ZIMBABWE;

-- THE EXTENT TO WHICH RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW AND THE
PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IS PROMOTED BY THE NEW
GOVERNMENT; AND

-- WHAT EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO ENSURE THAT POLITICALLY-
MOTIVATED CRIMES AND ELECTORAL MALPRACTICE ARE PURSUED.

WITH HIGH AUTHORITY COMES HIGH RESPONSIBILITY. THE PRESIDENT
OF ZIMBABWE WILL HAVE TO PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE POST
ELECTION PHASE.

END TEXT.

MCDONALD

UNCLASSIFIED

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