Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 03HARARE434, LITTLE IMPROVEMENT IN FOOD SECURITY SINCE NOVEMBER

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #03HARARE434.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
03HARARE434 2003-02-28 06:26 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Harare
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000434 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR J. FRAZER 
LONDON FOR C. GURNEY 
PARIS FOR C. NEARY 
NAIROBI FOR T. PFLAUMER 
USAID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA FOR HAJJAR, KHANDAGLE AND MARX, 
DCHA/FFP FOR LANDIS, BRAUSE, SKORIC AND PETERSEN, 
AFR/SA FOR POE AND COPSON, AFR/SD FOR ISALROW AND WHELAN 
PRETORIA FOR FFP DISKIN AND OFDA BRYAN 
NAIROBI FOR DCHA/OFDA/ARO FOR RILEY, MYER AND SMITH, 
REDSO/ESA/FFP FOR SENYKORR 
ROME PLEASE PASS TO FODAG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR EAID PGOV ZI
SUBJECT: LITTLE IMPROVEMENT IN FOOD SECURITY SINCE NOVEMBER 
 
 Summary 
------- 
1.  A monthly monitoring report issued by the National NGO 
Food Security Network (FOSENET) suggests little improvement 
in the food security situation across the country since 
November, due to absolute scarcity of food.  The food 
security situation is poised to improve among eligible WFP 
beneficiaries in February since food aid deliveries have 
improved and all implementing partners are operational. 
Transportation problems and a thriving black market in corn 
meal will ensure that other groups not eligible for 
international food aid will go hungry.  End summary. 
 
Little Improvement in Food Situation 
------------------------------------ 
 
2.  A monthly monitoring report issued by the National NGO 
Food Security Network (FOSENET) suggests little improvement 
in the food security situation across the country due to 
absolute scarcity of food--this in spite of increased levels 
of WFP and other international food aid.  The report also 
suggests increasing levels of politicization of Grain 
Marketing Board (GMB) and commercial food and profiteering in 
food distribution and access.  Absolute scarcity surpassed 
cost and selective bias in access as major impediments to 
food security.  FOSENET is a network of 24 Zimbabwean NGOs, 
organized in March 2002 to monitor food needs, availability, 
and access through NGOs based within districts, and through 
community based monitors. 
 
3.  This was FOSENET,s fifth report.  It is based upon 133 
reports from 43 of Zimbabwe's 57 districts covering the 
period December 2002 through January 2003.  The report covers 
fewer districts than the November version, making comparisons 
difficult.  NGO and community monitoring were combined in 
this round, which led to more than one report being received 
from more than 60 percent of districts. 
 
4.  Overall conclusions from the report are as follows: 
 
--Food security worsened in 27 districts, or 63 percent of 
responding districts, in December and January.  In November, 
75 percent of reporting districts reported increased food 
insecurity when compared to October levels.  Only Nyanga in 
Manicaland reported increased supplies, while in nearby 
Mutare rural people were reported to be moving away from 
their homes because of hunger. 
 
--Vulnerability dropped slightly from November with the share 
of districts reporting everyone in need of food decreasing 
from 51 percent in November to 47 percent in December/January. 
 
--Close to half of all districts (49 percent) reported 
falling, erratic GMB supplies.  In November, two-thirds of 
respondents reported falling GMB supplies.  In spite of this 
seeming improvement in GMB supplies, the average volume of 
deliveries per ward declined to 1.8 tons from 3.4 tons in 
November and 9.3 tons in October.  Matabeleland North and 
South and Mashonaland West have consistently reported one or 
more districts with no GMB deliveries over the last six 
months.  Hurungwe in Mashonaland West and Lupane in 
Matabeleland North have reported wards that have not received 
GMB deliveries since October and July, respectively.  Buhera 
in Manicaland and Tsholotsho in Matabeleland North, with 
several months of no delivery in November, did not report 
this round. 
 
--Political barriers and procedural bias continued to be 
obstacles to accessing GMB grain.  These barriers increased 
from 38 percent of districts in November to 62 percent in 
December/January.  The major barrier to food access was the 
requirement to produce a ZANU-PF party card.  To get a letter 
from the councilor or headman to certify residence, potential 
beneficiaries had to demonstrate ruling party membership or 
participation in ruling party activities. 
 
--The cost of GMB sales was a barrier to access in 10 percent 
of districts, less than the 22 percent in November and 38 
percent in October.  The upper price range for a 10-kg bag of 
corn meal was Z$260, 124 percent above the controlled price. 
 
--Reduced supply and political barriers were major reported 
obstacles to commercially supplied food.  Political 
interference in commercial sales, in particular the youth 
militia and police controlling food queues or claiming 
preferential access, increased since the November report. 
This is most likely due to the increased scarcity of food. 
 
--The upper price range for a 10-kg bag of corn meal on the 
informal market was Z$3000 in December/January, almost 25 
times the controlled price.  The price differential between 
the official GMB price for a 10-kg bag of corn meal and the 
informal market price has widened from Z$490 in July 2002 to 
Z$2800 in January.  Even though the value of the Zimbabwe 
dollar has fallen over the last seven months, this represents 
a significant cost escalation for poor people whose incomes 
have not kept pace with inflation. 
 
--The report indicated mixed results in terms of relief 
supplies.  Six district sites reported an increase in relief 
supplies, ten reported no change in supply, two (Zvimba and 
Chivi) reported a fall, and at least eight (Hwedza, Seke, 
Murewa, Goromonzi, Chikomba, Chinhoyi, Hurungwe, and Makonde) 
reported no supplies at all.  The primary barriers to relief 
aid were procedural and related to households not qualifying 
for inclusion on beneficiary lists.  At least three districts 
reported incidents of political bias or interference: Gutu in 
Masvingo, Gweru in Midlands, and Makoni in Manicaland. 
 
Relief Food on Pace 
------------------- 
 
5.  World Food Program more than doubled its deliveries in 
January from December and is poised to distribute close to 
its target of 53,562 tons in February.  This would see an 
increase in beneficiaries from 2.2 million in December to 4.3 
in February.  WFP anticipates all 48 WFP-designated districts 
will receive food assistance during February so the next 
FOSENET report should indicate either no change or an 
increase in relief food aid.  The remaining nine rural 
districts will be covered through other pipelines, including 
the USG's C-SAFE program that covers seven districts. 
 
Transportation Woes Besiege Government Deliveries 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
6.  Deliveries of GMB supplies of corn meal are unlikely to 
improve in the near term because of transportation 
bottlenecks.  The state-sponsored newspaper, The Herald, 
reported that the GMB was having problems bringing in 
shipments from seaports, Beira and Maputo in Mozambique and 
East London in South Africa.  The GMB has blamed neighboring 
country rail networks, port facilities, the port operators 
demanding foreign currency for the transportation 
bottlenecks, and inadequacy and unreliability of the National 
Railways of Zimbabwe.  More recently, the GOZ has indicated 
its inability to compete with foreign exchange prices paid by 
WFP and other international importers for limited available 
transport services. 
 
7.  NGOs continue to insist that the current fuel shortage 
has not and will not have an effect on food distributions. 
This is counterintuitive, particularly since most 
international donors contract independent truckers, who do 
not have consistent access to fuel, to transport food. Of 
greater concern to the NGOs is the shortage of spare parts. 
 
Political Bias in Food Access 
----------------------------- 
 
8.  Since the last FOSENET report in November, both the 
independent and state-owned press have reported more 
incidents of political party members denying GMB food to 
select groups of people and of people profiteering. 
 
--In Gweru, the Daily News reported the arrest and detention 
of a city councilor after he failed to account for the 
presence of 30 bags of corn meal in his home.  (NOTE: 
Councilors nationwide have been given full responsibility to 
collect meal from millers for distribution. END NOTE.) 
--In Mutare, the Daily News reported an investigation of the 
deputy mayor and a councilor (both ZANU-PF) for allegedly 
distributing corn meal in a non-transparent way and along 
political lines.  The Mutare mayor, who is a relatively 
independent ZANU-PF figure, is leading the investigation. 
 
--In Mashava, the Daily News reported that ZANU-PF supporters 
blocked food aid from going into town because they believe 
the councilor for the district, who is a member of MDC, is 
excluding ZANU-PF supporters. 
--In Masvingo, a former ZANU-PF MP for Harare South was 
arrested for having five metric tons of corn believed to have 
come from the GMB under dubious circumstances. 
 
--In Gutu, The Herald reported Deputy Minister of Youth 
Development, Gender, and Employment creation, Shuvai Mahofa 
was fined for overcharging (by Z$2800) on corn in one of her 
shops.  Police are also investigating 10 metric tons of corn 
found at a mill she owns. Earlier in the month, the manager 
of the Gutu GMB was charged with corruptly selling corn to 
one of Mahofa,s mills. 
 
Comment 
------- 
8.  At first glance, the smaller proportion of districts 
reporting a deteriorating level of food security and no 
deliveries of GMB food might lead one to believe that the 
situation had improved significantly since November. 
However, a meaningful comparison between this report and the 
last one is difficult since this one queried ten fewer 
districts than the previous one.  These ten districts could 
change the overall conclusion of the report.  The seemingly 
improved GMB coverage is also misleading in that it does not 
factor in the decreased volume and frequency of deliveries. 
Nonetheless, the food security situation should improve over 
the next few months mainly because of increased food relief 
supplies from international donors.  Unfortunately, this will 
only benefit those sufficiently destitute to make it onto the 
beneficiary rolls.  Logistical constraints and political bias 
in distribution will limit food access of the remaining 
people.  Too, the increased opportunities for profiteering on 
the parallel market will continue to reduce available GMB 
supplies.  End Comment. 
SULLIVAN