Cablegate: Zimbabwe Flood Status Update, Number 2

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

141031Z Mar 01

UNCLASSIFIED PTO2972

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ACTION AF-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 A-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 CTME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
EB-00 ED-01 EXME-00 EUR-00 E-00 FAAE-00 UTED-00
FBO-01 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00
ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSF-01
OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00
USIE-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00
SAS-00 /015W
------------------D16B66 141034Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8419
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USDOC WASHDC
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
DEPT OF TRANS WASHDC
USDA FAS WASHDC
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

UNCLAS HARARE 001011

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/EPS, AF/S, EB/IFD/ODF, ED/ESC/ENR
USDOC FOR 2037/ERIC HENDERSON
TREASURY FOR ED BARBER, BARAK HOFFMAN
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER
UNCLASSIFIED

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LONDON FOR CGURNEY
PARIS FOR BWILLIAMS
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
DEPT PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAID ECON PGOV ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE FLOOD STATUS UPDATE, NUMBER 2

REF: HARARE 829

1. THE AREAS MOST AFFECTED BY LOCAL FLOODING ARE IN THE
ZAMBEZI RIVER VALLEY IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE
MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE. THIS AREA INCLUDES KADOMA
AND MUZARABAHANI. IN ADDITION MUCH OF THE LOW-LYING,
SOUTHERN AREAS OF ZIMBABWE ARE NOW EXPERIENCING WATER-
LOGGING OF THE SOIL IN ADDITION TO RIVER AND RUNOFF DAMAGE
(NOTABLY OF ROAD TRAFFIC AND FOOT CROSSINGS), AND IF HEAVY
RAINS CONTINUE MORE WIDESPREAD FLOODING WILL SPREAD TO
THESE REGIONS. ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE
(GOZ) CIVIL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (CPD) WEEKLY REPORT OF
MARCH 9, THE AFFECTED AREAS ARE:

= MASHONALAND CENTRAL: MUZARABANI DISTRICT: THERE HAS
BEEN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CROPS, WITH MANY CROPS SUBMERGED
OR WASHED AWAY. LIVESTOCK, GRANARIES, ROADS AND A NUMBER
BRIDGES HAVE BEEN WASHED AWAY. 5700 FAMILIES HAD TO BE
TRANSPORTED OUT OF THE FLOOD ZONE BECAUSE THEIR HOMES WERE
DESTROYED OR INUNDATED. THE AIR FORCE OF ZIMBABWE IS
CURRENTLY HELPING TO TRANSPORT FOOD TO THE FLOOD ZONE. THE
COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION (CFU) HAS DONATED MAIZE MEAL AND
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AGREED TO PROVIDE TRUCKS TO TRANSPORT FOOD AND SUPPLIES
FROM NGOS OR THE GOZ, AND SAVE THE CHILDREN (UK) HAS
PROVIDED SUBSTANTIAL SIMILAR ASSISTANCE TO THE AFFECTED
AREAS AS WELL.

= MASHONALAND WEST: NUMEROUS AREAS IN THIS PROVINCE ARE
NOW INACCESSIBLE BECAUSE ROADS AND BRIDGES ARE DAMAGED OR
IMPASSABLE. THE MUPFURE RIVER HAS OVERFLOWED ITS BANKS.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MADE HOMELESS AND DAMAGE TO CROPS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT YET KNOWN.

= MIDLANDS PROVINCE: NUMEROUS AREAS IN THIS PROVINCE ARE
NOW INACCESSIBLE BECAUSE ROADS AND BRIDGES ARE IMPASSABLE.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MADE HOMELESS AND DAMAGE TO CROPS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT YET KNOWN.

= MATEBELELAND NORTH PROVINCE: IN THE TSHOLOTSHO DISTRICT
THE GWAAI RIVER HAS OVERFLOWED ITS BANKS, WASHING AWAY
HOMES AND HUTS. OVER 100 VILLAGERS HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE
LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR TEMPORARY SHELTER. THE AIR FORCE OF
ZIMBABWE IS CARRYING OUT RESCUE OPERATIONS, AND IT IS
ESTIMATED THAT AT LEAST 5000 PEOPLE WILL BE AFFECTED OR
NEED ASSISTANCE WHEN OPERATIONS ARE COMPLETED.

2. THE CONTINUOUS WET WEATHER AND INCESSANT RAINS IN
ZIMBABWE HAVE PARTICULARLY NEGATIVELY AFFECTED CROPS IN
MASHONALAND EAST, MASHONALAND CENTRAL, MASVINGO AND
MANICALAND PROVINCES. ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT OF
ZIMBABWE (GOZ) AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL AND EXTENSION
SERVICES (AGRITEX) REPORT, THE CONSTANT RAINS ARE CAUSING
WATER-LOGGING AND NITROGEN LEACHING IN MOST AREAS AND HAVE
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RESULTED IN NITROGEN DEFICIENCY IN THE FLUE-CURED TOBACCO
CROP AND MUCH OF THE MAIZE CROP, WHICH COULD REDUCE YIELD
AND QUALITY. BURLEY TOBACCO YIELDS IN MASHONALAND CENTRAL
MAY BE REDUCED DUE TO EARLY RIPENING FROM THE RECENT HEAVY
RAINS.

3. THE COTTON HARVEST MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BECAUSE
MOST AREAS THAT PRODUCE COTTON HAVE SUFFERED THE PROBLEMS
OF BOLL DROP AND BOLL ROT DUE WATER-LOGGING OF COTTON PLANT
ROOTS.

4. ACCORDING TO THE GOZ CIVIL PROTECTION DIVISION (CPD),
ALL COMMITTEES AT DISTRICT LEVEL HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED TO
MONITOR AND RESPOND TO THE CURRENT FLOOD EMERGENCY. WE
WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WEEKLY STATUS REPORTS FROM
CPD, AGRITEX, FEWS/SADC AND OTHER SOURCES FOR INFORMATION
ON FLOOD CONDITIONS AND DAMAGE IN ZIMBABWE.

IRVING

UNCLASSIFIED

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