Movement for Democratic Change treasurer Roy Bennett was “over the moon” with Morgan Tsvangirai’s leadership towards the end of 2007 saying after years of inaction Tsvangirai was finally “cleaning house.”
Bennett said Tsvangirai had made the right decision by replacing Lucia Matibenga as head of the MDC Women’s Assembly hinting strongly that Matibenga was on the payroll of ZANU-PF.
Bennett alleged that current MDC national organising secretary Elias Mudzuri and deputy secretary general Tapiwa Mashakada were also “compromised” and would soon be replaced.
He also said that the MDC was finally putting systems in place to manage people and resources properly. He credited George Sibotshiwe, who was serving as Tsvangirai’s de facto chief of staff, for organising Harvest House and allowing Tsvangirai to focus on his key tasks.
United States embassy officials said Sibotshiwe formerly worked for Bennett at the MDC South Africa office. Bennett had also put a new security team around Tsvangirai, which was trained and “professional.”
He said recent press attacks on Tsvangirai claiming that he was dictatorial and disorganised were largely coming from the Trevor Ncube-owned newspapers The Standard and The Independent.
Ncube was even using the Mail & Guardian, which he owned, to publish “lies” about Tsvangirai and the MDC.
Bennett claimed that Ncube had a personal vendetta against Tsvangirai and was working with former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 07PRETORIA3875, MDC’S BENNETT UPBEAT ON PARTY, ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO2921
RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSA #3875/01 3101444
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 061444Z NOV 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2571
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0091
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0571
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0500
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1354
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1213
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 0189
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0525
RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 5033
RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 9343
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 003875
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S S. HILL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2017
SUBJECT: MDC’S BENNETT UPBEAT ON PARTY, ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS
PRETORIA 00003875 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(
d).
¶1. (C/NF) SUMMARY. Despite harsh criticisms in the media,
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) President Morgan
Tsvangirai is doing the right thing by cleaning out the party
SIPDIS
leadership, according to MDC Treasurer Roy Bennett. Bennett
hinted that recently-deposed women’s leader Lucia Matibenga
is on the payroll of ZANU-PF, and that National Organizing
Secretary Elias Mudzuri and Deputy Secretary General Tapiwa
SIPDIS
Mashakada are “compromised.” Bennett believes exiled
Zimbabwean publisher Trevor Ncube is orchestrating the press
attacks on Tsvangirai and the MDC through the newspapers he
owns. He is confident the MDC will win the 2008 elections,
even if the atmosphere is not “totally free and fair” because
of the dire economic situation and ZANU-PF divisions.
Bennett is putting together a campaign strategy focused on
extending the MDC’s transportation and communications
infrastructure into “all corners” of the country. He
believes he will be able to raise the necessary funds for the
campaign, estimated at USD 10 million. END SUMMARY.
————————————-
Tsvangirai Finally Showing Leadership
SIPDIS
————————————-
¶2. (C/NF) In a November 2 meeting with PolOff at the Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC) offices in Johannesburg, MDC
Treasurer Roy Bennett (strictly protect) said he was “over
the moon” with MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai’s leadership
in recent weeks. After years of inaction, Tsvangirai was
finally “cleaning house.” Tsvangirai made the right decision
in replacing Lucia Matibenga as head of the MDC Women’s
Assembly Congress, Bennett said, hinting strongly that
Matibenga was on the payroll of ZANU-PF. Bennett alleged
that current MDC National Organizing Secretary Elias Mudzuri
and Deputy Secretary General Tapiwa Mashakada were also
“compromised” and would soon be replaced.
¶3. (C) Bennett also reported that the MDC is finally putting
systems in place to manage people and resources properly. He
credited George Sibetshiwe, who is serving as Tsvangirai’s de
facto chief of staff, for organizing Harvest House and
allowing Tsvangirai to focus on his key tasks. (NOTE:
Sibetshiwe formerly worked for Bennett at the MDC South
Africa office. END NOTE.) Bennett has also put a new
security team around Tsvangirai, which is trained and
“professional.”
¶4. (C) The recent press attacks on Tsvangirai claiming that
he is dictatorial and disorganized are largely coming from
the Trevor Ncube-owned newspapers The Standard and The
Independent, Bennett said. Ncube is even using the South
African weekly, the Mail & Guardian, which he owns to publish
“lies” about Tsvangirai and the MDC. Bennett claimed that
Ncube has a personal vendetta against Tsvangirai, and is
working with former GOZ Information Minister Jonathan Moyo in
his campaign.
—————–
SADC Facilitation
—————–
¶5. (C) The South African-sponsored talks between the MDC and
ZANU-PF are going well, Bennett said. The talks resumed in
South Africa October 30, but were put on hold due to the
QSouth Africa October 30, but were put on hold due to the
death of the son of Minister of Justice Patrick Chinamasa.
Bennett understands that one of the sticking points in the
talks is the text of the amendment to the Public Order and
Security Act (POSA). Initially skeptical of the SADC
facilitation, Bennett believes South African President Mbeki
is “genuine,” and the talks represent the best hope for free
and fair elections. ZANU-PF does not want the talks to
succeed, so will try to goad the MDC into pulling out. The
MDC understands the ZANU-PF strategy and will not fall into
their trap. Bennett said that MDC President Tsvangirai
recently sent a private letter to SADC, expressing concern
about the continuing violence against MDC supporters around
PRETORIA 00003875 002.2 OF 002
the country.
————-
Election Plan
————-
¶6. (C) Bennett is optimistic that the MDC will win elections
in 2008, even if the environment is “not completely free and
fair.” He claimed that the MDC has never been stronger, that
ZANU-PF is sharply divided, and that the ZANU-PF “rigging
machinery” is weaker than in past elections. As party
Treasurer, Bennett is putting together a plan to build the
party infrastructure in “every corner” of the country. He
wants to purchase MDC vehicles for each district, as well as
motorcycles and bicycles to reach every polling station. The
party would set up a national command center for the
elections, as well as provincial and district centers to
monitor closely the pre-election environment and conduct a
parallel vote count on election day. Bennett wants to use
satellite phones and VHS radios to communicate quickly and
safely between the MDC offices.
¶7. (C/NF) Bennett believes he will “probably” be able to
raise sufficient funds for his election strategy. Bennett
said he has not yet “costed out” the entire plan, but
estimated that USD 10 million would be sufficient. During
Tsvangirai’s and Bennett’s recent trip to the United States,
SIPDIS
several potential donors expressed interest in supporting the
party (NFI). Tsvangirai also met with actress Angelina
Jolie, former Clinton administration official James Harmon,
and the rock band Dispatch. Bennett is also in touch with
Zimbabwean businessmen living in South Africa (NFI), who are
interested in providing funding to the MDC, but want to see a
concrete spending plan.
BOST
(52 VIEWS)
