Leaders of the Southern African Development Community called for the immediate lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe three years ago, but nothing has been done up to now.
Democratic Republic of Congo Foreign Minister Alexis Thambwe said although things were not perfect in Zimbabwe, SADC leaders had agreed that continued sanctions were negatively affecting the population much more than the Zimbabwean leadership.
The United States and the European Union which imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe more than a decade ago have argued that the sanctions are targetted at individuals but Zimbabwe as a country cannot access finance from any of the international financial institutions without the express approval of the United States president.
Zimbabwe can also not sell its diamonds on the open market because the mining companies in which the state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation is a joint partner are also on the sanctions list.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 09KINSHASA826, DRC TAKES ON SADC CHAIRMANSHIP
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Reference ID |
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VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHKI #0826/01 2531318
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 101318Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/DEPT OF STATE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 000826
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2019
SUBJECT: DRC TAKES ON SADC CHAIRMANSHIP
REF: KINSHASA 801
KINSHASA 00000826 001.4 OF 003
Classified By: Ambassador William Garvelink for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
¶1. (C) Summary: As expected, Zimbabwe and Madagascar were
front and center at the September 7-8 SADC Summit. On
Zimbabwe, the SADC leaders called for a lifting of all
sanctions against the country, with some arguing that full
implementation of the global political agreement should not
be a pre-condition for lifting sanctions. On Madagascar,
SADC remained more “principled.8 SADC Mediator Joaquim
Chissano voiced support for a consensual solution, but warned
that, until such a solution is found, Madagascar would remain
suspended from SADC. Other issues discussed included
regional economic integration (progress on the FTA and the
long-term goal of a customs union); democracy consolidation
(elections throughout the SADC region); gender parity in
politics; food security/agricultural productivity; support
for a new global climate change protocol; and HIV-AIDS.
Joining the incoming chair (DRC) and outgoing chair (South
Africa), is the new vice-chair, Namibia, which takes over as
chair next year at this time. Not insignificantly,
Mozambique has assumed the chairmanship of SADC,s Organ on
Politics, Defense, and Security, the SADC body to which the
Zimbabwe question has been referred. The final communique
announced that SADC would support Malawi,s candidacy to
become the next AU chairman. End summary.
Opening Session Atmospherics
—————————–
¶2. (U) On the way to the summit site, ambassador noticed
that some of the main roads had just been paved and the
fronts of buildings were freshly painted. The meeting
facility was an impressive tent structure with air
conditioning and monitors scattered around the hall. It was
an excellent meeting environment rumored to have been built
by the South Africans. Although dignitaries had been
instructed to arrive at the location at 7:30am for an 8am
start of the summit, the meeting got underway shortly after
11:00am. Seven or eight of the fifteen heads of state showed
up. The heads of state were from the Congo, South Africa,
Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. President Mugabe was there
as was Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
¶3. (SBU) The speakers in the morning were the President of
Zambia, the outgoing member of the governing troika,
President Zuma the outgoing chairman of SADC and President
Kabila, the incoming chair. After a short greeting by
President Kabila, a 10-minute video of the Congo with
narration in French was shown. At the end, in English, it
thanked those countries of SADC which came to the aid of the
Congo in its hour of need. There was nothing remarkable
about any of the speeches. The Zambian President focused on
economic issues, the global economic crisis, trade, and some
vague references to political issues facing SADC. No
reference was made to specific countries.
¶4. (U) In his statement, President Zuma talked about climate
change, trade, a possible SADC customs union, and food
security. He noted the SADC countries that had elections in
the past year and listed the countries that would have
elections in the coming year. He stressed the importance of
peace and security and of democratic government and pointed
to the peaceful transition of government in South Africa. He
noted improvements in the situations in eastern Congo and in
Qnoted improvements in the situations in eastern Congo and in
Zimbabwe. Zuma urged all parties in Lesotho to reach a
peaceful solution. He urged Zimbabwe to overcome the
obstacles of the past and to move forward as a united
government. He lamented the unscheduled change of government
in Madagascar, noted its suspension from SADC and recognized
former President Chissano as the SADC facilitator for the
Madagascar question. He concluded his remarks with the
importance of gender balance and stressed the importance of
the SADC protocol on gender.
¶5. (U) President Kabila began his remarks with the listing
of critical issues similar to the ones mentioned by President
Zuma, including climate change, trade, cooperation with
COMESA, agriculture and food security and the global economic
crisis. He also emphasized the importance of infrastructure
to economic development. Kabila noted the importance of
peace and security and democracy and mentioned the importance
of democracy in Zimbabwe and Madagascar. He ended his remarks
by stressing the importance of the role of women in national
life.
KINSHASA 00000826 002.3 OF 003
¶6. (U) The opening session concluded about 1:00pm and then
the heads of state adjourned to closed sessions for the
afternoon.
The new SADC team
—————–
¶7. (U) Namibia, in its role as vice chairman and future
chair, joined the DRC and South Africa on the SADC Troika.
SADC Executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao (Mozambican) was sworn
in for a second four-year term, as was the Deputy Executive
Secretary for Regional Economic Integration Joao Caholo
(Angolan). Mozambican President Armadno Guebuza accepted the
chairmanship of SADC’s Organ on Politics, Defense, and
Security.
Zimbabwe
——–
¶8. (SBU) Most notably, the SADC leaders called for the
immediate lifting of all sanctions against Zimbabwe. While
rumors flew at what level and in what forum the internal
situation in Zimbabwe should be discussed, in the end, the
question of the country,s fragile political situation was
referred to the SADC,s Organ on Politics, Defense, and
Security. A spokesman for Tsvingarai, James Maridadi, had
earlier maintained that Zimbabwe would be the subject of a
special summit. Following the summit, Tsvangirai told the
press that the power-sharing accord between the MDC and
ZANU-PF should be fully and quickly implemented, but he
expressed confidence that the organ,s three-member panel was
able to handle the issue. Some MDC officials reportedly
wanted SADC to review certain aspects of the global political
agreement (GPA), especially controversial governmental
appointments by President Mugabe. DRC Foreign Minister
Alexis Thambwe told the Kinshasa diplomatic corps on
September 10 that, although “things were not perfect in
Zimbabwe,” the SADC leaders agreed that continued sanctions
were negatively affecting the population much more than the
Zimbabwean leadership.
Madagascar
———-
¶9. (SBU) On Madagascar, the summit communique &firmly
rejected and strongly condemned any unilateral decision that
violates the spirit of the Maputo power-sharing agreements.8
SADC mediator Joaquim Chissano added that SADC had rejected
the recent &unilateral decision taken in Madagascar.8
Chissano said he would continue to work for a consensual
solution, but Madagascar,s SADC suspension would remain in
place until a solution is reached. During his briefing to
the diplomatic corps, Thambwe stressed that SADC resolutely
opposed any unilateral moves outside of the framework of the
Maputo agreements.
Other issues
————
¶10. (U) The final communique echoed previous comments by
Zuma and Kabila, noting the “consolidation of democracy8 in
the region (various levels of elections in Angola, Malawi,
Swaziland, South Africa, and Zambia already in 2009, with
elections for later in 2009 scheduled in Botswana,
Mozambique, and Namibia). SADC recommitted to strive for its
gender parity goal of 50% women in political positions.
Progress on strengthening the Free Trade Area and the
possible creation of a customs union was also noted. Other
issues addressed included the following: food
security/agriculture productivity (higher productivity has
been offset by higher food prices); support for a new climate
change treaty as a successor to Kyoto; and continued efforts
to combat the spread of HIV/AIS, particularly through
mother-to-child transmission and better access to
anti-retroviral drugs.
Qanti-retroviral drugs.
¶11. (C) Comment: The MDC came to Kinshasa hoping to
highlight the lack of progress on implementing the GPA as the
summit,s main outcome. However, the MDC had to revise its
objectives of calling an extraordinary summit on Zimbabwe
down to referring the issue to the SADC,s political organ.
While we are not privy to the internal discussions on
Zimbabwe, the marquee headlines in local and international
press has been &SADC calls for lifting of Zimbabwe
sanctions.8 On Madagascar, SADC took a more laudable stand
by demanding a return to constitutional normalcy before
suspensions would be lifted. Madagascar, however, is not a
KINSHASA 00000826 003.3 OF 003
very important — or emotional — issue for most SADC
members, whose leaders hold Robert Mugabe, a fellow
anglophone who fought against colonialism and racism, in high
regard. For the DRC, the summit was important symbolically,
as this was the first regional or international conference in
Kinshasa since the 1980s when Mobutu hosted a France-Africa
summit. For many DRC citizens, from Kabila down to the man
on the street, the fact that the DRC could host (albeit with
considerable South African logistical support) such an event
confirms that the DRC has moved out of the deepest depths of
conflict and is perhaps ready to be viewed as &a normal
African state.8 End comment.
GARVELINK
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