Former Midlands governor Cephas Msipa told United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell that a large number of the rank and file in the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front wanted President Robert Mugabe to be replaced but they were afraid to oppose him.
He said his childhood friend, Emmerson Mnangagwa, had admitted that party members, including him, were afraid to speak out.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 07HARARE183, ZANU-PF GOVERNOR MSIPA ON SUCCESSION, FARM
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO0803
RR RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0183/01 0681003
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 091003Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1211
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1501
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1359
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1505
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0181
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0767
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1131
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1560
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 3960
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1328
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1984
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1722
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000183
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S.HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E.LOKEN
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B.PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2012
SUBJECT: ZANU-PF GOVERNOR MSIPA ON SUCCESSION, FARM
SEIZURES
REF: HARARE 1492
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell under Section 1.4 b/d
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Summary
——-
¶1. (C) Cephas Msipa, ZANU-PF governor of Midlands Province,
despairingly told polecon chief in a March 7 meeting in his
Gweru office he believed the present government was betraying
the liberation ideals of freedom and an end to poverty. He
described President Robert Mugabe as a close friend, but
thought that it was time for him to go so that political and
economic reforms could take place. Nevertheless, he thought
Mugabe retained enough power within the ruling party to win a
struggle with General Solomon Mujuru and extend his term
until 2010. Noting that Midlands Province produces half of
Zimbabwe’s milk, Msipa also said he is fighting efforts of
Didymus Mutasa, Minister of National Security, Lands, Land
Reform, and Resettlement, to expropriate the remaining
white-owned dairy farms in the province which he believed
would decimate the dairy industry. End Summary.
————————–
Mugabe Ignorant of Economy
————————–
¶2. (C) Msipa repeatedly told us he was worried about
Zimbabwe’s rapidly declining economy. He saw starvation all
around as he traveled throughout his province. The 76-year
old governor said that at Mugabe’s birthday celebration, held
on February 24 in Gweru, he had told Mugabe that the
government’s economic policies were crippling the country and
were responsible for skyrocketing inflation and increasing
poverty. Mugabe had been non-responsive. Msipa opined that
Mugabe did not appear to understand the economic situation
and was receiving poor advice. Noting that he had been part
of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle for freedom, to end
poverty, and to provide opportunity for all Zimbabweans,
Msipa lamented that the government was now subverting these
ideals.
————-
On Succession
————-
¶3. (C) Msipa described Mugabe as a good friend, dating from
their days in the liberations struggle. He thought, however,
that it was time for Mugabe to go. Zimbabwe needed fresh and
energetic leadership to tackle the economic crisis.
Nevertheless, Mugabe, whom he described as still “vigorous,”
had indicated to him at the birthday event that he intended
to push for an extension of his term and for harmonized
elections in 2010.
¶4. (C) Msipa acknowledged internal tensions with ZANU-PF and
the fact that a large number of the rank and file shared his
feeling that Mugabe should be replaced but were afraid to
oppose Mugabe. He mentioned he had spoken about succession
recently with his childhood friend, ZANU-PF faction leader
Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa admitted that party
members*himself included*were afraid to speak out.
¶5. (C) Msipa was well aware of the rift between Mugabe and
Solomon Mujuru. He noted they had sat near each other during
Mugage’s birthday but did not acknowledge each other. He was
HARARE 00000183 002 OF 003
convinced that Mugabe would prevail in a power struggle.
Mujuru was perceived by most in the party as greedy and even
most parliamentarians from Mashonaland East province,
Mujuru’s home, would ultimately side with Mugabe against
Mujuru. Msipa concluded that despite opposition from within
the party, Mugabe, who retained the support of the security
forces, still had the ability to impose his will on the party
and to accomplish his goals of a term extension and
harmonization of elections.
———————-
Expropriation of Farms
———————-
¶6. (C) Msipa explained that Midlands was the center of
Zimbabe’s dairy farming industry. Before land seizures
began, there had been about 200 white-owned farms in Midlands
province, but there were now fewer than 40. However, these
40 farmers produced about 50 percent of Zimbabwe’s milk. A
dairy farmer himself, Msipa said dairy farming required
expertise and intensive capital investment. Eviction of the
remaining farmers, as intended by the Gazetted Land
(Consequential Provisions) Act signed into law on December 20
(Ref) would decimate the dairy industry. Recognizing the
effect land reform had had on the economy, he commented that
“This is a problem we created for ourselves.”
¶7. (C) Msipa said he had spoken to Mugabe about the dairy
farm situation and the president was sympathetic to
forestalling further seizures. But on March 5, Mutasa had
visited Msipa and had instructed him to “get rid of” the
remaining whites in Midlands province. Msipa said he did not
like to dispossess people of their property*no matter their
color-and that further seizures would be devastating for
Midlands. He intended to appeal again to Mugabe and other
party leaders. He also commented that a number of war
veterans, now in possession of expropriated farms, had
visited him and spoken out against further seizures. They
argued that while the government had not provided farming
assistance*and had charged exorbitant prices for
equipment-the white farmers in their areas had been very
helpful with expertise and material inputs.
——–
Bio Note
——–
¶8. (U) Msipa assumed his present position in 1999. Born in
1931, he joined the National Democratic Party in 1961. He
was arrested in 1965 and remained in detention until 1970.
He was a founding member of the African National Congress and
was Secretary General for ZAPU. He previously served as
Minister of Water Resources, as Minister of State for
Enterprises and Indignisation in the President,s Office, and
as head of ZimTrade, a quasi-governmental organization
promoting international trade. He participated in the
International Visitor Program, and two of his children
studied in the U.S.
——-
Comment
——-
¶9. (C) Msipa may be overestimating the control Mugabe still
exercises within ZANU-PF and the security services. In fact,
as the former commander of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF),
Solomon Mujuru reportedly still wields great influence with
HARARE 00000183 003 OF 003
the military. In a showdown between Mugabe and Mujuru, the
loyalty of the military, and probably the CIO and police as
well, would be very much in question. More importantly
perhaps, Msipa,s own views about the need for Mugabe to step
down echo those of other senior ZANU-PF members with whom
we’ve talked recently and would seem to indicate that the
loyalty of the ruling party may also be in doubt.
DELL
(22 VIEWS)
