All the Wikileaks cables on Zimbabwe

601-US ambassador says some reports of violence by MDC are questionable

United States ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGhee said some reports of violence that were being reported by the Movement for Democratic Change were questionable.

602-Chamisa says Tsvangirai’s US advisor is a big problem

Movement for Democratic Change spokesman Nelson Chamisa told United States embassy officials that Morgan Tsvangirai’s US advisor Melinda Farris was a “big problem”. He said Tsvangirai had been listening to her to the exclusion of many in the MDC leadership, including himself and Tendai Biti, with whom Farris had a strained relationship.

603-Mugabe cannot drag the country into elections just because he lost

Movement for Democratic Change spokesman Nelson Chamisa said President Robert Mugabe could not drag the whole country into harmonised elections just because he lost because what was in dispute was the position of the president.

604-Chamisa says Biti wanted to become Deputy Prime Minister

Movement for Democratic Change spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said party secretary-general Tendai Biti had said a deal with the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front to set up an inclusive government was dead because he was disappointed that he would not be appointed deputy Prime Minister.

605-Tsvangirai acknowledges Mugabe’s resilience

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai acknowledged the resilience of President Robert Mugabe and his Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front a month before the formation of the inclusive government and added that former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo had told him that he thought Mugabe wanted to die in office.

606-Chamisa says US rhetoric on Mugabe is counterproductive

Movement for Democratic Change spokesman Nelson Chamisa told United States embassy officials that the United States rhetoric that “Mugabe must go” was empty and counterproductive. He said regime opponents had initially hoped that the rhetoric would be complemented by action instead US inaction was causing people to lose heart.

607-MDC MP convicted of forging nomination papers

Movement for Democratic Change Member of Parliament for Chimanimani West Lynette Karenyi was convicted by magistrate Billard Musakwa of forging four signatures nominating her to contest the seat which she won by beating ZANU-PF candidate Munacho Mutezo.

608-US paid $100 000 for past delivery of mail

The United States embassy paid $100 000 to Zimpost for past delivery of personal mail. It discussed this payment and a request for diplomatic post office service to the embassy with Minister of Information and Communications technology Nelson Chamisa met US ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGhee two months after the formation of the inclusive government.

609-Don’t insult the Prime Minister

Journalists who met in May 2009 in Kariba at a stakeholders conference made 13 recommendations one of which was to repeal the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and another was not to insult the Prime Minister.

610-ZANUPF and MDC resolve some outstanding issues

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai announced on 21 May 2009 thatthe three political parties that formed the inclusive government had reached agreement on the contentious issues of division of governorships, appointment of permanent secretaries and ambassadors, and the delayed swearing in of Roy Bennett as Deputy Minister of Agriculture.

611-Biti says ZANU-PF is too preoccupied with Mugabe succession

Finance Minister Tendai Biti told United States embassy officials that the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front was too preoccupied with the succession of President Robert Mugabe to engage rationally in the political process.

612-A week of raids, arrests and mayhem

There was mayhem soon after the Movement for Democratic Change pulled out of government prompting party spokesman Nelson Chamisa to comment: “What we are seeing now was exactly how the violence began in the campaign for the presidential run-off elections between March and June last year. We are beginning to see the formation of another storm of violence.”

613-Was Chiyangwa lined up for a ministerial job in 2000?

Former Affirmative Action Group president Phillip Chiyangwa was named as one of the 15 losers when President Robert Mugabe announced his cabinet in July 2000 after his party barely scrapped through the elections facing its stiffest challenge from the opposition since independence.

614-MDC would not accommodate people like Chiyangwa says Gandi

Movement for Democratic Change presidential advisor Gandi Mudzingwa said the party was not going to accommodate people like Phillip Chiyangwa and Saviour “Mike Tyson” Kasukuwere if Morgan Tsvangirai won the 2002 presidential elections because they used violence and intimidation to win their own elections.

615-Chiyangwa, Chapfika and Kasukwere too partisan

Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front Members of Parliament, Phillip Chiyangwa, David Chapfika and Saviour Kasukuwere used their positions in the parliamentary committees as a platform for partisan purposes.

616-Where did the money go?

Movement for Democratic Change candidate for the Kadoma Central by-election in 2003, Charles Mupandawana, complained that he had lost because he had not received adequate support from his party. He said though he had requested Z$8 million per week for the last three weeks of his campaign he had only received a total of Z$8 million.

617-Chiyangwa arrested

ZANU-PF Chinhoyi MP Phillip Chiyangwa was arrested for his alleged involvement in an expanding embezzlement scandal involving ENG Capital Management.

618-Chiyangwa arrest details

Flamboyant ZANU-PF MP and prominent businessman Philip Chiyangwa was arrested on 10 January 2004 on charges relating to a government investigation of troubled ENG Capital Asset Management.

619-Gono shakes the banking sector

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono cracked down on insolvent and corrupt financial institutions within days of assuming his post prompting some to accuse him of a vendetta since he had been in the sector before his appointment.

620-Did Chiyangwa outburst help Daily News?

The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front Member of Parliament for Chinhoyi Phillip Chiyangwa’s threats to the police in an open court may have influenced Zimbabwe’s decisive players to lift the ban on the Daily News.

621-Mnangagwa used state funds to finance succession campaign!

Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa’s camp abused state-controlled funds to finance Mnangagwa’s ill-fated succession campaign according to former Movement for Democratic Change secretary-general Welshman Ncube who now leads the smaller faction of the MDC.

622-Devaluation enemies have a field day

Devaluation enemies had a field day when the central bank pushed the exchange rate of the Zimbabwe dollar up and even commented, ”we have the fastest gaining currency in the world”.

623-Chinamasa sent parcel bomb

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa was sent a parcel bomb in February 2004 but apparently he was out of the country at the time and the parcel bomb which was received by his secretary was defused by the police. According to a cable released by Wikileaks the incident was not reported publicly.

624-ZANU-PF rejoices as Gono goes for the small fry

Zimbabweans and older ZANU-PF were rejoicing at the detention of Phillip Chiyangwa and James Makamba but the big fish seemed to be getting away with it. A cable released by Wikileaks said the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s much ballyhooed anti-corruption campaign had shut down one large bank and a smattering of marginal institutions while pursuing several hundred individuals.

625-Chiyangwa indicted on espionage charges

Chinhoyi Member of Parliament Phillip Chiyangwa was indicted on unspecified charges relating to espionage. He was indicted together with ZANU-PF deputy director for External Affairs Itai Mach, ambassador to Mozambique and former Consul-General in South Africa Godfrey Dzvairo, and Metropolitan Bank secretary Tendai Matambanadzo.

626-Press under fire

There was a “new and more dangerous” attack on the press in April 2004 with the state-owned Herald declaring that it was now “time to deal with traitors”. Under pressure was the state news agency Ziana with one of the editors John Chimunhu being forced to resign.

627-Tribune shut down

The Media and Information Commission on 10 June 2004 cancelled the registration of The Tribune purportedly for changing its title, print, and ownership without the knowledge of the regulatory body.

628-Police burn down more than 200 homesteads

Riot police in Mashonaland West burnt down 237 homesteads on 8farms saying they wanted to remove communal farmers to make way for small-scale commercial farmers.

629-Spy trio jailed

Three ZANU-PF officials were found of spying on the party for South African intelligence and were jailed for five to six years. Zimbabwe’s ambassador-designate to Mozambique Godfrey Dzvairo was sentenced to six years. Banker Tendai Matambanadzo and ZANU-PF external affairs director Itai March got five years each.

630-US embassy says Chiyangwa’s wife should be added to the sanctions list

The United States embassy in Harare suggested that Phillip Chiyangwa’s wife Jocelyn should be added to the United States sanctions list.

631-Leo Mugabe arrested for fraud

President Robert Mugabe’s nephew Leo Mugabe was arrested on 20 October 2005 on charges of illegally exporting 30 tonnes of flour worth US$8.3 million at the official rate to Mozambique.

632-Chiyangwa lists company on stock exchange

ZECO Holdings, an engineering and construction company, which is owned by flamboyant businessman Phillip Chiyangwa, listed on the ZSE at four times its initial public offer price.

633-Editor says Jonathan Moyo acting on Mugabe’s instructions

The former editor of the Daily News Francis Mdlongwa said the closure of the paper was the result of orders coming straight from Information Minister Jonathan Moyo but Moyo could not act without consulting President Robert Mugabe.

634-Jonathan Moyo threatens to shut down Studio 7

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo vowed to silence Studio 7, a Voice of America station targetted at Zimbabwe. “Studio 7 will die. It faces death. They think we are sleeping, we want to see where they are going with Studio 7,” he was quoted as saying.

635-Supreme Court clips Jonathan Moyo’s wings

The Supreme Court clipped Information Minister Jonathan Moyo’s wings when it declared unconstitutional section 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act that gave the minister unfettered power to veto the granting of a license by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, as well as the requirement to have only one national radio and television station in addition to the public broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

636-SA ambassador says Mugabe told Annan he was ready to step down

South Africa’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Jeremiah Ndou told United States ambassador Joseph Sullivan on 27 October 2003 that President Robert Mugabe had told United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan that he was “ready to leave office soon” but backtracked because of internal ZANU-PF differences over his succession.

637-Editors fall for Studio 7

Editors of Zimbabwe’s privately owned newspapers fell “hook, line and sinker” for the Voice of America’s Studio 7 which Information Minister Jonathan Moyo had said faced death.

638-Gono turning a blind eye on cheating exporters

The central bank was turning a blind eye to exporters who were refusing to surrender 50 percent of their export earnings to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe at the official exchange rate which was one-seventh of the market rate.

639-Mugabe joins Jonathan Moyo and Made in blame game

President Robert Mugabe joined Information Minister Jonathan Moyo and Agriculture Minister Joseph Made in blaming parallel market traders for creating the forex shortage in the country.

640-Judge upholds Chombo’s suspension of Mudzuri

High Court Justice Susan Mavangira on 10 July upheld Minister of Local Government Ignatius Chombo’s controversial suspension of Harare Movement for Democratic Change mayor Elias Mudzuri for alleged misconduct.

641-Mayor suspended instead of corrupt councillors

The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front dominated city council of Chegutu on 31 July voted to suspend its Movement for Democratic Change mayor Francis Dhlakama and to withdraw all benefits of his office.

642-MDC takes over urban councils

The Movement for Democratic Change gained control of the major urban centres in the 30-31 August 2003 mayoral and urban council elections gaining control of six of the country’s seven largest urban centres.

643-Chief Charumbira says Mudzuri is his own worst enemy

Chief Charumbira, who was deputy Minister of Local Government at the time of Harare mayor Elias Mudzuri’s suspension, said Mudzuri was his own worst enemy.

644-MDC councillors freshmen unable to comprehend issues

Movement for Democratic Change Harare provincial head Morgan Femai and Shadow Minister for Local Government Gabriel Chaibva described party councillors in Harare as political freshmen who were unable to comprehend issues.

645-Chombo after Mudzuri because he is Karanga

Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo was after Harare mayor Elias Mudzuri because he was Karanga and wanted to finish him off politically.

646-Government puts squeeze on NGOs

The government was putting a squeeze on non-governmental organisations insisting that all NGOs must register with the state. A proposed bill was also expected to prohibit “foreign” NGOs from operating in the areas of human rights and governance.

647-MDC presidential election challenge hearing starts

The Movement for Democratic Change’s case in which it was seeking the invalidation of the 2002 presidential election results began on 3 November 2003 but the party was not happy with the presiding judge Ben Hlatshwayo.

648-Mugabe an impossible nut for US to crack

President Robert Mugabe has been a tough nut for the United States to crack. This was the message of Herald columnist Nathaniel Manheru’s message to outgoing United States assistance secretary of State for African Affairs Walter Kansteiner when he left office before achieving regime change.

649-Gono did not want RBZ job- Wikileaks

Central Bank governor Gideon Gono did not want the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe post and tried to dodge President Robert Mugabe for six months, according to a cable released by Wikileaks.

650-US embassy says attack on Studio 7 ends up as advertorial

The United States embassy in Harare said a Sunday Mail attack on the Voice of America’s Studio 7 which is targeted at Zimbabwe ended up as an advertorial because it announced the existence of the station, its frequency and time of broadcast.

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