Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai within hours of his being sworn in that he was “disappointed” with the power sharing negotiations and would not be sympathetic to requests for assistance until there was proof that the power sharing was truly being implemented according to one of the diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks.
The team of advisers that had just joined Brown’s office was even more adamant. One felt that the power-sharing would fail and suggested that Britain should start consulting the United States about moving forward after the power-sharing regime fails, but this time the issue should be moved out of SADC hands to the United Nations.
The cable was dispatched from London on 17 February 2009 but says Brown called Tsvangirai on February 12, a day after his swearing in. The cable was referring to the views of the Prime Minister’s special advisor for Africa Brendan Cox, cabinet office senior Africa policy advisor Anna French and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Zimbabwe deputy team leader Rosie Taper.
All said that Britain would maintain its “hard-line approach” to Zimbabwe.
Taper said there was little room for discussing the lifting of European Union sanctions which had just been extended by another year unless there was significant progress in Zimbabwe.
She brushed off statements that had been made by EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel, saying he had been “overly positive”. Besides, she said, he was not the EU’s official spokesman person and tended to go “off script”.
Tapper had just joined Brown’s office from Ghana.
The European Union extended sanctions on Zimbabwe by another year this week but removed 35 people from the list leaving another 163 individuals and 31 companies.
Another staffer, Brendan Cox, who had just joined Brown’s office, said, five days after the swearing in of Tsvangirai, the British government was becoming “increasingly pessimistic” that the prospects of the power-sharing agreement would work. Instead, he said this was now the time to do “bold thinking and planning on Zimbabwe policy.”
The inclusive government celebrated its second anniversary this week, though Tsvangirai said they were not celebrating but merely marking it.
Full cable:
1.(C/NF) Following DFID Africa Minister Ivan Lewis’ February 13 statement to Parliament that the UK is not considering “practical aid” to Zimbabwe until it has judged the “behavior and conduct” of the power-sharing administration, PM Special Advisor for Africa Brendan Cox, Cabinet Office Senior Africa Policy Advisor Anna French, and FCO Zimbabwe Deputy Team Leader Rosie Tapper all separately said that HMG will maintain its “hard-line approach” to Zimbabwe. French said February 12 that UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke to newly-inaugurated Zimbabwe Prime Minister Tsvangirai shortly after the swearing-in ceremony. According to French, Brown told Tsvangirai that he was “disappointed” with how the power-sharing negotiations were handled and that he would not be sympathetic to requests for assistance until there was proof that the power-sharing was truly being implemented.
2.(C/NF) Tapper explained February 13 that with the EU sanctions renewed in January for 12 months, there will be little political space in the EU for discussions about lifting the sanctions unless there is significant progress on power-sharing in Zimbabwe. She said the UK will only consider lifting sanctions when the GOZ has moved on economic reform, restoration of the rule of law, and progress towards elections. She noted that EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel, who had previously made “overly positive” statements on the situation in Zimbabwe, is not the EU’s official spokesperson and tends to go “off script.” There has been no change in policy on sanctions, she reiterated.
3.(C/NF) Cox said February 16 that HMG is becoming “increasingly pessimistic” about the prospects that the power-sharing agreement will work. He said HMG would like to begin consulting with the USG about moving forward after the power-sharing administration fails. Cox said that if the agreement fails, the issue needs to be moved “out of SADC’s hands and put in the UN’s.” He indicated now was the time to do bold thinking and planning on Zimbabwe policy.
Comment ——-
4.(SBU) Alistair Harrison’s last day as FCO Zimbabwe Unit Head was February 13, and his successor has yet to be appointed. Rosie Tapper joined the FCO Zimbabwe Unit as Deputy on February 9, coming from Ghana to replace Ben Llewellyn-Jones. Brendan Cox joined Number 10 as the Prime Minister’s Special Advisor on Africa in early February, coming from the UK policy advocacy NGO Crisis Action. (Further information on Cox and his priorities to be reported septel.) Visit London’s Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX LEBARON
UK TO MAINTAIN “HARD-LINE” APPROACH
Ref ID: 09LONDON409
Date: 2/17/2009 11:42
Origin: Embassy London
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Destination:
Header: VZCZCXRO4087PP RUEHBZ RUEHDBU RUEHDU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHMR RUEHNP RUEHRNRUEHROV RUEHSRDE RUEHLO #0409 0481142ZNY CCCCC ZZHP 171142Z FEB 09FM AMEMBASSY LONDONTO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1383INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE PRIORITYRUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITYRUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE PRIORITY 0176RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
Tags: PREL,EAID,ZI,UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000409 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPART FROM AF/S E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2019 TAGS: PREL, EAID, ZI, UK SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE: UK TO MAINTAIN “HARD-LINE” APPROACH Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1.(C/NF) Following DFID Africa Minister Ivan Lewis’ February 13 statement to Parliament that the UK is not considering “practical aid” to Zimbabwe until it has judged the “behavior and conduct” of the power-sharing administration, PM Special Advisor for Africa Brendan Cox, Cabinet Office Senior Africa Policy Advisor Anna French, and FCO Zimbabwe Deputy Team Leader Rosie Tapper all separately said that HMG will maintain its “hard-line approach” to Zimbabwe. French said February 12 that UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke to newly-inaugurated Zimbabwe Prime Minister Tsvangirai shortly after the swearing-in ceremony. According to French, Brown told Tsvangirai that he was “disappointed” with how the power-sharing negotiations were handled and that he would not be sympathetic to requests for assistance until there was proof that the power-sharing was truly being implemented.
2.(C/NF) Tapper explained February 13 that with the EU sanctions renewed in January for 12 months, there will be little political space in the EU for discussions about lifting the sanctions unless there is significant progress on power-sharing in Zimbabwe. She said the UK will only consider lifting sanctions when the GOZ has moved on economic reform, restoration of the rule of law, and progress towards elections. She noted that EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel, who had previously made “overly positive” statements on the situation in Zimbabwe, is not the EU’s official spokesperson and tends to go “off script.” There has been no change in policy on sanctions, she reiterated.
3.(C/NF) Cox said February 16 that HMG is becoming “increasingly pessimistic” about the prospects that the power-sharing agreement will work. He said HMG would like to begin consulting with the USG about moving forward after the power-sharing administration fails. Cox said that if the agreement fails, the issue needs to be moved “out of SADC’s hands and put in the UN’s.” He indicated now was the time to do bold thinking and planning on Zimbabwe policy.
Comment ——-
4.(SBU) Alistair Harrison’s last day as FCO Zimbabwe Unit Head was February 13, and his successor has yet to be appointed. Rosie Tapper joined the FCO Zimbabwe Unit as Deputy on February 9, coming from Ghana to replace Ben Llewellyn-Jones. Brendan Cox joined Number 10 as the Prime Minister’s Special Advisor on Africa in early February, coming from the UK policy advocacy NGO Crisis Action. (Further information on Cox and his priorities to be reported septel.) Visit London’s Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX LEBARON
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