Chombo described as a non-entity in Mugabe’s cabinet

Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo was described as a non-entity in President Robert Mugabe’s 2000 cabinet which saw him bring in young technocrats while ditching some of his loyalists.

The technocrats included Simba Makoni, Nkosana Moyo,Joseph Made and Jonathan Moyo. The two economic ministers Makoni and Nkosana Moyo were viewed as “attractive ambassadors for Zimbabwe to the world”.

Jonathan Moyo’s Ministry of Information though in the less effective ministries had been given a “distinctly ideological cast” by being placed within the presidency.

Out went Emmerson Mnangagwa who was described as “ruthless”. John Nkomo was given the “least sensitive of the security ministries”, that of Home Affairs but he was not viewed as a credible representative of the Ndebele.

The cabinet was even described as a “place holder” cabinet waiting for the return of the old guard after the 2002 presidential elections.

Below is the full cable with detailed analysis of who was who in the cabinet:

Viewing cable 00HARARE3910, ZIMBABWE’S NEW CABINET: MUGABE REARRANGES THE

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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

171535Z Jul 00

CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ7562

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——————6F0BCB 171529Z /38

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6631

INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE

AMEMBASSY GABORONE

AMEMBASSY KAMPALA

AMEMBASSY KIGALI

AMEMBASSY KINSHASA

AMEMBASSY LILONGWE

AMEMBASSY LONDON

AMEMBASSY LUANDA

AMEMBASSY LUSAKA

AMEMBASSY MAPUTO

AMEMBASSY MASERU

AMEMBASSY MBABANE

AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

AMEMBASSY PARIS

AMEMBASSY PRETORIA

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02        HARARE 03910 01 OF 04 171528Z

AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 003910

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

LONDON FOR PFLAUMER

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

PASS USAID FOR A/AID R. MCCALL AND AFR/SA W. JEFFERS

PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2010

TAGS: PGOV PINR ECON ZI ZANU PF

SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE’S NEW CABINET: MUGABE REARRANGES THE

DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC

CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D’AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR

REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).

——-

SUMMARY

——-

¶1. (C) PRESIDENT MUGABE ANNOUNCED HIS NEW 19 MEMBER

(DOWN FROM 27 MEMBERS) CABINET CONSISTING OF 19 MEMBER

ON JULY 15. A NUMBER OF THE OLD GUARD, INCLUDING WOMEN,

WERE JETTISONED IN FAVOR OF TECHNOCRATS AND PARTY

LOYALISTS. OF PARTICULAR NOTE IS THE FACT THAT THE

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PAGE 03       HARARE 03910 01 OF 04 171528Z

RUTHLESS FORMER MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND

PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS EMMERSON MNANGAGWA GOT NO CABINET

POST, ALTHOUGH HE MAY GET THE NOD TO BE SPEAKER OF

PARLIAMENT WHERE HE WILL TAKE A HARD LINE AGAINST THE

OPPOSITION MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC). THE

TWO KEY ECONOMIC MINISTERS, NKOSANA MOYO AND SIMBA

MAKONI, WILL BE ATTRACTIVE AMBASSADORS FOR ZIMBABWE TO

THE WORLD, ALTHOUGH THEIR MARGIN FOR MANEUVER LIKELY

WILL BE ABRIDGED BY PRESIDENT MUGABE. THE ONE FEMALE

MINISTER, JOYCE MUJURU, HAS LITTLE INTEREST IN WOMEN’S

ISSUES AND PROBABLY OWES HER POSITION TO THE POWER

WIELDED BY HER HUSBAND, FORMER ARMY COMMANDER SOLOMON

MUJURU. THE SOCIAL MINISTRIES ARE IN THE HANDS OF WEAK

AND LESS THAN EFFECTIVE MINISTERS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF

INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY MINISTER JONATHAN MOYO, WHOSE

OFFICE’S PLACEMENT WITHIN THE PRESIDENCY GIVES IT A

DISTINCTLY IDEOLOGICAL CAST. THE SECURITY MINISTRIES

WENT TO TRUSTED MUGABE ALLIES. HOME AFFAIRS, THE LEAST

SENSITIVE OF THESE, WENT TO A NDEBELE, JOHN NKOMO, WHO

IS NOT VIEWED AS A CREDIBLE REPRESENTATIVE OF HIS ETHNIC

GROUP IN MATABELELAND. SOME HERE ARGUE THAT THIS MIXED

BAG IS A “PLACE HOLDER” CABINET, AWAITING THE RETURN OF

THE OLD GUARD IN 2002. BE THAT AS IT MAY, WE DO NOT SEE

IN ITS COMPOSITION A SUFFICIENT DEPARTURE FROM THE

PROBLEMS THAT HAVE PLAGUED THE MUGABE GOVERNMENT TO

DATE. END SUMMARY.

———-

THE LOSERS

———-

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PAGE 04       HARARE 03910 01 OF 04 171528Z

¶2. (C) PRESIDENT MUGABE ANNOUNCED HIS NEW, TRIMMED DOWN

(FROM 27), 19-MEMBER, CABINET ON JULY 15. A NUMBER OF

PORTFOLIOS HAVE BEEN REARRANGED OR JETTISONED

ALTOGETHER. THE BIG LOSERS IN THIS GO-ROUND ARE THE OLD

GUARD, THE WAR VETERANS AND WOMEN.

¶3. (C) WE COUNT 15 LOSERS: FORMER MINISTER OF JUSTICE,

LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS EMMERSON MNANAGAGWA;

FORMER MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO EDDISON ZVOGBO; FORMER

MINISTER OF INFORMATION, POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS,

CHEN CHIMUTENGWENDE; FORMER PLANNING COMMISSIONER

RICHARD HOVE; FORMER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE

PRESIDENT’S OFFICE CEPHAS MSIPA; FORMER MINISTER OF

STATE TSUNGIRAI HUNGWE; FORMER MINISTER OF STATE OPPAH

MUCHINGURI (WHO MAY BE IN LINE FOR A PROVINCIAL

GOVERNOR’S JOB); FORMER MINISTER OF STATE SITHEMBISO

NYONI; FORMER MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO WITNESS

MANGWENDE; WAR VETERANS LEADER CHENJERAI HITLER HUNZVI

(RUMOR HAS IT HE MAY BE OFFERED A DEPUTY MINISTER

POSITION); FORMER MINISTER OF MINES ENVIRONMENT AND

TOURISM SIMON K. MOYO; FORMER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION GROUP

HEAD PHILIP CHIYANGWA (ALSO REPORTEDLY IN LINE FOR A

DEPUTY MINISTER’S JOB); FORMER MINISTER OF LANDS AND

AGRICULTURE KUMBIRAI KANGAI; FORMER MINISTER OF HOME

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ITC-01   LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01   DCP-01   NSAE-00

OMB-01   OPIC-01 PA-00   PM-00   PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00

SP-00   SSC-01   SSO-00   STR-00   TRSE-00 USIE-00 R-00

PMB-00   DSCC-00 DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00 SAS-00     /012W

——————6F0BF0 171529Z /38

O 171535Z JUL 00

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6632

INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE

AMEMBASSY GABORONE

AMEMBASSY KAMPALA

AMEMBASSY KIGALI

AMEMBASSY KINSHASA

AMEMBASSY LILONGWE

AMEMBASSY LONDON

AMEMBASSY LUANDA

AMEMBASSY LUSAKA

AMEMBASSY MAPUTO

AMEMBASSY MASERU

AMEMBASSY MBABANE

AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

AMEMBASSY PARIS

AMEMBASSY PRETORIA

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02       HARARE 03910 02 OF 04 171528Z

AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 003910

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

LONDON FOR PFLAUMER

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

PASS USAID FOR A/AID R. MCCALL AND AFR/SA W. JEFFERS

PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2010

TAGS: PGOV PINR ECON ZI ZANU PF

SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE’S NEW CABINET: MUGABE REARRANGES THE

DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC

AFFAIRS DUMISO DABENGWA; AND FORMER MINISTER OF PUBLIC

SERVICE, LABOR AND SOCIAL WELFARE FLORENCE CHITAURO.

¶4. (C) OTHER ALSO-RANS WERE: FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER OF

AGRICULTURE OLIVIA MUCHENA, WHO DID NOT WIN THE PARTY

PRIMARY AND WHOSE CANDIDACY ZANU-PF IMPOSED ON HER

MUTOKO CONSTITUENCY; FORMER MANICALAND GOVERNOR KENNETH

MANYONDA, WHO BEAT MORGAN TSVANGIRAI IN THE RACE FOR THE

BUHERA NORTH CONSTITUENCY; AND FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER OF

MINES ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM EDWARD CHINDORI-CHININGA.

¶5. (C) THE MOST SURPRISING MEMBER OF THE LIST IS THE

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PAGE 03       HARARE 03910 02 OF 04 171528Z

RUTHLESS MNANGAGWA, WHO SAID HE DID NOT WANT ANY

CONSOLATION APPOINTMENT AFTER HAVING LOST HIS SEAT IN

PARLIAMENT TO A RELATIVELY UNKNOWN CANDIDATE FROM THE

OPPOSITION MDC, BLESSING CHEBUNDO. SOME HERE SPECULATE

THE FORMER JUSTICE MINISTER MAY BE IN LINE TO BE THE

NEXT SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT, FOR WHICH HE IS QUALIFIED AS

THE CONSTITUTION SPECIFIES THAT THE SPEAKER MUST BE OR

HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. IF THAT IS THE CASE,

THEN IT IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT WE WILL SEE MUCH

COOPERATION BETWEEN THE RULING ZANU-PF AND THE MDC IN

PARLIAMENT, INDEED, THERE IS LIKELY TO BE TOTAL

CONFRONTATION. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT MNANGAGWA

INTENDS TO WAIT IN THE WINGS FOR THE BIG PRIZE — THE

PRESIDENCY IN 2002.

———————–

THE ECONOMIC MINISTRIES

———————–

¶6. (C) FOR PURPOSES OF ANALYSIS WE COULD DIVIDE THE

CABINET PORTFOLIO INTO THREE AREAS: ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND

SECURITY. ON THE ECONOMIC SIDE WE HAVE A MIXED BAG.

FAILED BANKER (AND SON-IN-LAW OF THE LATE VICE PRESIDENT

JOSHUA NKOMO), FRANCIS NHEMA, HEADS UP THE ENVIRONMENT

AND TOURISM PORTFOLIO, WHICH MANY HERE EXPECTED WOULD GO

TO THE FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER OF MINES ENVIRONMENT AND

TOURISM EDWARD CHINDORI-CHININGA. NHEMA TAKES THE HELM

OF A MINISTRY THAT OFFERS GREAT POSSIBILITY FOR

CORRUPTION. AT THE SAME TIME, HE FACES AT LEAST ONE

CHARGE OF FRAUD PENDING AGAINST HIM IN THE COURTS.

RESPECTED BUSINESSMAN AND FORMER SADC SECRETARY GENERAL

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PAGE 04       HARARE 03910 02 OF 04 171528Z

SIMBA MAKONI IS IN CHARGE OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH APPARENTLY SUBSUMED THE OLD

PLANNING COMMISSION. MAKONI IS A TECHNOCRAT WHO AS A

DIRECTOR OF ZIMPAPERS, THE PUBLISHER OF THE GOVERNMENT

INFLUENCED “THE HERALD,” TURNED IT INTO A PROFITABLE

CONCERN, BUT WAS SACKED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO INFLUENCE

EDITORIAL POLICY. NEVERTHELESS, HE IS UNLIKELY TO HAVE

MUCH AUTONOMY TO CRAFT ECONOMIC POLICY, AS THE PRESIDENT

WILL TIE HIS HANDS IN THIS CONNECTION. SIMILARLY,

NKOSANA MOYO AS MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNATIONAL

TRADE (A SURPRISING APPOINTMENT GIVEN THAT MOYO HAS

ALWAYS TAKEN PAINS TO CAST HIMSELF AS A POLITICAL

INDEPENDENT) IS ONE OF THE BEST ZIMBABWE HAS TO OFFER IN

TERMS OF TECHNICAL CAPACITY, GRASP OF THE ISSUES AND

NETWORK OF CONTACTS. WE PREDICT HE TOO WILL PROBABLY

NOT HAVE MUCH OF A MARGIN FOR MANEUVER. LANDS,

AGRICULTURE AND RESETTLEMENT MINISTER JOSEPH MADE IS

SEEN AS A ZANU-PF HARD-LINER WHO WILL TAKE AN

UNCOMPROMISING STANCE ON LAND REDISTRIBUTION. HE HAS

BEEN THE ONE DEVISING THE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE

COMMERCIAL FARM INVASIONS. THE “PROMOTION” OF FORMER

NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER OF STATE SYDNEY SEKERAMAYI TO

HEAD UP THE MINISTRY OF MINES AND ENERGY, FOR WHICH HE

HAS NO DISCERNIBLE QUALIFICATIONS, IS A CURIOUS ONE. WE

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CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ7565

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SRPP-00 DS-00   EB-00   EUR-00   EXIM-01 E-00     FAAE-00

FBIE-00 VC-00   FRB-00   H-01     TEDE-00 INR-00   IO-00

ITC-01   LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01   NSAE-00 OMB-01

OPIC-01 PA-00   PM-00   PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00

SSC-01   SSO-00   STR-00   TRSE-00 USIE-00 R-00     PMB-00

DSCC-00 DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00 SAS-00     /011W

——————6F0C02 171529Z /38

O 171535Z JUL 00

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6633

INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE

AMEMBASSY GABORONE

AMEMBASSY KAMPALA

AMEMBASSY KIGALI

AMEMBASSY KINSHASA

AMEMBASSY LILONGWE

AMEMBASSY LONDON

AMEMBASSY LUANDA

AMEMBASSY LUSAKA

AMEMBASSY MAPUTO

AMEMBASSY MASERU

AMEMBASSY MBABANE

AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

AMEMBASSY PARIS

AMEMBASSY PRETORIA

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02       HARARE 03910 03 OF 04 171529Z

AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 003910

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

LONDON FOR PFLAUMER

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

PASS USAID FOR A/AID R. MCCALL AND AFR/SA W. JEFFERS

PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2010

TAGS: PGOV PINR ECON ZI ZANU PF

SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE’S NEW CABINET: MUGABE REARRANGES THE

DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC

CAN ONLY SPECULATE THAT HE HAS BEEN PUT IN CHARGE OF THE

PORTFOLIO TO LOOT THE COUNTRY’S MINERAL WEALTH AND SKIM

OFF COMMISSIONS FROM OIL IMPORT DEALS.

———————

THE SOCIAL MINISTRIES

———————

¶7. (C) THE SOCIAL SECTOR HAS A COLLECTION OF WEAK

MINISTERS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF JONATHAN MOYO, ZANU-PF’S

SPLENETIC SPIN DOCTOR DURING THE FAILED CONSTITUTIONAL

REVIEW PROCESS AND RECENT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION, WHO

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PAGE 03       HARARE 03910 03 OF 04 171529Z

HAS BEEN NAMED MINSTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND

PUBLICITY. THE MINISTRY NORMALLY SHOULD HAVE TECHNICAL

REGULATORY OVERSIGHT OF COMMUNICATIONS IN THE COUNTRY,

BUT HAVING BEEN MOVED INTO THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE GIVES

THE PORTFOLIO AN IDEOLOGICAL CAST. OUR FEAR IS THAT NO

ONE WILL BE ABLE TO SILENCE HIM. HE MAY SHOOT DOWN ANY

GOOD ECONOMIC IDEAS THAT MINISTERS MAKONI AND MOYO MAY

HAVE AND COULD POISON RELATIONS WITH THE DONOR

COMMUNITY. TIMOTHY “KILLJOY” STAMPS WILL CONTINUE TO

PRESIDE OVER THE DECLINING MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD

WELFARE. IGNATIUS CHOMBO AS HEAD OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT,

PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING IS ALSO PERCEIVED AS A

NONENTITY. HERBERT MURERWA AS MINISTER OF HIGHER

EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY PROBABLY WILL CONTINUE IN HIS

PATTERN OF A DECENT BUT INEFFECTIVE CABINET MEMBER;

HOWEVER A MARGINALLY MORE EFFECTIVE MINISTER IN THIS

LESS POLITICAL PORTFOLIO. BORDER GEZI, AN OPPORTUNISTIC

LIGHTWEIGHT WHO LED FARM INVASIONS, THE POLITICAL

REEDUCATION EXERCISE, AND VOTER INTIMIDATION AS GOVERNOR

OF MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE, WAS REWARDED WITH THE

POST OF MINISTER OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, GENDER AND

EMPLOYMENT CREATION, A MINISTRY WITHOUT TEETH AND NOT

INVOLVED IN POLICY MAKING. THIS HAS BEEN THE MINISTRY

IN WHICH CIVIL SERVANTS ESSENTIALLY DID ZANU-PF PARTY

WORK AND COULD BE CALLED TO ACCOUNT BY THE MDC FOR HOW

IT SPENT ITS BUDGET ALLOTMENT. THE SOLE WOMAN APPOINTED

TO THE CABINET IS JOYCE MUJURU, RETAINING HER POST AS

MINISTER OF RURAL RESOURCES AND WATER DEVELOPMENT. THE

APPOINTMENT APPEARS TO BE A NOD TO HER POWERFUL HUSBAND,

FORMER ARMY COMMANDER SOLOMON MUJURU, CONSIDERED HERE AS

A KINGMAKER. MUJURU HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST IN PROMOTING

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WOMEN’S ISSUES AND IS A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT TO WOMEN’S

RIGHTS ACTIVISTS. FOREIGN MINISTER STANISLAUS MUDENGE,

WHO IS ARROGANT BUT NO SHINING STAR, ALSO RETAINED HIS

POSITION.

———————–

THE SECURITY MINISTRIES

———————–

¶8. (C) THE SECURITY MINISTRIES CONTINUE IN THE HANDS OF

TRUSTED LOYALISTS. NICHOLAS GOCHE LEAVES AS DEPUTY

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND RETURNS TO HIS ROOTS IN

INTELLIGENCE AS SPYMASTER MINISTER OF STATE SECURITY.

GOCHE, WITH WHOM WE HAVE HAD GOOD RELATIONS, PLAYED COY

ABOUT HIS APPOINTMENT WITH AMBASSADOR MCDONALD WHEN THEY

MET ON THE MARGINS OF THE FRENCH NATIONAL DAY RECEPTION

JULY 14, AND MAY PROVE A MORE ACCESSIBLE MINISTER.

FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL PATRICK CHINAMASA HEADS THE

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS,

WHICH WILL BE USED AS A BLUNT INSTRUMENT FOR MUGABE TO

HAVE HIS WAY WITH THE LAW. CHINAMASA IS ARGUABLY THE

CABINET MEMBER WHO IS CLOSEST TO THE PRESIDENT AND IS

GENERALLY PERCEIVED AS WILLING TO DO WHATEVER THE

PRESIDENT ASKS. MOVEN MAHACHI RETAINS THE DEFENSE

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ACTION AF-00

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COME-00 CTME-00 INL-00   DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00

SRPP-00 DS-00   EB-00   EUR-00   EXIM-01 E-00     FAAE-00

FBIE-00 VC-00   FRB-00   H-01     TEDE-00 INR-00   IO-00

ITC-01   LAB-01   L-00     VCE-00   AC-01   NSAE-00 OMB-01

OPIC-01 PA-00   PM-00   PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00

SSC-01   SSO-00   STR-00   TRSE-00 USIE-00 R-00     PMB-00

DSCC-00 DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00 SAS-00     /011W

——————6F0C09 171529Z /38

O 171535Z JUL 00

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6634

INFO NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE

AMEMBASSY GABORONE

AMEMBASSY KAMPALA

AMEMBASSY KIGALI

AMEMBASSY KINSHASA

AMEMBASSY LILONGWE

AMEMBASSY LONDON

AMEMBASSY LUANDA

AMEMBASSY LUSAKA

AMEMBASSY MAPUTO

AMEMBASSY MASERU

AMEMBASSY MBABANE

AMEMBASSY NAIROBI

AMEMBASSY PARIS

AMEMBASSY PRETORIA

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02       HARARE 03910 04 OF 04 171529Z

AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 003910

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH

LONDON FOR PFLAUMER

PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS

PASS USAID FOR A/AID R. MCCALL AND AFR/SA W. JEFFERS

PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2010

TAGS: PGOV PINR ECON ZI ZANU PF

SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE’S NEW CABINET: MUGABE REARRANGES THE

DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC

PORTFOLIO, PERHAPS BECAUSE MUGABE WAS UNDER NO DOMESTIC

PRESSURE TO RELIEVE HIM OF IT. MAHACHI IS NOT SEEN AS

HAVING ANY POLICY INPUT ON MILITARY MATTERS AS THAT IS

THE PREROGATIVE OF THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF. MOREOVER,

MUGABE MAY NEITHER WISH TO ALIENATE A MINISTER WHO

PARTICIPATES IN THE ECONOMIC DEALS ARISING FROM THE

MILITARY INTERVENTION IN THE CONGO, NOR SEND A SHUDDER

THROUGH THE MILITARY, WHO HAVE LOYALLY DONE HIS BIDDING,

BY REPLACING THE TOP MAN. A NDEBELE, JOHN NKOMO,

SUCCEEDS FELLOW NDEBELE DUMISO DABENGWA IN THE HOME

AFFAIRS MINISTRY. NKOMO IS VIEWED AS COMPETENT AND

DECENT, AND MUGABE MAY HAVE THOUGHT IT A GOOD IDEA TO

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PAGE 03       HARARE 03910 04 OF 04 171529Z

APPOINT AN ETHNIC NDEBELE TO THE JOB IN LIGHT OF

CONTINUING SENSITIVITIES TO THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED IN

MATABELELAND BY THE NORTH KOREAN TRAINED, ETHNIC SHONA

FIFTH BRIGADE IN THE EARLY 1980’S. NKOMO, HOWEVER, IS

NOT VIEWED AS A CREDIBLE NDEBELE REPRESENTATIVE IN

MATABELELAND. HE IS ALSO IN THE LEAST SENSITIVE AND

MOST UNDER-FUNDED OF THE SECURITY MINISTRIES.

——-

COMMENT

——-

¶9. (C) THE COMMENT WE HAVE HEARD MOST OFTEN ABOUT THE

NEW CABINET IS THAT IT IS A MIXED BAG. IT LOOKS

CREDIBLE, PARTICULARLY IN THE PERSONS OF SIMBA MAKONI

AND NKOSANA MOYO WHO WILL BE ATTRACTIVE AMBASSADORS FROM

ZIMBABWE TO THE WORLD. THERE IS TALENT IN KEY AREAS AND

PATRONAGE IN MANY OTHERS. NEVERTHELESS, THEY ARE ALL

TAKING ORDERS FROM PRESIDENT MUGABE, MEANING THAT WE

WILL SEE THE SAME RUINOUS POLICIES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE

OF YEARS. SOME OF OUR CONTACTS FEAR THAT THE NEW

CABINET IS COMPOSED OF “PLACE HOLDERS,” PEOPLE WHO WILL

KEEP THE SEATS WARM UNTIL THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OF

2002 AND THE POTENTIAL RETURN OF SOME OF THE OLD GUARD.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE DO NOT SEE A SUFFICIENT

DEPARTURE IN THE NEW LINE-UP FROM THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE

CHARACTERIZED THE GOVERNMENT TO DATE.

IRVING

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