A ZANU-PF MP’S OBSERVATIONS ON THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE AND U.S.-ZIMBABWE RELATIONS
Date:2010 February 10, 13:00 (Wednesday) Canonical ID:10HARARE93_a
CLASSIFIED BY: Charles A. Ray, Ambassador, STATE, EXEC; REASON:
1.4(B), (D)
- (SBU) Pol/econ chief met February 9 with Simba Mudarikwa, a
ZANU-PF MP from Mashonaland East. Mudarikwa, who is also a
businessman, offered his observations on various topics including
the state of ZANU-PF, indigenization, and elections.
- (C) ZANU-PF. Mudarikwa described the party as badly
fractured. It was like a stick of TNT, susceptible to ignition and
disintegration. ZANU-PF was holding together because of the
threat of MDC-T and foreign pressure. He likened ZANU-PF to a
troop of baboons incessantly fighting among themselves, but coming
together to face an external threat. New leadership was essential
and would emerge as some of the old timers, including Robert
Mugabe, left the scene. Mudarikwa opined that Vice President Joice
Mujuru or S.K. Moyo (former ambassador to South African and now
party chair) were possibilities, although Mujuru’s fear of Mugabe
was affecting her ability to lead.
- (C) MDC-T. According to Mudarikwa, MDC-T is alienating
supporters because of corruption. He pointed to the Harare suburb
of Chitungwiza where MDC-T is investigating its councilors for
being on the take. Residents of Chitungwiza blame the party.
Mudarikwa commented that part of the problem was that many MDC-T
local councilors and parliamentarians elected in 2008 had no
independent income. Unable to survive on their US$200/month
salaries, they were now turning to graft. He also noted that the
national party was not enabling parliamentarians to demonstrate,
e.g. by bringing home pork, that they were working for their
constituents.
- (C) Elections. Mudarikwa believed elections would take place
in 2012 or 2013. Parliamentarians from all parties, particularly
those who had no income before coming into office, had no interest
in running again before necessary. They would try to stall the
constitutional process.
- (C) Global Political Agreement (GPA). Mudarikwa thought there
would be slow progress. In his opinion, the most important
achievement of the GPA was the sidelining of Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono.
- (C) Indigenization. Taking an opposite view to Minister of
Youth and Indigenization Saviour Kasukuwere (Ref A), Mudarikwa said
the government’s indigenization program benefitted nobody accept
those who were already wealthy. It did nothing for his
constituents, who couldn’t afford to buy into companies and were
living hand-to-mouth.
Continued next page
(120 VIEWS)
