Gono and Chiwenga were against MDC taking on Home Affairs and Finance

Defence Forces Chief Constantine Chiwenga and central bank governor Gideon Gono were strongly opposed to the handing over of the Ministry of Home Affairs because they were afraid that the police would investigate them for corrupt activities.

A diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks says they also did not want to surrender the Ministry of Finance because the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, Gono and top military officials, including Chiwenga, realised that the loss of that ministry would mean an end to the corrupt patronage system that they enjoyed.

Tirivanhu Mudariki, a business partner of former army commander Solomon Mujuru, told United States embassy officials that the Mujuru faction strongly supported the Movement for Democratic Change and its leader Morgan Tsvangirai because they wanted a regularisation of the business environment so that they could continue to conduct their many businesses.

The faction was also interested in marginalising President Robert Mugabe so that it could take over leadership of ZANU-PF.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 08HARARE895, STATE OF PLAY – ZIMBABWE

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INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

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RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE

RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC

RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1603

RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000895 

SIPDIS 

AF/S FOR B. WALCH 

DRL FOR N. WILETT 

ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU 

ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS 

STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS 

STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2018 

TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM ZI

SUBJECT: STATE OF PLAY - ZIMBABWE 

Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d) 

------------------------------------------- 

Mugabe Confronts ZANU-PF Internal Opposition 

-------------------------------------------- 

¶1. (C) Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe appears eager to 

conclude a power sharing deal--on his terms. The banner 

headline in Wednesday's The Herald was "Embrace power deal: 

Chihuri." Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri called for 

Zimbabweans to "forego our minor differences." Today's 

Herald headline pronounced "Tsvangirai's office ready." A 

fair reading is that ZANU-PF is set to conclude the agreement 

as long as it heads the home affairs ministry, which includes 

the police, and one other ministry among those still in play, 

presumably finance. (NOTE: We understand the MDC has 

already conceded other important ministries to ZANU-PF, 

including information, defense, security and justice. END 

NOTE.) 

¶2. (C) Mugabe leads a fractured party and he is trying to 

satisfy key individuals and groups. Rumors circulated last 

week that he and Emmerson Mnangagwa were involved in a heated 

argument over the possibility of ceding home affairs to the 

MDC. According to these rumors, Mnangagwa grabbed Mugabe by 

the lapels at which point Mugabe's body guards forcibly 

subdued Mnangagwa, injuring him to the point that he was 

hospitalized. We have been unable to confirm the physical 

altercation; nevertheless, there appears to have been a 

serious rift between Mugabe and Mnangagwa over the allocation 

of ministries. Mnangagwa is loathe to allow any of the 

security apparatus to pass to the MDC. Sources have also 

told us that defense forces chief Constantine Chiwenga and 

Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono are opposed to the MDC 

assuming responsibility for home affairs. They fear the 

ministry and police would investigate them for corrupt 

activities. As for finance, the finance minister, in 

consultation with the president, appoints the Reserve Bank 

governor. ZANU-PF, Gono, and top military officials, 

including Chiwenga, realize that loss of the finance ministry 

would likely be an end to the corrupt patronage system. 

¶3. (C) Tirivanhu Mudariki, a close business associate and 

political advisor of General Solomon Mujuru, told us on 

September 29 that the Mujuru faction strongly supports the 

MDC and Morgan Tsvangirai and has been in regular contact 

with the MDC. The Mujurus believe ZANU-PF cannot solve the 

economic mess and they need a regularization of the business 

environment so that they can continue to conduct their many 

businesses. Innocent Chakonda, the MDC's lawyer and an 

advisor to Tsvangirai, confirmed to us the contacts with 

Mudariki and the Mujuru faction. Chakonda believed the 

Mujurus were sincerely interested in marginalizing Mugabe. 

In addition to their interest in economic stabilization, 

Chakonda thought that support of the MDC and weakening of 

Mugabe was part of the succession struggle in which the 

Mujuru faction sought to replace Mugabe within ZANU-PF. 

¶4. (C) The Mujurus have not played an active role in the 

ZANU-PF internecine conflict, but rather have observed from 

the sidelines. Chakonda believes that once Parliament is in 

session, Mujuru deputies will work collaboratively with the 

MDC to support its legislative agenda and frustrate Mugabe 

and his supporters. 

---------------- 

MDC Draws a Line 

---------------- 

¶5. (C) Chakonda related that Tsvangirai signed the 

power-sharing agreement despite a vote of the MDC national 

HARARE 00000895 002 OF 002 

council that he not do so until there was a complete 

agreement, including on the allocation of ministries. 

Tsvangirai apparently had false assurances from Mugabe that, 

following the signing, quick agreement could be reached on 

the division of ministries in a way acceptable to the MDC. 

Tsvangirai, according to Chakonda, faced strong criticism 

from his party for signing. Chakonda told us (as did Tendai 

Biti today) that Tsvangirai had realized the error of his 

ways and would now insist on the MDC heading the home affairs 

and finance ministries before entering into the government. 

¶6. (C) According to Chakonda, Tsvangirai had dispatched his 

vice-president, Thokozani Khupe, to South Africa to talk with 

President Motlanthe and ANC president Jacob Zuma. She may 

also talk with King Mswati of Swaziland. Biti told us he 

would meet tomorrow with Tanzanian president Kikwete. Based 

on conversations the MDC had with Mbeki, Zuma, Kikwete, and 

Motswati during the negotiation process, Chakonda believes 

they are sympathetic to the MDC's position on the ministries 

and will pressure Mugabe. 

------- 

COMMENT 

------- 

¶7. (C) Although it is always wise to suspect Mugabe and his 

motives, the MDC and others such as Mudariki believe Mugabe 

wants an agreement, albeit on his terms. He has been 

constrained until now by hardliners within ZANU-PF such as 

Mnangagwa and the security chiefs, and by opportunists such 

as Gono. Tsvangirai appears set to hold the line. If SADC 

and the AU exert pressure on Mugabe he may have no choice but 

to cede home affairs and finance to the MDC. What the 

consequences would be within ZANU-PF if he does so are 

unclear. END COMMENT. 

MCGEE

(18 VIEWS)