Kasukuwere is untrustworthy and a thug- Wikileaks

Indigenisation Minister Saviour Kasukuwere is untrustworthy and a thug, a diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks says.

The comment was made by United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray after he met the minister at his office on 4 February last year.

Ray said while Kasukuwere had in the past been allied to the Mujuru faction, an advisor to Vice-President Joice Mujuru had told him that Kasukuwere was “untrustworthy and a ‘thug’”.

Kasukuwere comes from Mt Darwin, the home of Vice-President Mujuru. The ambassador said that at 40, he was the youngest ZANU-PF minister.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 10HARARE87, Ambassador’s meeting with Zim Minister of Youth,

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VZCZCXRO9031

RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN

DE RUEHSB #0087/01 0391504

ZNY CCCCC ZZH

R 081504Z FEB 10

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0027

INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC

RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC

RHMCSUU/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE

RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC

RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0010

RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0010

RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA

RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0010

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000087

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR BRIAN WALCH

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/08

TAGS: PREL PGOV ZI ECON EINV

SUBJECT: Ambassador’s meeting with Zim Minister of Youth,

Indigenization and Empowerment

CLASSIFIED BY: Charles Ray, Ambassador, State, Exec; REASON: 1.4(B),

(D)

————-

SUMMARY

————-

¶1. (SBU) Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Indigenization and

Empowerment Saviour Kasukuwere suggested to the Ambassador that all

donor and NGO support for youth be channeled through the Zimbabwe

Youth Council. He defended indigenization as necessary to protect

Zimbabwe’s resources, and said the policy would be applied

flexibly. Finally, he argued that Western-imposed sanctions were

the primary impediment to progress under the Global Political

Agreement (GPA). END SUMMARY.

¶2. (SBU) Kasukuwere sought the meeting with the Ambassador, which

took place at the Ministry on February 4 and was cordial. He said

his purpose was to build bridges, and find areas of cooperation.

Fundamental was assistance to youth. Zimbabwe youth were in a

desperate situation and were being manipulated by different groups.

He said he appreciated assistance to youths by the U.S. and NGOs,

but he was concerned that money was being given to run programs

without the knowledge of the government. He urged that any U.S.

funds be channeled through the Zimbabwe Youth Council which he said

had ZANU-PF, MDC, and civil society representation.

¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador posited that many youth were essentially

“ghost workers.” They were on the civil service payroll, but were

not actually working. (NOTE: We have reports that many of these

individuals are involved in intimidation of MDC supporters in rural

areas. END NOTE.) Kasukuwere replied that many were actually

involved in productive activities but were getting bad publicity.

¶4. (SBU) Turning to indigenization, the Ambassador stated that the

uncertain investment climate was a deterrent to investment and the

recovery of the economy. Kasukuwere said that indigenization was

necessary so that resources could be protected and the Zimbabwean

people have a stake in the economy. He was in the process of

issuing regulations to support existing indigenization legislation.

In summary, businesses involved in divestments or mergers would

have to be 51 percent indigenous. Existing businesses would have

up to five years to reach the 51 percent. The percentage of

indigenization required for new investment would be determined by

Kasukuwere and the MDC-T Minister of Economic Development on a

case-by-case basis according to the sector involved. For example,

mining investment would have to immediately meet a minimum of 50

percent, but high tech investment might start at 30 percent.

¶5. (SBU) Kasukuwere said Zimbabwe and the U.S. should work toward

normalizing relations. But after viewing President Obama’s

inauguration-and offer of an open hand-with hope, he was becoming

disappointed. Sanctions were still in place and were coming

between Zimbabweans seeking to find common ground with each other.

When the Ambassador told him he was willing to talk to anyone about

the issues that divide us, Kasukuwere responded that his (the

Ambassador’s) fist was clenched too.

————-

COMMENT

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HARARE 00000087 002 OF 002

¶6. (C) Kasukuwere is young, smooth, and ambitious. He reportedly

orchestrated violence in Mashonaland East in the 2008 elections.

Realizing that the future may not lie exclusively with ZANU-PF, he

is on a charm offensive, reaching out to both MDC factions and to

Western diplomats. He is an important player given the political

importance of youth and the economic importance of investment.

¶7. (C) Kasukuwere is from Mt. Darwin in Mashonaland East Province,

also the home of Vice President Joice Mujuru. At 40, he is the

youngest ZANU-PF minister. While he has in the past been allied

with the Mujuru faction, an advisor to the vice president told us

he is untrustworthy and a “thug.”   END COMMENT.

RAY

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