The United States embassy said way back in 2003 that former Finance Minister Simba Makoni had little political weight on his own to advance his political ambitions and could only emerge as a serious candidate if he was pushed by others like Solomon Mujuru.
The embassy said Mujuru was behind Makoni because he wanted to stop the presidential candidacy of the then Speaker of Parliament Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 03HARARE1333, SIMBA MAKONI ON ZIMBABWEAN CRISIS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001333
SIPDIS
NSC FOR AFRICA SENIOR ADVISER JENDAYII FRAZER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2013
SUBJECT: SIMBA MAKONI ON ZIMBABWEAN CRISIS
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY JOSEPH G. SULLIVAN FOR REASONS 1.5b/d
¶1. (C) Former Finance Minister and still ZANU-PF Politburo
member Simba Makoni called on the Ambassador July 1. Makoni,
who recently lost his 23-year old son to suicide, told the
Ambassador July 1 that he was focused on family and his
growing consultancy business and relatively disconnected
from politics these days. Makoni, who has relatively little
political power, is rumored likely to lose his politburo seat
soon. He is mentioned as a potential presidential candidate,
most often as the candidate of ZANU-PF heavyweight Solomon
Mujuru to stop the presidential candidacy of Emmerson
Mnangagwa. Makoni said that President Mugabe’s recent public
statement calling for an open and above-board campaign for
presidential succession had stimulated more open discussion
of succession in the party.
2.(C) Makoni acknowledged that another factor was slowing
down resolution of Zimbabwe’s crisis. The fact that no clear
succession path exists in ZANU-PF has tended to slow any
actual progress toward transition. Makoni said that this
absence of a solution often makes it seem like the GOZ
leadership feels no urgency at all to deal with the country’s
crisis. Makoni believed that the South Africans and other
Africans were in the best position to deliver ar a solution
in Zimbabwe. But he compared the efforts of President Mbeki
seeking to find a solution with Mugabe to that which he often
faced as Finance Minister in dealing with President Mugabe on
economic issues. The President would say: “yes, yes, yes” as
they discussed a possible solution, but then never act to
implement what they had discussed. Makoni said it was as if
the economic and political crises were beyond the Zimbabwean
leadership’s ability to solve or even confront. Nonetheless,
Makoni thought that African leaders were in the best position
to advance and help deliver a resolution. He added that
Secretary Powell’s mention (in his “OP-Ed”) of US and other
SIPDIS
donor assistance to a transitional Zimbabwean Government was
positive.
3.(C) Makoni was aware of the debate over how effective a
coalition transitional government could be prior to new
elections. He hoped that it could be effective in laying out
the path to realistic and pragmatic economic and political
solutions. He also believed that in addressing the damage of
the land redistribution exercise, a transitional government
might be better positioned than an elected ZANU-PF or MDC
government to set a new direction. Makoni believed that the
existing land review commission headed by former Cabinet
Secretary Charles Utete would do a good and respectable job
SIPDIS
of assessing problems in the land redistribution exercise,
but had no ability to implement the necessary corrections.
Nor did Makoni believe that the current Mugabe Government had
the political will to implement tough recommendations.
Makoni said: “One more Commission report to sit on the
shelf.”
¶4. Comment: Makoni has little political weight of his own
and is not in position to advance his own political
ambitions. If his name emerges as a serious candidate, it
will be because others like Mujuru push him forward.
SULLIVAN
(34 VIEWS)
