Former Speaker of Parliament Emmerson Mnangagwa refused to be pinned down on whether Zimbabwe would allow United States election observers for the 2002 presidential elections saying he did not know how the government felt since he was no longer a member of the cabinet.
Though not in cabinet, Mnangagwa was the fourth most powerful person in ZANU-PF at the time as the party’s secretary for administration.
He told United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Joseph Sullivan that the presidential elections were likely to be held in March or April 2002 and the government was trying to make sure that there would be no election violence like in the 2000 parliamentary elections.
Sullivan had asked Mnangagwa for support to allow United States election observers from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) arguing that their assessment of the elections would be a critical factor in shaping international perceptions of the election process and the final outcome.
Sullivan described IFES as a non-partisan non-governmental organisation. While it is a non-profit organisation, part of its funding comes from the United States government’s Agency for International Development.
Mnangagwa said he was uncertain what the current government’s position was since he was no longer in cabinet and had heard conflicting statements from various ministers. He declined to be drawn further on this issue.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 01HARARE3335, AMBASSADOR, SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT DISCSS DRC, ELECTION
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
071457Z Nov 01
CONFIDENTIAL PTO0841
PAGE 01 HARARE 03335 01 OF 03 071538Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 USNW-00 DODE-00
WHA-00 DS-00 EAP-00 EUR-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00
LAB-01 VCE-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00 IRM-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02
NFAT-00 SAS-00 /004W
——————3B4472 071739Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0233
INFO RHEHNSCNSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVLOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSYABUJA
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY KINGSTO
AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
AEMBASSY OSLO 0021
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 003335
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDYI FRAZER
BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU
LONDON FOR GUNEY
PARIS OR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/11
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR, SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT DISCSS DRC, ELECTION
OBSERVATION
CLASSIFIED BY POITICAL SECTION CHIEF MATT HARRINGTON. REASONS:
.5 (B) AND (D).
SUMMARY
——-
¶1. (C) INTHE AMBASSADOR’S INITIAL COURTESY CALL ON SPEAKER O
PARLIAMENT EMMERSON MNANGAGWA ON NOVEMBER 6, MNNGAGWA SAID THAT
THE GOZ WAS PRESSING DRC PRESIDNT KABILA TO DEMOCRATIZE
INSTITUTIONS, TO PARTICPATE IN THE INTER-CONGOLESE DIALOGUE, AND
TO PLA FOR ELECTIONS. THE SPEAKER ASKED THAT WE SHARE WIH HIM
THE NINE UN COUNTER-TERRORISM CONVENTIONS IMBABWE HAS NOT
RATIFIED SO THAT HE COULD FOLLOWUP. HE SAID THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION WOULD BE ELD IN MARCH OR APRIL, AND CLAIMED THE RULING
PARTY WAS DOING WHAT IT COUL TO REDUCE POLITICAL VIOLENCE. THE
ABUJA AGREEMNT REQUIRES ZIMBABWE TO END NEW LAND INVASIONS ANDTO
RESTORE LAW AND ORDER, STEPS MNANGAGWA INSISTED ARE IN THE GOZ’S
INTEREST AND CONSISTENT WITH GZ POLICY. MNANGAGWA WOULD NOT BE
DRAWN ON THE QESTION OF INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVERS, SAYING
ONLY THAT HE WAS NO LONGER A CABINET MEMBER AND AS UNFAMILIAR
WITH GOVERNMENT’S POSITION ON THIS ISSUE. END SUMMARY.
¶2. (U) AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN ACCOMPANIED BY POLITICAL SECTION
CHIEF, PAID ANINITIAL COURTESY CALL ON SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT
EMERSON MNANGAGWA ON NOVEMBER 6. MNANGAGWA WAS JOIED BY CLERK
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03335 01 OF 03 071538Z
OF PARLIAMENT AUSTIN ZVOMA AND ELIZABETH DOKA FROM PARLIAMENT’S
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS EPARTMENT.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
——————————-
¶3. (C) THE AMBASADOR RECALLED HIS RECENT POSTING TO LUANDA,
WHEE HE HAD INTERACTED REGULARLY WITH PRESIDENT DOS SANTOS AND
FOREIGN MINISTER MIRANDA ON ISSUES RELATD TO THE WAR IN THE
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CNGO (DRC). HE UNDERSTOOD THAT
MNANGAGWA FOLLOWE CLOSELY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DRC. YES,
MNANGAGW REPLIED, HE AND LAURENT KABILA HAD BEEN FRIENDS SINCE
THE EARLY 1960’S. HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH JOSEH KABILA IS
DIFFERENT, AS THE SON “REGARDS ME ASHIS FATHER’S FRIEND.” THE
CURRENT DRC PRESIDENTHAD RECENTLY SENT AN EMISSARY TO HARARE TO
BRIEFMNANGAGWA ON THE FAILED OPENING SESSION OF THE INTER-
CONGOLESE DIALOGUE IN ADDIS ABABA AND ON HIS IPENDING VISIT TO
THE UNITED STATES, AND THE SPEAER ARRANGED FOR HIM TO MEET WITH
PRESIDENT MUGAB.
¶4. (C) MNANGAGWA THOUGHT PRESIDENT KABILA, WOM HE CALLED “THE
YOUNG MAN,” WAS “DOING WELL,” AND IS MORE FORTHCOMING THAN HIS
FATHER. HE WAS PRTICULARLY PLEASED THAT THE DRC-U.S.
RELATIONSHI APPEARS TO HAVE IMPROVED UNDER JOSEPH KABILA. TH
GOZ IS PRESSING KABILA TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A PLITICAL AGENDA
THAT DEMOCRATIZES INSTITUTIONS AND WHICH LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR
ELECTIONS. THE GO HAS TOLD KABILA THAT HE LOSES NOTHING BY
PARTICPATING IN THE INTERNAL DIALOGUE, AND THAT ELECTION MUST BE
HELD AT THE END OF THAT PROCESS. THE ABASSADOR STRESSED THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS REACHING AGREEMENT ON A
TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENT, AND OF PRESIDENTS KABILA AND KAGAME
DEVISING A COMMON APPROACH ON DEALING WITH THE EX-FAR AND
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03335 01 OF 03 071538Z
INTERAHAMWE. ON THE LATTER ISSUE, MNANGAGWA SUGGESTED THAT ONE
WAY FORWARD IS TO PRESS RWANDA TO AGREE TO THE INTEGRATION OF THE
EX-FAR AND INTERAHAMWE BACK INTO RWANDAN SOCIETY. HE EXPRESSED
HIS BELIEF THAT THE DRC GROUPS KAGAME SUPPORTS WILL HAVE A FUTURE
POLITICAL ROLE IN THE DRC, WHICH SHOULD REASSURE THE RWANDAN
PRESIDENT THAT HIS INTERESTS WILL BE REPRESENTED.
TERRORISM
———
¶5. (C) THE AMBASSADOR THANKED THE GOZ FOR ITS STATED SUPPORT FOR
THE UNIVERSAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORISM, AND ITS GOOD POLICE AND
INTELLIGENCE COOPERATION IN THE AFTERMATH OF SEPTEMBER 11. HE
URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO FOLLOW UP WITH IMPORTANT PRACTICAL STEPS,
INCLUDING SIGNING AND RATIFYING THE NINE UN COUNTER-TERRORISM
CONVENTIONS IT HAS NOT YET SIGNED OR RATIFIED. MNANGAGWA ASKED
WHETHER WE HAD BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO THE ATTENTION OF THE FOREIGN
MINISTRY. TOLD THAT WE HAD, THE SPEAKER ASKED THAT WE SHARE THE
TEXT OF THE NINE CONVENTIONS WITH HIM, AS HE KNEW WHOM TO TALK TO
TO GET IT DONE. MNANGAGWA ADDED A PERSONAL NOTE OF CONDOLENCE,
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ9229
PAGE 01 HARARE 03335 02 OF 03 071539Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 WHA-00 DS-00
EAP-00 EUR-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 VCE-00
NSAE-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W
——————3B3352 071539Z /38
P 071457Z NOV 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0234
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY ABUJA
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
AMEMBASSY OSLO
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 003335
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03335 02 OF 03 071539Z
E.O. 12958: DECL. 10/31/11
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR, SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT DISCUSS DRC, ELECTION
OBSERVATION
SAYING THAT, AFTER THE ATTACKS ON THE PENTAGON AND WORLD TRADE
CENTER, NO NATION FEELS SAFE, AS “THESE KINDS OF ATTACKS CAN
HAPPEN ANYWHERE.” THE SPEAKER EXPRESSED HIS HOPE THAT THE
MILITARY CAMPAIGN WOULD BE CONCLUDED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, AS A
PROLONGED EFFORT WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SUSTAIN BROAD
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT.
ELECTION AND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS
————————————
¶6. (C) MNANGAGWA STATED THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WOULD BE
HELD IN MARCH OR APRIL, AND THAT THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF
SPECIFIC DATES WOULD LIKELY BE MADE IN FEBRUARY. (NOTE: AS WE
HAVE REPORTED EARLIER, OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE ELECTION MUST
BE HELD BETWEEN JANUARY 1 AND MARCH 31, 2002. END NOTE.) HE
ACKNOWLEDGED, HOWEVER THAT CAMPAIGNING HAD ALREADY BEGUN IN
EARNEST. HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT’S BIGGEST CONCERN IS PREVENTING
INCIDENTS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE SUCH AS THOSE WHICH MARRED THE
PERIOD PRECEDING THE JUNE 2000 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. HE
THOUGHT THE GOZ HAD HAD SOME SUCCESS IN “SCALING DOWN” VIOLENCE IN
THE FOUR BY-ELECTIONS HELD SINCE THEN. IN ADDITION, ZANU-PF AND
THE OPPOSITION MDC ARE CURRENTLY DISCUSSING AN ELECTORAL CODE OF
CONDUCT THAT WOULD BE AIMED AT REDUCING VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
¶7. (C) THE AMBASSADOR RECALLED THAT MNANGAGWA HAD TOLD INCOMING
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 03335 02 OF 03 071539Z
AF/S DIRECTOR SCOTT DELISI IN JUNE AND A SENATE STAFF DELEGATION
IN AUGUST THAT THE GOZ WOULD WELCOME INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS FOR
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THE AMBASSADOR NOTED THAT THE
PARTICIPATION OF RESPECTED OBSERVER GROUPS WAS IN THE GOZ’S OWN
INTEREST, AS ASSESSMENTS BY SUCH GROUPS WOULD BE A CRITICAL FACTOR
IN SHAPING INTERNATIONAL PERCEPTIONS OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND
THE FINAL OUTCOME. HE INFORMED THE SPEAKER OF IFES’S INTEREST IN
CONDUCTING A PRE-ELECTION VISIT TO ZIMBABWE. IFES — A NON-
PARTISAN NGO KNOWN FOR ITS ELECTION EXPERTISE — HOPED TO MEET
WITH GOZ ELECTION AUTHORITIES AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND WOULD
DECIDE SUBSEQUENTLY WHETHER IT WANTED TO PROCEED WITH AN
OBSERVATION MISSION. THE ORGANIZATION HAD PROVIDED ALL OF THE
RELEVANT DETAILS ABOUT ITSELF AND ITS PROPOSED MISSION TO
AMBASSADOR MUBAKO IN WASHINGTON. AMBASSADOR SULLIVAN SAID WE
WOULD APPRECIATE ANY SUPPORT MNANGAGWA MIGHT LEND IN HELPING
SECURE A POSITIVE GOZ DECISION. MNANGAGWA SAID HE WAS UNCERTAIN
WHAT THE CURRENT GOZ POSITION WAS SINCE HE WAS NO LONGER IN
CABINET AND HAD HEARD CONFLICTING STATEMENTS FROM VARIOUS
MINISTERS. HE DECLINED TO BE DRAWN FURTHER ON THIS ISSUE.
ABUJA AGREEMENT
—————
¶8. (C) MNANGAGWA RAISED THE ABUJA AGREEMENT, WHICH HE SAID
REQUIRED THE GOZ TO END NEW LAND INVASIONS AND RESTORE LAW AND
ORDER. BOTH OF THOSE OBLIGATIONS, HE INSISTED, ARE CONSISTENT
WITH GOZ POLICY. REGARDING THE FIRST POINT, THE GOZ HAD BEEN
REQUIRE TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF FARMS THE GOVERNMENT WANTED T
ACQUIRE BY JULY 31. IN THE RUSH TO MEET THAT REUIREMENT, THE
MINISTER OF LANDS, AGRICULTURE, AN RESETTLEMENT, SIMPLY GAZETTED
— OFFICIALLY LISTED FOR ACQUISITION — VIRTUALLY EVERY COMMERCIL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 HARARE 03335 02 OF 03 071539Z
FARM IN ZIMBABWE. HE HAS SINCE BEEN TOLD TO WNNOW THAT LIST TO
ONLY THOSE PROPERTIES GENUINEL NEEDED FOR RESETTLEMENT BY
DECEMBER 31, AND EIGT GOZ TEAMS — ONE FOR EACH PROVINCE — ARE
CURRETLY CONDUCTING THAT EFFORT ON THE GROUND. THE AMBSSADOR
REPLIED THAT IT HAS LONG BEEN THE USG POSTION THAT THE HISTORICAL
INEQUITIES IN ZIMBABWEA LAND OWNERSHIP MUST BE ADDRESSED, AND THE
USG WULD SUPPORT A LAND REFORM PROGRAM THAT IS TRANSPARET, FAIR,
AND ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE. THE ABUJ AGREEMENT PROVIDES AN
ENCOURAGING FRAMEWORK FORGENUINE PROGRESS, AND WE LOOKED FORWARD
TO ITS IPLEMENTATION.
¶9. (C) THE SPEAKER ASSERTED THATRESTORING LAW AND ORDER IS IN
THE GOZ’S OWN INTERST, AND HE CLAIMED WITHOUT ELABORATION THAT “A
LT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED” TOWARD FULFILLMENT OF THAT ABJA
REQUIREMENT.
COMMENT
——-
¶10. (C)MNANGAGWA HAS BEEN THE MOST ACCESSIBLE SENIOR POLIICIAN
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ9230
PAGE 01 HARARE 03335 03 OF 03 071539Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00 WHA-00
DS-00 EAP-00 EUR-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01
VCE-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00
/004W
——————3B3354 071539Z /38
P 071457Z NOV 01
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0235
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY ABUJA
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
AMEMBASSY OSLO
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 003335
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER
BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03335 03 OF 03 071539Z
E.O. 12958: DECL. 10/31/11
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR, SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT DISCUSS DRC, ELECTION
OBSERVATION
IN THE RULING PARTY DURING THE PAST YEAR, A TIME PERIOD COINCIDING
WITH HIS REPORTED EMERGENCE AS MUGABE’S PREFERRED SUCCESSOR, AND
HE WAS FRIENDLY AND ENGAGING THIS TIME. WE TAKE SERIOUSLY HIS
COMMENT ON THE TIMING OF THE ELECTION GIVEN HIS POSITION AS A KEY
DECISION-MAKER IN ZANU-PF (HE IS SECRETARY OF ADMINISTRATION, THE
PARTY’S NUMBER FOUR POSITION). HIS UNDERTAKING TO PRESS FOR GOZ
ACTION ON THE NINE COUNTER-TERRORISM CONVENTIONS WAS ENCOURAGING,
AND WE WILL STAY IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH HIM ON THIS ISSUE. WE WERE
PLEASANTLY SURPRISED THAT HIS DISCUSSION OF THE ABUJA AGREEMENT
FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON ZIMBABWE’S COMMITMENTS, (MOST OF HIS SENIOR
GOZ AND PARTY COUNTERPARTS EMPHASIZE THE UK’S OBLIGATIONS), BUT OF
COURSE PROGRESS ON THE GROUND IS THE ONLY TRUE MEASURE OF THE
GOVERNMENT’S SERIOUSNESS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING ABUJA.
SULLIVAN
CONFIDENTIAL
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