Mnangagwa dodgy on US election observers

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.

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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

TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI

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

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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

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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,

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INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

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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

TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI

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

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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

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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

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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

TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI

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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