Mnangagwa feels that reviving the commercial agriculture sector is vital, according to the documents.
“Mnangagwa realizes he needs the white farmers on the land when he gets into power … he will use the white farmers to resuscitate the agricultural industry, which he reckons is the backbone of the economy,” a Jan. 6, 2016 report reads.
Mnangagwa did not respond to repeated requests for comment about the intelligence documents or the photograph of him holding the mug.
An aide in his office said questions should be sent to the Ministry of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services.
The ministry did not respond to questions.
Tsvangirai, a 65-year-old former union leader who enjoys broad popular support, told Reuters in an interview in June he would not rule out a coalition with political opponents, such as Mnangagwa, and wanted white farmers to come back into a “positive role”.
Asked about reports in the intelligence documents that potential coalition partners or their intermediaries had held secret meetings, Tsvangirai told Reuters in August: “I’ve never met with Mnangagwa’s people to discuss cooperation or coalition. There was an intention expressed by Mnangagwa’s people for us to meet to discuss various issues, but that meeting never took place.”
According to the intelligence reports, Mugabe got wind of Mnangagwa’s ideas about white farmers earlier this year.
“Mugabe is totally against the idea of Mnangagwa being too friendly to the whites,” a report dated Feb. 27 says.
“He fears that Mnangagwa will reverse the land reform by giving farms back to the whites.”
Mugabe’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
A spokesman for the British embassy in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, said the UK was not involved in any plan for a coalition to succeed Mugabe.
“The UK does not back any party, candidate, faction or coalition in Zimbabwe. It is up to Zimbabweans to choose who they want to govern them through a free and fair election.”
The embassy said rumors and leaked intelligence documents were promoting disinformation.
The documents cover the gamut of Zimbabwean politics and contain material derogatory of all its major players, including Mugabe.
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