Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa said Congolese businessman Kalaa Mpinga was a “political infant” and was like a university student, full of “wild dreams” and ready to riot against anything.
He refused to acknowledge Mpinga as a businessman preferring to call him an employee of Anglo-American.
Mnangagwa said though Mpinga was related to the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Minister of State for Petroleum, Pierre-Victor Mpoyo, he was a “political infant” who claimed to be the head of 600 Congolese intellectuals and professionals in the diaspora.
Mnangagwa expressed curiosity that Mpinga, whom he described as an “employee” seemed to have few professional obligations and was able to move around so freely.
He said Mpinga had revealed that Anglo-American, his employer, had put a plane at his disposal and given him an unlimited expense account.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 00HARARE2102, MPINGA: MNANGAGWA PLAYS BOTH ENDS AGAINST THE
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
151009Z Apr 00
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ0003
PAGE 01 HARARE 02102 01 OF 02 151004Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 DINT-00 DODE-00
DOEE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-01 FAAE-00
FBIE-00 VC-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00
/010W
——————4C3177 151004Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5769
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY KIGALI
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LUANDA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02102 01 OF 02 151004Z
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 002102
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S SUSAN RICE AND AF S/E HOWARD WOLPE
FROM AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2010
SUBJECT: MPINGA: MNANGAGWA PLAYS BOTH ENDS AGAINST THE
MIDDLE
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD FOR REASONS 1.5
(B) AND (D).
¶1. (C) MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY
AFFAIRS EMMERSON MNANGAGWA TOLD ME APRIL 14 THAT HE HAS
KNOWN SOUTH AFRICAN/CONGOLESE BUSINESSMAN KALAA MPINGA
FOR FOUR YEARS. MPINGA, WHOSE AGE HE GUESSED TO BE 38-
40, IS THE NEPHEW OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO’S
MINISTER OF STATE FOR PETROLEUM, PIERRE-VICTOR MPOYO,
AND IS ORIGINALLY FROM KASAI ORIENTALE PROVINCE.
ACCORDING TO MNANGAGWA, MPINGA IS A “POLITICAL INFANT,”
WHO CLAIMS TO BE THE HEAD OF 600 CONGOLESE INTELLECTUALS
AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE DIASPORA (IN EUROPE AND CANADA)
WHO CONSTITUTE HIS “BODY POLITIC.” MPINGA, WHO LAST
CALLED ON MNANGAGWA “ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO,” CLAIMS
THAT HE IS IN CONTACT WITH JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA, WHOM HE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 02102 01 OF 02 151004Z
DESCRIBES AS “UNRELIABLE, UNPREDICTABLE, AND A MAN
OF CHAOS.”
¶2. (C) MPINGA ASKED MNANGAGWA WHAT INTERESTS ZIMBABWE
HAD IN THE CONGO, TO WHICH, AFTER A LENGTHY PREFACE ON
THE REASON FOR ZIMBABWE’S INTERVENTION IN THE DROC, THE
MINISTER REPLIED THE COSLEG COMPANY, WHICH HE
CHARACTERIZED AS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN THE “ECONOMIC
ARMS” OF THE ZIMBABWEAN AND CONGOLESE ARMIES. THE
ZIMBABWEAN MINISTER CAUTIONED HIM THAT THOSE ECONOMIC
INTERESTS DID NOT AFFECT “OUR STAYING OR LEAVING; WE ARE
ANXIOUS TO LEAVE.” MPINGA THEN REPORTEDLY TOLD
MNANGAGWA THAT HIS GROUP HAD ANALYZED THE CURRENT
SITUATION AND CONCLUDED THAT ZIMBABWE’S INTERESTS IN THE
CONGO SHOULD BE HONORED.
¶3. (C) MNANGAGWA EXPRESSED CURIOSITY THAT MPINGA, WHOM
HE DESCRIBED AS AN “EMPLOYEE” IN CONTRAST TO MY
REFERRING TO HIM AS A “BUSINESSMAN” BECAUSE BUSINESSMEN
PAY SALARIES, SEEMED TO HAVE FEW PROFESSIONAL
OBLIGATIONS AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE AROUND SO FREELY.
ACCORDING TO THE ZIMBABWEAN MINISTER, MPINGA REVEALED
THAT ANGLO-AMERICAN, HIS EMPLOYER, PUT A PLANE AT HIS
DISPOSAL AND GAVE HIM AN UNLIMITED EXPENSE ACCOUNT.
MPINGA REPORTED THAT HE HAD HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH BOTH
THE REBELS AND THE GOVERNMENT. ACCORDING TO MNANGAGWA,
MPINGA’S PLAN IS TO CREATE A NEW NATIONAL LEADERSHIP
THAT WOULD EXCLUDE BOTH KABILA AND BEMBA, OF WHICH HE,
MPINGA, WOULD BE PART. THE ZIMBABWEAN MINISTER TOLD ME
HE WARNED MPINGA NOT ENTERTAIN THE VIEW OF SEEING THE
ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT GOING AGAINST KABILA. RATHER, HE
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PAGE 04 HARARE 02102 01 OF 02 151004Z
COUNSELED MPINGA TO SEEK UNITY, BECAUSE BY EXCLUDING KEY
FIGURES HE WON’T GET FAR. HE ADVISED MPINGA TO FORM A
PARTY AND CONTEST ELECTIONS, AND NOTED THAT ZIMBABWE
WOULD ACCEPT THEIR RESULTS, EVEN IF KABILA WERE REMOVED
BY THEM. ON THAT POINT, MNANGAGWA THOUGHT THAT IF AN
ELECTION WERE HELD IN THE CONGO TODAY, KABILA WOULD WIN,
TAKING FIVE KEY PROVINCES, ALTHOUGH HE WOULD FACE
SUBSTANTIAL OPPOSITION. NEVERTHELESS, “WE ADVISE
[KABILA] HOW TO STAY IN OFFICE,” THE JUSTICE MINISTER
JOKED.
¶4. (C) MNANGAGWA THEN TOLD ME THAT HE HAD NOT REVEALED
TO KABILA THAT MPINGA IS AGAINST HIM, BUT RATHER
INFORMED THE CONGOLESE PRESIDENT THAT THE YOUNGER MAN
WAS LIKE A UNIVERSITY STUDENT, FULL OF “WILD DREAMS,”
AND READY TO RIOT AGAINST ANYTHING. TO THE ZIMBABWEAN
MINISTER’S KNOWLEDGE, MPINGA HAS MET KABILA 2-3 TIMES
AND ONLY HIMSELF IN THE ZIMBABWEAN GOVERNMENT. MPINGA
PLANNED TO RETURN TO ZIMBABWE IN EARLY MAY TO RESUME HIS
QUEST TO SECURE SUPPORT FOR HIS PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS,
ACCORDING TO MNANGAGWA. THE ZIMBABWEAN MINISTER
EXPRESSED SUSPICION OF ANGLO AMERICAN’S CLAIM, AS VOICED
BY MPINGA, THAT IT SUPPORTS A MIDDLE FORCE TO BRING
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ0004
PAGE 01 HARARE 02102 02 OF 02 151004Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 DINT-00 DODE-00
DOEE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-01 FAAE-00
FBIE-00 VC-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00
AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /010W
——————4C317A 151004Z /38
P 151009Z APR 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5770
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
AMEMBASSY KIGALI
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LUANDA
AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 HARARE 002102
SIPDIS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 02102 02 OF 02 151004Z
DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S SUSAN RICE AND AF S/E HOWARD WOLPE
FROM AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
LONDON FOR PFLAUMER
PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2010
SUBJECT: MPINGA: MNANGAGWA PLAYS BOTH ENDS AGAINST THE
MIDDLE
KABILA AND THE REBELS TOGETHER. “ANGLO AMERICAN IS MORE
EXPERIENCED THAN THAT,” A MILDLY ANNOYED MNANGAGWA
CONCLUDED.
¶5. (C) COMMENT: IN OUR JUDGMENT MNANGAGWA KEEPS HIS
DOOR OPEN TO MPINGA BECAUSE HE DOES NOT VIEW HIM AS A
THREAT TO THE INTERESTS OF ZIMBABWE OR HIS OWN. BY
CONTINUING TO RECEIVE HIM, HE KEEPS MPINGA VISIBLE AND
MORE EASY TO MONITOR. IF MPINGA SOME DAY AMOUNTS TO
SOMETHING IN THE CONGO (NOT AN IMPOSSIBILITY GIVEN HIS
LINEAGE), MNANGAGWA WILL HAVE THE INSIDE TRACK TO HIM,
MUCH AS HE DOES TO KABILA TODAY. IF HE DOES NOT, NO
GREAT LOSS. IN SUM, MNANGAGWA IS DOING THE POLITICALLY
PRUDENT THING WITH MPINGA, BUT, TO THE EXTENT WE CAN
DETERMINE, NOT PLAYING BALL.
MCDONALD
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PAGE 03 HARARE 02102 02 OF 02 151004Z
CONFIDENTIAL
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