Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi had a cordial meeting with new United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray at which he said he hoped the two nations would have improved relations.
Even Ray was impressed with their first meeting which he said was cordial, in sharp contrast to former Ambassador James McGee’s initial courtesy call, during which Mumbengegwi threatened to expel McGee unless he respected the principle of non-interference.
Ray stressed the US’s commitment to work with all those who played by the rules and Mumbengegwi noted that there were rules for diplomats to follow as well.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 09HARARE929, AMBASSADOR MEETS ZIM FOREIGN MINISTER; CREDENTIALS
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO5119
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0929 3361143
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 021143Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5171
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 3183
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 3293
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1720
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2554
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 2923
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 3341
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 5789
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000929
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B.WALCH
DRL FOR N. WILETT
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
NSC FOR M. GAVIN
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR J. HARMON AND L. DOBBINS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2019
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS ZIM FOREIGN MINISTER; CREDENTIALS
POSTPONED
Classified By: Ambassador Charles A. Ray for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 2, following a call on Zimbabwe’s
Chief of Presidential Protocol Munyaradzi Kajese, Ambassador
presented copies of letters of credence and recall to Foreign
Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi. Presentation of credentials
to President Mugabe has been postponed to December 10. Both
meetings with Zimbabwean officials were cordial, although the
Zimbabweans lamented U.S. sanctions policy and Ambassador
noted U.S. commitment to rule of law and human rights. END
SUMMARY.
¶2. (C) On December 2, Ambassador met with Chief of
Presidential Protocol Ambassador Munyaradzi Kajese and
Minister of Foreign Affairs Simbarashe Mumbengegwi in
preparation for presentation of credentials to President
Mugabe. Both Zimbabwean officials welcomed Ambassador Ray to
Zimbabwe and expressed the hope that he would usher in an era
of improved relations. Their common script also urged the
Ambassador to travel around Zimbabwe and get to know the
Zimbabwean people so that he could form his own opinions.
They said he would see for himself how U.S. sanctions are
negatively affecting ordinary Zimbabweans, including those in
rural areas, and they hoped, having seen this, the Ambassador
would work to eliminate sanctions. Mumbengegwi noted that
Zimbabwe welcomed President Obama’s commitment to engage,
rather than isolate, those with whom the USG disagrees, but
lamented that this policy seems to apply everywhere except
Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe, he argued, the existence of a hung
Parliament in which ZANU-PF and MDC-T had equal voting
strength had led the Zimbabwean people to choose to create an
inclusive government; the USG should respect this choice.
(COMMENT: This revisionist interpretation ignored the role
of Zimbabwe’s discredited presidential election in the
decision to form an inclusive government. END COMMENT.)
Kajese told the Ambassador that unanticipated developments
forced postponement of his presentation of credentials from
December 3 to December 10.
¶3. (C) The Ambassador told both interlocutors that he too
hoped his tour in Zimbabwe would bring improved relations.
Zimbabwe was once a jewel in the crown of Africa, and he was
confident all Zimbabweans would agree it is desirable to work
together to restore Zimbabwe’s former social and economic
achievements. He said that he appreciated the warm welcome
he had received to date, but also expressed dismay at an
incident on November 28 in which his official vehicle was
stopped and detained for over an hour by police who wished to
search it. Neither official had been aware of the incident
and both regretted it and assured the Ambassador it was not
reflective of policy. (NOTE: The Embassy sent a Diplomatic
Note protesting the incident and requesting an investigation.
END NOTE.) The Ambassador stressed that he looked forward
to talking with and listening to representatives of all
points of view in Zimbabwe; while we would not always agree,
disagreement did not mean disengagement. The Ambassador
noted that President Obama had stressed Africa’s
responsibility for its own future, and the Ambassador
Qresponsibility for its own future, and the Ambassador
promised that the USG would cooperate with all those who
support the rule of law and respect human rights to help make
Zimbabwe’s future bright. ForMin Mumbengegwi responded by
expressing the hope that this message did not mean that the
Ambassador intended to interfere in Zimbabwe’s internal
politics. The Ambassador stressed the USG’s commitment to
work with all those who play by the rules and Mumbengegwi
noted that there are rules for diplomats to follow as well.
(COMMENT: While the script was familiar, the tone remained
cordial, in sharp contrast to former Ambassador McGee’s
initial courtesy call, during which Mumbengegwi threatened to
expel McGee unless he respected the principle of
noninterference. END COMMENT.)
RAY
(17 VIEWS)
