Several Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front senior officials, including Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo failed to attend Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s launch of his 100-day plan to revive the country’s economy.
This was despite the fact that Tsvangirai had allocated three of the five clusters that he wanted to spearhead the revival to ZANU-PF ministers.
Sydney Sekeramayi who was to lead the Security cluster did not pitch up and there was no explanation.
Chombo who had been selected to head the Social cluster was also not present because he was allegedly travelling.
The only ZANU-PF heavyweight who was present was Patrick Chinamasa who was to head the Rights and Interest cluster.
Other ZANU-PF ministers who were slated to speak but did not pitch up were Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi.
Vice-President Joice Mujuru gave the closing remarks and according to a cable released by Wikileaks, she was the lone ZANU-PF representative on the dais.
Mujuru was reported to be close to Tsvangirai.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 09HARARE416, TSVANGIRAI OUTLINES NEXT 100-DAY PLAN
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Reference ID |
Created |
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Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO3914
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0416/01 1391455
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 191455Z MAY 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4505
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2836
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2955
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1398
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2218
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 2583
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 3003
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 5444
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2127
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000416
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B. WALCH
DRL FOR N. WILETT
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR J. HARMON AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM ZI ECON XA
SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI OUTLINES NEXT 100-DAY PLAN
REF: HARARE 405
——-
SUMMARY
——-
¶1. (SBU) On May 13, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
unveiled his plan to guide the Government of Zimbabwe’s (GOZ)
activities during the next 100 days of the unity government
at a conference attended by government officials,
legislators, diplomats, civil society, and business leaders.
In essence, the 100-day plan is a managerial tool to be used
in the implementation and execution of the recently launched
Short Term Emergency Recovery Program. Present at the launch
were Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who gave the key note
address, Vice President Joice Mujuru, who gave closing
remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, Patrick
Chinamasa (the only ZANU-PF heavyweight to give a
presentation) and several ministers and deputy ministers.
Slated to speak and conspicuous by their absence, were
ZANU-PF Ministers Ignatius Chombo (Local Government),
Emmerson Mnangagwa (Defense), Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (Foreign
Affairs), and Sydney Sekeramayi (National Security). While
well intentioned, it was clear that the government lacked the
funding to carry out the plan. END SUMMARY.
¶2. (U) The 100-day plan grouped the 32 cabinet ministries
into five clusters: Economic, Infrastructure, Rights and
Interest, Security, and Social. Each cluster is headed by a
cabinet minister, with three of the five clusters led by
ZANU-PF ministers and the remaining two by MDC-T ministers.
In a brief, but well-received opening speech, Tsvangirai
sought to assert his authority as Prime Minister by calling
on all cluster heads to report directly to him. He also
called on the signatories to the Global Political Agreement
(GPA) — an indirect reference to President Mugabe and other
ZANU-PF obstructionists — to implement the letter and spirit
of the GPA to ensure the success of both the 100-day plan and
the transitional government overall. Tsvangirai said that
there was progress on resolving some outstanding issues
between the parties (ref) and that a statement to that effect
would soon be issued. (NOTE: Subsequent to the 100-day
roll-out, Tsvangirai was forced to acknowledge that the
principals had been unable to resolve their outstanding
issues and would seek a SADC resolution. END NOTE.)
¶3. (U) Closing remarks were made by Mujuru who seized the
opportunity to appeal to the U.S. and the EU to remove
sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe — a position also echoed by
Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa who
described the targeted measures on Zimbabwe as “illegal.”
There was vocal dissent in the gallery when Mujuru and
Chinamasa harped on the oft-used sanctions refrain.
———————————–
Well Intentioned, But Poorly Funded
———————————–
¶4. (U) Economic cluster leader, Elton Mangoma (MDC-T),
Infrastructure cluster leader, Theresa Makone (MDC-T), Rights
and Interest cluster leader, Patrick Chinamasa (ZANU-PF),
Qand Interest cluster leader, Patrick Chinamasa (ZANU-PF),
Giles Mutsekwa (MDC-T) on behalf of Security cluster leader,
Sydney Sekeramayi (ZANU-PF), and Cecil Zvidzai (MDC-T) on
behalf of Social cluster leader, Ignatius Chombo (ZANU-PF),
each outlined their priorities and plans. Consistent across
all clusters was a lack of budgetary support for the plans,
and all cluster leaders or their representatives appealed to
the donor and international community for funding. The
following are highlights of the cluster presentations:
HARARE 00000416 002 OF 003
—————-
Economic Cluster
—————-
¶5. (U) Mangoma focused on raising funds to finance the Short
Term Emergency Recovery Program, macro-economic stability,
and public sector reform. A critical aspect of the cluster’s
mandate is the restoration of public confidence in the
banking system, and the cluster plans to implement IMF
recommendations on reforming the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
(RBZ). Public Finance Management System reforms to improve
government accountability are also high on the cluster
agenda. Mangoma spoke of achieving some success in fund
raising and referred to securing a US$1 billion credit line
from PTA Bank, Afreximbank and SADC. China (US$5 million)
and South Africa (US$30 million) have provided direct
budgetary assistance. An increased flow of humanitarian aid
was also mentioned, totaling US$300 million for the first
quarter of 2009. The cluster is geared to attracting foreign
investment for infrastructure development by using the
concept of Private/Public Partnerships. To this end, it has
put in place investor-friendly policies with the aim of
rebranding Zimbabwe as a place of sound economic management
and respect for the rule of law. To improve the business
environment, the cluster will seek to create a supportive
legal and regulatory framework. A land audit will be
conducted within the next 100 days to ascertain legal land
ownership and resolve conflicts over competing claims. The
cluster will also undertake a comprehensive reform of the
public service sectors and parastatal enterprises, but
parastatal sales may not occur in light of depressed current
valuations.
———————-
Infrastructure Cluster
———————-
¶6. (U) Makone identified energy, water, and public works
development as key priority areas in need of urgent funding.
—————————
Rights and Interest Cluster
—————————
¶7. (U) Chinamasa stated that his ministry, Justice and Legal
Affairs, would work to facilitate the constitutional reform
process, review of media policy, and the setting up of
independent commissions.
—————-
Security Cluster
—————-
¶8. (U) Co-Home Affairs Minister Mutsekwa did not provide a
Security cluster 100-day plan. Rather, his presentation
emphasized the interdependence between security and
development. According to the cluster, failure to adequately
provide the needs of the security forces in terms of
accommodation, health facilities, equipment, and food rations
could undermine development.
————–
Social Cluster
————–
¶9. (U) Zvidzai discussed aligning the Social cluster’s
priorities to the joint scoping mission, which is being
spearheaded by the European Commission, UNDP, African
Development Bank and the World Bank. He acknowledged that it
would take longer to unlock donor finance through the scoping
Qwould take longer to unlock donor finance through the scoping
HARARE 00000416 003 OF 003
mission process which will be followed by a needs assessment
when conditions allow. The delay in international funding
would require a bridge finance facility.
——-
COMMENT
——-
¶10. (SBU) While the objectives laid out in the 100-day plan
are largely salutary, the GOZ lacks the financial means to
achieve most of them. The exception is the Rights and
Interest cluster where expanded media space and judicial
reform could be accomplished inexpensively — if the
political will existed. What was most notable about the
launch was who did and did not attend. Of the five clusters,
three are headed by ZANU-PF ministers. Only Chinamasa was
present. Sydney Sekeramayi, the Defense Minister and head of
the Security cluster was absent and there was no explanation.
Ignatius Chombo, head of the Social cluster, was absent
allegedly because he was traveling. Vice President Mujuru,
reportedly now close to Tsvangirai, was the lone ZANU-PF
representative on the dais. Finally, it is worth noting that
although the remarks of Chinamasa and Mujuru were largely
positive and supportive of the 100-day plan, neither could
resist blaming a large part of Zimbabwe’s predicament on
sanctions. END COMMENT.
MCGEE
(61 VIEWS)
