Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told United States ambassador James McGhee, two days after the signing of the Global Political Agreement, that President Robert Mugabe was committed to making the inclusive government a success but needed to “deal with his people”.
Tsvangirai’s confidence that Mugabe was committed to the new government was in sharp contrast to the views of his secretary general Tendai Biti, who had vowed he would not be part of any government that included Mugabe.
Tsvangirai who sought the meeting with the ambassador said they were agreeing on most issues except the Ministry of Finance and he was prepared to “park that one” while reaching agreement on other portfolios.
He was planning a retreat for his minister in October to launch his 100-day plan and said he continued to need the assistance of his American advisor Melinda Ferris.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08HARARE837, TSVANGIRAI EXPLAINS NEXT STEPS
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Reference ID |
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OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0837 2611023
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 171023Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3441
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2294
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2413
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RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 2046
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2467
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4899
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1562
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000837
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR G. GARLAND
DRL FOR N. WILETT
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2018
SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI EXPLAINS NEXT STEPS
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d)
¶1. (C) Ambassador met briefly with Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai at Tsvangirai’s request on September 17. Though
clearly pressed for time, Tsvangirai was relaxed and
confident. In response to a question from Ambassador,
Tsvangirai said he was confident that Mugabe is committed to
making the inclusive government a success. He said that
delay in reaching agreement on a cabinet was due to Mugabe’s
need to “deal with his people.” While Mugabe has conceded
Home Affairs to the MDC-T, Finance remains under dispute.
Tsvangirai said he would suggest to Mugabe that they “park
that one” for now while reaching agreement on other
portfolios. Once other issues are resolved, Tsvangirai will
frankly point out to Mugabe that ZANU-PF has made a mess of
the economy and that no foreign aid will flow unless Finance
is granted to the MDC. He said he is confident Mugabe will
yield. (Comment: It is not evident that this will be
finalized on September 17, as press reports suggest. End
comment.)
¶2. (C) Tsvangirai explained how events would unfold over the
next few weeks. He plans over the coming weekend to pull
together his advisors, including a new government strategic
unit (GSU) composed of CEOs and other experts, his transition
team and the MDC government team, to finalize his
administration’s 100-day plan, including determination of
benchmarks and a monitoring mechanism. Tsvangirai will push
to schedule swearing in of ministers early next week. Mugabe
will use his emergency powers to create the post of Prime
Minister and appoint Tsvangirai; Parliament will need to
validate this by passing a constitutional amendment within 90
days to establish the new governmental framework. Tsvangirai
plans to hold a ministerial retreat the first week of October
to present the 100-day plan before Parliament convenes.
Tsvangirai said he will not travel to New York for the UN
General Assembly, but instead plans to visit rural areas
around the country to see if food distribution is beginning.
¶3. (C) Tsvangirai told the Ambassador that he needed the
assistance of his personal advisor, Melinda Ferris, to
coordinate the 100-day strategy, and he requested USG
financial assistance for her to travel to Zimbabwe this week.
¶4. (C) Comment: Tsvangirai’s confidence that Mugabe is
acting in good faith stands in sharp contrast to the views of
MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti (septel) and many other
informed observers. However, a confident, full-steam-ahead
approach represents the best strategy for trying to make a
success of this imperfect deal. While we would not bet on
it, we will hope that Tsvangirai’s 100-day plan creates
momentum difficult for ZANU-PF to resist. At a minimum, the
front-loading of elements of the MDC’s reform agenda will
provide early evidence of the prospects for real change in
Zimbabwe.
MCGEE
(37 VIEWS)
