The Insider

Botswana President Ian Khama told United States ambassador to Botswana Stephen Nolan that he was frustrated with Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s initial reaction to the Southern African Development Community summit communiqué which mapped the timetable for the formation of the inclusive government as well as the MDC’s tendency to reverse itself during negotiations.

(100 VIEWS)

Central Bank governor Gideon Gono was aware that International Crisis Group analyst Sydney Masamvu, who had worked as a journalist for the Financial Gazette and the Daily News, talked to United States embassy officials in Pretoria and may have misled him to fend off the International Monetary Fund from expelling Zimbabwe out of the organisation.

(56 VIEWS)

Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa caused a stampede from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange when he announced a 10 percent withholding tax two weeks before it became effective.

(51 VIEWS)

The United States embassy in Harare recommended that Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa’s wife Ruth Atipo Murerwa be added to the US financial sanctions list after the 2005 elections which the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front won with a two-thirds majority.

(187 VIEWS)

A United States embassy official who was leaving the country said he did not expect any economic reform until President Robert Mugabe had retired, was dead or accepted a role as a figurehead president, “taking the Gonos and Murerwas with him”.

(48 VIEWS)

Botswana’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs Samuel Otlule told United States embassy officials in Gaborone that Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai had no authority over the MDC national council and this was a weakness which had not helped in the negotiations for the formation of an inclusive government.

(43 VIEWS)

The United States embassy said it was unfortunate that Herbert Murerwa, who had been acting Minister of Finance since the firing of Simba Makoni, was confirmed Finance Minister in the cabinet reshuffle of 2005 because though an academic he had never exhibited any initiative or creativity in his earlier stints as Finance Minister.

(58 VIEWS)

United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell said the United States should not support the candidacy of Simba Makoni to head the African Development Bank because that would send the wrong signal about the importance of sound economic policies.

(73 VIEWS)

Movement for Democratic Change secretary-general Tendai Biti was opposed to a government of national unity under any circumstances.

(55 VIEWS)

Central bank governor Gideon Gono, claiming to be a messenger of President Robert Mugabe, pleaded with United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell for 90 minutes that Zimbabwe wanted better relations with the United States.

(34 VIEWS)