Former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo approached United Kingdom businessman Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Atlantic, to bankroll an initiative by African elders to get President Robert Mugabe to step down.
The elders were expected to meet secretly in Johannesburg from on 17 and 18 July 2007, according to a cable released by Wikileaks.
They included Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Sam Nunjoma of Namibia, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, Daniel arap Moi of Kenya, Ketumile Masire of Botswana and Kofi Annan who had been secretary of the United Nations.
Moyo approached Branson in early June.
His correspondence with Branson as well his concept paper for the initiative were passed on to the Pretoria embassy of the United States by Sydney Masamvu who was now one of their key contacts.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 07PRETORIA2443, C) U.K. BUSINESSMAN BRANSON FUNDING “ELDER”
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO9493
RR RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSA #2443 1921527
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 111527Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0729
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1007
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0529
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1234
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 6431
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0483
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1112
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0084
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 002443
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
DEPT FOR AF/S S. HILL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017
SUBJECT: (C) U.K. BUSINESSMAN BRANSON FUNDING “ELDER”
INITIATIVE TO GET MUGABE OUT OF POWER
REF: PRETORIA 2210
Classified By: Ambassador Eric M. Bost. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
¶1. (C/NF) U.K. businessman Richard Branson is bankrolling an
African “Elders” initiative to convince Zimbabwean President
Mugabe to step down. The “Elders” plan to meet secretly in
Johannesburg July 17-18 with Branson to discuss their
initiative. Former Presidents Nelson Mandela (South Africa),
Sam Nujoma (Namibia), Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia), Jerry Rawlings
(Ghana), Joaquim Chissano (Mozambique), Daniel Arap Moi
(Kenya) and Ketumile Masire (Botswana) have reportedly agreed
to participate. Former UNSYG Kofi Annan also plans to attend
the meeting. President Carter will also be in Johannesburg
and will meet with the group of Elders, although it is not
clear if he will be involved in the Zimbabwe discussion. The
Zimbabwe initiative is being cast as supportive of the South
African-led SADC mediation.
¶2. (C/NF) Former Mugabe Information Minister Jonathan Moyo is
working with Branson on the plan. Moyo reached out to
Branson, who owns Virgin Atlantic airline as well as a game
lodge and chain of gyms in South Africa, in early June to
suggest the involvement of the former African leaders.
Branson agreed to fund the initiative, including Moyo’s
travel and technical assistance. Embassy contact Sydney
Masamvu (strictly protect) provided Post with emails between
Moyo and Branson, as well as a copy of Moyo’s draft concept
paper for the initiative.
¶3. (C/NF) Moyo’s draft concept “Review of Issues and
Strategy” paper (emailed to AF/S) outlines his views on the
reasons behind the Zimbabwean crisis: the disagreement
between the GOZ and U.K. over the “source or cause of the
crisis,” a “flawed constitutional dispensation,” and Mugabe’s
unwillingness to allow anyone to succeed him “due to his
deep-seated immunity fears and concerns.” Moyo proposes to
the Elders a four-point strategy to deal with Mugabe:
— The Elders would travel to Zimbabwe to meet with Mugabe.
— The Elders would urge Mugabe to support a new
constitution, which would include “watertight” provisions on
Mugabe’s immunity from prosecution and allow for a truth and
reconciliation process.
— The new constitution would allow Mugabe to appoint an
executive Prime Minister, who would form a “broad based
government of all national talents and interests;” Parliament
would then select a new, non-executive President.
— This new government would last until November 2010, when a
general election would be held.
¶4. (C/NF) Moyo suggests a script for the Elders in their
proposed meeting with Mugabe:
— tell Mugabe that they are approaching him because they
“respect him” and want to safeguard his “proud legacy;”
— express concern about the deteriorating situation in
Zimbabwe;
— tell Mugabe the time has come to step aside “graciously
and with dignity to allow his country to move on;”
— stress that “it is now certain Zimbabwe will slip into
dangerous chaos” if Mugabe does not step down; and
— suggest that they support Mugabe now, but “will not be
able to do so if the situation in Zimbabwe deteriorates.”
Bost
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