Richard Branson funded elders to talk Mugabe out of power

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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DE RUEHSA #2443 1921527

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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

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RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 6431

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C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 002443

SIPDIS

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DEPT FOR AF/S S. HILL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017

TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM ZI SF

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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