Tsvangirai’s letter to Obama

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai wrote United States President Barack Obama thanking him for the support he had given to his office and emphasised the need to maintain sanctions as a leverage to get concessions from the inclusive government.

According to the latest batch of cables released by Wikileaks last week, the letter was delivered by hand to U.S. Defense Attache Lt Col. Patrick Anderson at the U.S. Embassy in Harare on 29 December 2009.

In the letter, Tsvangirai also said: “We have had discussions with Ambassador Charles Ray on restrictive measures. I well understand that movement on the part of the International Community will need to be in response to tangible progress on GPA implementation.

“We should, however, ensure that movement when it comes is seen to be acknowledged in a tangible way – striking a careful balance between retaining leverage and rewarding progress. This will involve difficult judgements but it will be important to sustain momentum when it comes.” 

Tsvangirai’s private support for sanctions while publicly calling for their removal almost landed him in trouble.

Here is the full cable:

Viewing cable 09HARARE1007, PRIME MINISTER TSVANGIRAI LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

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VZCZCXYZ0000

RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSB #1007 3630857

ZNR UUUUU ZZH

R 290857Z DEC 09

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5266

UNCLAS HARARE 001007

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR S/ES-CR AND S/ES-O

AF FOR A/S JOHNNIE CARSON, PDAS DON YAMAMOTO, DAS SUSAN PAGE

AF/S FOR BRIAN WALCH

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: OPDC PREL PGOV OVIP ZI

SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER TSVANGIRAI LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

¶1. The following is the text of a message as received from Prime

Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe to President Barack Obama of

the United States of America.

¶2. BEGIN TEXT:

REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE

The Prime Minister

21 December 2009

His Excellency

Barrack Obama

President of the United States of America

Your Excellency,

As we approach the end of 2009, a period that has turned out to be a

watershed for Zimbabwe, I write to convey my appreciation for the

support we have received from you personally, the government and

people of your great nation. Kindly pass on my warm thanks also to

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

I was very pleased, Mr. President, to note the support offered by

your country and the various international Non Governmental

Organisations (NGOs) that expanded beyond the life saving

interventions which were so important. This assistance has brought

direct benefits to millions of our people and has demonstrated to

the hard pressed population that the reformists in government are

capable of delivering results.

Your support for my office has also been invaluable and I look

forward to this continuing.

As you are no doubt aware, Your Excellency, we are at a crucial

stage in our efforts to ensure the full implementation of the GPA.

Meanwhile, our political situation remains characterised by

intransigence to frustrate the process of bringing about real

change.

The role played by SADC, in general, and the mediator President

Jacob Zuma, in particular, is greatly appreciated. I know that you

have personally played a crucial role in helping this to happen, and

I encourage you to continue your crucial dialogue with President

Zuma.

We have had discussions with Ambassador Charles Ray on restrictive

measures. I well understand that movement on the part of the

International Community will need to be in response to tangible

progress on GPA implementation. We should, however, ensure that

movement when it comes is seen to be acknowledged in a tangible way

– striking a careful balance between retaining leverage and

rewarding progress. This will involve difficult judgements but it

will be important to sustain momentum when it comes.

In light of the current negotiations of the three political parties

I have now taken personal interest in the normalisation of relations

between my government and your government and my office will be

following up on this very critical issue in the coming year.

We have, with your help, made real progress in 2009. Zimbabwe has

been brought back from the brink. The economy has been stabilised.

Essential health, education and other services have been restored. A

long and difficult road clearly lies ahead but with the continued

support of key partners like the US, and also the active engagement

of SADC and South Africa, I have every hope of building on this

start.

May I wish you and your family a merry Christmas and a joyous New

Year. Please accept, Mr. President, assurances of my esteem

consideration.

Looking forward to continue working with you,

Morgan Tsvangirai

END TEXT.

¶3. (U) The letter was received by hand delivery via U.S. Defense

Attache LtCol. Patrick Anderson at the U.S. Embassy Harare on

Tuesday, December 29, 2009. Original will be forwarded to AF/S Desk

Officer Brian Walch via diplomatic pouch, registration number

¶7262800.

RAY

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