US paid $100 000 for past delivery of mail

The United States embassy paid $100 000 to Zimpost for past delivery of personal mail.

It discussed this payment and a request for diplomatic post office service to the embassy with Minister of Information and Communications technology Nelson Chamisa met US ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGhee two months after the formation of the inclusive government.

Officials from his ministry were, however, worried that Chamisa met the ambassador without an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as per government procedure.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 09HARARE321, AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH ZIM ICT MINISTER NELSON

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VZCZCXRO2380

PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN

DE RUEHSB #0321/01 1070920

ZNY CCCCC ZZH

P 170920Z APR 09 ZDK

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4383

INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2776

RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2897

RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1342

RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2162

RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 2527

RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2945

RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 5386

RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE

RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC

RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2064

RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000321

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR B. WALCH

DRL FOR N. WILETT

ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU

ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN

STATE PASS TO USAID FOR J. HARMON AND L. DOBBINS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2019

TAGS: ECPS EINT PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM ZI

SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH ZIM ICT MINISTER NELSON

CHAMISA

REF: HARARE 303

Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4(b) and (d).

¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Ambassador McGee met with Zimbabwean Minister

for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Nelson

Chamisa on April 8 as part of a series of calls on ministers

in the new government. They discussed the US$100,000 recently

paid by the USG to ZimPost for past delivery of personal mail

and the U.S. request to begin Diplomatic Post Office (DPO)

service to the Embassy. Chamisa pleaded for support to

provide basic computing technology to all ministers to enable

better cooperation within Cabinet. The meeting also gave a

glimpse into the dynamics of the new unity government when

Chamisa’s secretary and Acting PermSec were overheard

worrying that Chamisa had canceled a notetaker from the MFA.

END SUMMARY.

¶2. (SBU) Ambassador McGee began by explaining his efforts to

meet with ministers in the new government. He presented

Chamisa with copies of the MOU to establish DPO service,

explaining that the process had begun with the old

government. He noted that we did not need GOZ approval, but

wanted to work with them as partners on this issue. Chamisa

promised to review the MOU and said he did not see any reason

why it should be a problem. He then asked about the

US$100,000 owed to ZimPost for past delivery of personal mail

originating in the U.S. The Ambassador explained that this

amount had been paid.

¶3. (SBU) Chamisa proceeded to reiterate his vision for the

ministry, saying that he wanted to introduce internet

technology to the entire country, but first had to introduce

and explain what ICT could do for Zimbabweans. He said that

his PowerPoint presentation at the recent Victoria Falls

retreat had impressed many other ministers who weren’t

familiar with the technology. His iPod was even more shocking

to some of them. Chamisa said that he wanted to push

e-awareness programs for MPs, councilors, and in the school

system.

¶4. (SBU) Chamisa asked for technical assistance for his

ministry, especially to procure basic computer technology for

all senior government officials. He said that currently

announcements about Cabinet meetings were broadcast on ZBC

radio and television because not all ministers could get

e-mail. The Ambassador suggested that all requests for

assistance should be channeled through Finance Minister Biti;

we would consider any such request.

¶5. (C) Before the meeting began, APAO, who accompanied the

Ambassador, overheard Chamisa’s secretary and Kosmas

Chigwambwa, the acting PermSec, worrying that no one from the

MFA was there to observe the meeting per “government

procedure.” They said that Chamisa had said this was “his

meeting” and so MFA was not needed. After speaking with

Chamisa about the issue, Chigwambwa told the secretary that

Chamisa had promised to talk with Mumbengegwi if there were

any issues.

Qany issues.

¶6. (C) COMMENT. We expect that Chamisa will quickly sign off

on the DPO agreement. We fully agree that government offices

need to be equipped with computer technology and will discuss

this issue with USAID. END COMMENT.

¶7. (C) UPDATE NOTE: Since the April 8 meeting, The Herald

announced that Chamisa had been stripped of postal and

telecommunications portfolios which were transferred to the

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure headed by

ZANU-PF’s Nicholas Goche. The ramifications of this transfer

HARARE 00000321 002 OF 002

are unknown, see reftel for further details.

MCGEE

(20 VIEWS)