The United States’ bid to isolate Zimbabwe hit a roadblock in 2007 when it tried to block the country from becoming Vice-President of the World Food Programme in 2007 but was thwarted by Latin American countries.
According to a cable just released by Wikileaks the US had requested Peru’s support to block Zimbabwe’s bid but was told by Oswaldo del Aguila, who had represented Peru on WFP issues, that Peru and all the other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean could not do that because they respected the Africa Group’s nomination.
Del Aguila also said WFP rules did not allow for an election unless there were two or more candidates for a position.
He added that Zimbabwe’s ambassador, Margaret Muchada, who was earmarked for the post, was well respected by the other delegates. Muchada was subsequently elected to the post.
Zimbabwe thumped Canada and the West to win chairmanship of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development the same year.
Canada had vowed to lobby against Zimbabwe’s election even going to the extent to trying to persuade African countries to set aside their claim to the chair for the 16th session of the CSD.
Full cable below:
Viewing cable 07LIMA480, WFP DEMARCHE: GRULAC REFUSES TO BLOCK ZIMBABWE
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VZCZCXYZ0009
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHPE #0480 0511910
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 201910Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY LIMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4040
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 4381
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 3471
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 3070
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0833
RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE 0028
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0112
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0496
RUEHSUN/USUN ROME IT
UNCLAS LIMA 000480
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/EDA
USUN ROME FOR WFP
E.O. 12958: N/A
SUBJECT: WFP DEMARCHE: GRULAC REFUSES TO BLOCK ZIMBABWE
REF: STATE 17145
¶1. (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel demarche requesting Peru’s
support in blocking Zimbabwe’s bid for the Vice Presidency of
the World Food Program to MFA UN Bureau Director for
Candidacies and Quotas Oswaldo del Aguila on February 15.
Del Aguila responded that although the Dutch and Canadian
embassies had already delivered the same demarche, Peru had
joined the GRULAC decision in Rome earlier that day to
respect the Africa Group’s nomination. He said that GRULAC
also noted that WFP Executive Board rules did not allow for
an election unless there were two or more candidates for a
position.
¶2. (U) Del Aguila, who previously represented Peru on WFP
issues in Rome, said Zimbabwean Ambassador Mary Muchada was
well respected by the other delegates (as noted in reftel).
He said she had served well in the G-77 and as the head of
WFP working groups. Econoff relayed the above information to
IO/EDA (Sharon Kotok) on February 15.
STRUBLE
(37 VIEWS)
