US tried to block Zimbabwe from becoming VP of WFP- Wikileaks

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 16^th 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

TAGS: WFP EAID AORC PE

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

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