ZANU-PF an old party with problems

The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front is an old party with problems and does not have any vision for the future.

This was said by the United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray in his commentary after the party congress in 2009 which saw ZANU-PF re-electing Robert Mugabe as president with Joice Mujuru and John Nkomo as his deputies.

The elections are said to have upset the people of Manicaland as they had hoped that secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa might be elevated to the presidium which comprises the president, the two vice-presidents and the national chairman.

They are also said to have alienated the Karanga because their candidate Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa lost out once again.

“By foreclosing a democratic process to elect leaders, the Karanga and Manyika sub-Shona ethnic groups are resentful of the leadership; the resignation of the Manicaland Provincial Chairman Basil Nyabadza is but one manifestation of this,” Ray said in a cable released by Wikileaks.

“And without the benefit of Gideon Gono’s printing presses, the party reportedly had trouble raising money for the Congress. It would not be surprising to see ZANU-PF escalate its rhetoric on western imperialism and sanctions to divert attention from its internal problems. “

Full cable:

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000976

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

STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2019

TAGS: PGOV PHUM ASEC ZI

SUBJECT: MUGABE AND ZANU-PF BURY HEADS AND DIG IN HEELS AT

PARTY CONGRESS

Classified By: Ambassador Charles Ray for reason 1.4 (b).

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SUMMARY

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¶1. (SBU) ZANU-PF concluded its five-year Congress on

December 13 by reelecting President Robert Mugabe to another

term, as well as completing the appointments of Joice Mujuru

and John Nkomo as Vice Presidents, and Simon Khaya Moyo as

Party Chairman. Though rumors of party discontent abounded,

no challenges arose from the estimated 5,000 delegates

attending the five-day event held in Harare. The party used

the Congress to attempt to quell party discontent, and blame

western sanctions and the MDC for ZANU-PF’s poor performance

in last year,s elections.

¶2. (SBU) Several resolutions referenced South Africa’s role

as the SADC-designated Facilitator and sought to encourage

President Jacob Zuma’s team to adopt a more patient and

ZANU-friendly approach. Mugabe also raised the possibility

of holding elections earlier than anticipated and warned the

MDC not to attempt to interfere with security forces. END

SUMMARY.

——————————————-

800 Pound Succession Gorilla Goes Unnoticed

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¶3. (SBU) Setting aside the usual speculative discussion that

the Congress might raise the issue of Mugabe’s successor, the

party unanimously elected Robert Mugabe to another five-year

term as Party President and First Secretary. The party also

made official the elections of Joice Mujuru and John Nkomo as

Vice Presidents and Second Secretaries, and Simon Khaya Moyo

as Party National Chairman.

¶4. (SBU) Despite rumors of party discontent, no challenges

to party leadership arose from the floor. However, the

failure to elevate Administrative Secretary Didymus Mutasa to

the presidium )- the top four party positions -) angered

many of the delegates from Manicaland who felt they had been

disadvantaged by Mugabe’s continued adherence to the Unity

Accords precedent of reserving two of these positions for

Ndebeles. The Mutasa snub brought about the protest

resignation of Manicaland Provincial Chairman Basil Nyabadza,

while Emmerson Mnangagwa’s camp of Karangas in Masvingo and

Midlands provinces also felt slighted.

————————————

MDC and West in ZANU-PF,s Crosshairs

————————————

¶5. (SBU) Both President Mugabe’s remarks at the Congress and

the Party’s published resolutions blamed factionalism within

the party, Western-imposed sanctions, and the MDC for

ZANU-PF’s poor performance in the 2008 elections. In the

face of these challenges, Mugabe strongly criticized party

divisions that were undermining cohesion and support. The

party also resolved not to entertain any negotiating

concessions with the MDC without concurrently resolving its

priorities of lifting sanctions, banning the broadcast of

Studio 7, VOA, and other “pirate” radio stations, and ending

western funding of the “parallel government” )- ZANU-PF

Qwestern funding of the “parallel government” )- ZANU-PF

speak for MDC-led government ministries and institutions such

as the Prime Minister’s office.

—————————————

Mugabe on Elections and Security Forces

—————————————

HARARE 00000976 002 OF 002

¶6. (SBU) During Mugabe’s closing remarks, the President

raised the possibility of elections being held before the

next anticipated elections in 2013. Specifically he stated,

“Elections are not very far off. The inclusive government

was given a short life )- 18 months, 24 months -) and then

it goes. The remaining part is very short. Perhaps it has

outlived its life.” (COMMENT: The vagaries surrounding when

elections will be held are in part due to the omission in the

Global Political Agreement (GPA) of any discussion of the

lifespan of the inclusive government. END COMMENT.)

¶7. (SBU) Mugabe and the party resolutions also warned the

MDC to steer clear of any attempts to push for reform of the

security forces, and reiterated that the military, police,

and CIO are inextricably linked to ZANU-PF. “ZIPRA and ZANLA

(the respective military wings of PF-ZAPU and ZANU-PF that

fought for independence) forces constitute the basis of our

national army and air force. That is the most dependable

force and it shall not be tampered with.”

—————————

Be Patient with us Mr. Zuma

—————————

¶8. (SBU) In an appeal to South African President Zuma to

adopt former President Mbeki,s conciliatory “quiet

diplomacy” approach to Zimbabwe, one of the ZANU-PF

resolutions issued by the Congress stated that the South

African Facilitation Team should continue with the same

“diligence, patience, and understanding that the Zimbabwe

issue has delicate, sensitive, and fundamental concerns on

both sides that cannot be resolved overnight.”

——-

COMMENT

——-

¶9. (C) Mugabe invoked the usual specters of western

imperialism and sanctions in a bid to unify the party in the

face of well-reported party divisions. He also, as expected,

succeeded in eliminating any challenges from delegates to

earlier decisions of the Politburo selecting Mujuru, Nkomo,

and Moyo for election to the presidium. The resolution that

ZANU-PF would not yield on GPA outstanding issues until

sanctions, pirate radio stations, and the funding of the

parallel government are dealt with represents posturing but

may also contribute to ZANU-PF foot-dragging in negotiations.

Similarly, Mugabe’s forecast of elections within 18 to 24

months seems more a ploy to rally the party than a statement

of intention.

¶10. (C) Despite the orchestrated Congress, ZANU-PF is an old

party with problems. As reflected in the resolutions which

mostly attacked the West and the MDC, it has no vision of the

future. By foreclosing a democratic process to elect

leaders, the Karanga and Manyika sub-Shona ethnic groups are

resentful of the leadership; the resignation of the

Manicaland Provincial Chairman Basil Nyabadza is but one

manifestation of this. And without the benefit of Gideon

Gono’s printing presses, the party reportedly had trouble

raising money for the Congress. It would not be surprising

Qraising money for the Congress. It would not be surprising

to see ZANU-PF escalate its rhetoric on western imperialism

and sanctions to divert attention from its internal problems.

RAY

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