ANGOLAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO ZIMBABWE

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000791

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2013
TAGS: PREL AO ZI
SUBJECT: ANGOLAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO ZIMBABWE

Classified By: Joseph G. Sullivan for reasons 1.5(b/d)


1. (C) Summary: Angolan Foreign Minister Joao Miranda
visited Zimbabwe March 22-24 and met with Government and MDC
leaders. Miranda, who will chair the SADC Task Force on
Zimbabwe visit next month told us that the clear focus of his
visit was on Zimbabwe's crisis, although he met GOZ denial
and ambivalence about facing up to the problems. Miranda was
whisked on a magical mystery tour by the GOZ, but saw the
effective work stayaway for himself. We believe that Miranda
gathered a very good appreciation for the depth of Zimbabwe's
problems and for the critical need to address Zimbabwe's
political crisis. Miranda for the most part abstained from
public remarks during his visit. His visit will provide
useful input for President Dos Santos who will open the
Zimbabwe Trade Fair next week. End Summary.

2.(c) Angolan Foreign Minister Joao Miranda visited Zimbabwe
for less than 48 hours and the GOZ sought to monopolize his
time, even taking him on a 6-hour trip to Manicaland to view
"successful" examples of the land redistribution exercise.
Accompanying Agriculture Minister Made claimed to Miranda
that corn production this year would be 1.4 million metric
tons (unlikely). Having had his previously scheduled meeting
time with MDC President Tsvangirai pre-empted, Miranda met
with Tsvangirai on the morning of April 24, as well as with
President Mugabe.

3.(c) The Ambassador met with Miranda on the evening of
April 23 at the Angolan Ambassador's residence. Miranda
described his GOZ hosts as ambivalent over whether to
confront their own crisis or to pretend that the crisis would
go away and that their excuses for inability to compromise
were real. Miranda met with President Mugabe, parliamentary
speaker Mnangagwa, Foreign Minister Mudenge, and Agriculture
Minister Made. Miranda had noted how effective the ZCTU work
stayaway was and believed that Zimbabwe's crisis required a
political solution. He had encouraged his hosts to drop the
treason case against Tsvangirai, and when they claimed
juridical impediments, suggested amnesty. Miranda told us
that he did not think that an election rerun was an answer,
but agreed that Mugabe was an impediment to a solution and
that it was inconceivable to imagine Mugabe serving out his
full term. Miranda was also disinclined to favor an interim
government because of African history of such governments
remaining indefinitely. We encouraged Miranda to think of a
package, including Mugabe's resignation at an early date,
coupled with agreement with the opposition on a new election
date and a transitional government while election procedures
are corrected and the rule of law is restored. Miranda was
inclined to press the MDC to drop its election suit, but
seemed to accept that it would be more practical to expect
such action in the context of a global agreement.


4. (c) Miranda told us that he was letting his GOZ hosts know
that regional backing only extended so far and that the
region was becoming impatient with Zimbabwe's crisis and the
GOZ's unwillingness to face it. He said that South African
and Angolan(Miala) intelligence services were now working
well together and that Zimbabwe's problems were the principal
topic among them. Because we were not sure how much the
Angolans have been briefed, we did not raise the now
postponed visit of Presidents Muluzi and Mbeki.


5. (c) Miranda was very conscious of his hosts' tendency to
manipulate any comments by visitors into signs of support.
He consequently refrained from public comment for the most
part and called on all political parties and social forces to
work together to overcome Zimbabwe's problems. Asked about
the agrarian project he had seen, Miranda gave away the least
possible, calling it "a good start." As a sure sign of state
media frustration, ZBC reporters took to reporting what they
would have liked Miranda to say.


6. (c) Angolan President Dos Santos is scheduled to visit
Zimbabwe next week to open the Zimbabwe trade fair in
Bulawayo, although Dos Santos has a history of canceling
planned travel at the last minute. (The trade fair itself
will be even less impressive than a year ago.)


7. (c) Comment: We are confident that Miranda gained a solid
appreciation for the depth of Angola's crisis and expect that
he will have an opportunity to brief President Dos Santos
prior to his visit next week. Whether the
non-confrontational Dos Santos is willing to deliver any hard
messages remains to be seen and whether Mugabe would be
inclined to listen to such messages is also in doubt.
SULLIVAN