ZIMBABWE NOMINATES SIMBA MAKONI FOR ADB PRESIDENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000128 SIPDIS INFO ALL EUROPEAN DIPLOMATIC POSTS ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS NSC WASHDC AF/S FOR BNEULING NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVELLE, D. TEITELBAUM TREASURY FOR OREN WYCHE-SHAW, STATE PASS USAID FOR MARJORIE COPSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2009 TAGS: ECIN EAID AORC ZI EINV SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE NOMINATES SIMBA MAKONI FOR ADB PRESIDENT Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell for reason 1.4 b/d ¶1. (SBU) The GOZ informed diplomatic representatives from African Development Bank (ADB) shareholder countries that it will nominate former Finance Minister Simba Makoni to succeed Moroccan Omar Kabbaj as ADB President. Foreign Minister Mudenge and acting Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa presented Makoni's candidacy to assembled diplomats from ADB countries January 19. Mudenge said Makoni enjoyed the "full support of the government and party" and that the GOZ had persuaded the other 13 SADC countries to back Makoni (N.B., the election is scheduled for May 18.) In his brief remarks, Makoni said he would call on the ambassadors from ADB shareholder countries in the coming months to lobby for his candidacy. -------------- --- Biographical Background and Comment -------------- --- ¶2. (C) Makoni was Finance Minister from 2000-2002. After Makoni called for devaluation of the zimdollar, President Mugabe referred to him as a "traitor" and did not include him in the August 2002 cabinet reshuffle. The 55-year old Makoni was one of Zimbabwe,s youngest ministers in 1980s, serving as Energy as well as Youth Minister while in his thirties. He also served ten years as SADC's executive secretary. An UK-educated engineer and successful businessperson, Makoni was often seen as a technocrat among ZANU-PF Marxists and ideologues. One of the party's few top leaders still well-regarded in international circles, Makoni wass the only serving GOZ cabinet minister against whom the U.S. did not imposed travel sanctions. ¶3. (C) The decision by the politically ambitious Makoni to accept the GOZ's nomination for ADB President probably means he has given up on returning to the political upper echelons for now. Before he fell out of favor in 2002, Makoni was often mentioned as a potential Mugabe successor, and a poll conducted by the Mass Public Opinion Institute last year showed him to be the only prospective ZANU-PF successor with significant support in all provinces. He has been one of the Embassy's most accessible and candid interlocutors within the ruling party. -------------- Recommendation -------------- ¶4. (SBU) On balance, we would not recommend supporting Makoni,s candidacy. He is qualified and among the best of the ZANU-PF party members. In addition, supporting his candidacy would be a way to signal our new policy of selective engagement. That said, he is the national candidate of a government that is hundreds of millions of dollars in arrears to the IFIS, including the ADB, and we think this would send the wrong signal about the importance of sound economic policies. DELL