VICE-PRESIDENT CORDIAL, SIGNALS LITTLE IN MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000715

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR B. NEULING
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2010
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ZI
SUBJECT: VICE-PRESIDENT CORDIAL, SIGNALS LITTLE IN MEETING
WITH AMBASSADOR


Classified By: Ambassador Christopher W. Dell under Section 1.4 b/d


1. (C) SUMMARY: During a courtesy call by the Ambassador on
May 19, Vice-President Joyce Mujuru reiterated her
government's desire for better relations with the United
States, but gave no indication that the GOZ was contemplating
concrete steps to encourage rapprochement. The Ambassador
recounted USG programs to alleviate the suffering of
Zimbabweans, noted USG willingness to ramp up food assistance
should the GOZ issue an appeal, and stressed the importance
of positive GOZ actions in moving bilateral relations to a
better footing. END SUMMARY.

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Bilateral Relations
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2. (C) During the Ambassador's initial (long delayed)
courtesy call at her office, Vice-President Mujuru asserted
that strained bilateral relations were "just a phase" that
she hoped would soon pass. Sensationalist reporting had led
many to misconstrue the situation in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe and
the United States, however, had mutual interests in the
"global village" and it was not in either's interest to let
the strain in relations continue. Mujuru said she hoped the
two heads of state could work things out. She emphasized
that President Mugabe did not really have a problem with the
United States. She suggested that the U.K.'s difficulty with
Zimbabwe may have complicated Zimbabwe-U.S. relations but
stressed that Zimbabwe had issues with the U.K. alone, not
the U.S.


3. (C) The Ambassador responded that the U.S. would continue
to look for concrete measures on the GOZ's part as signals of
its sincerity in rehabilitating relations. He noted that
bitter public rhetoric served no purpose and stressed that
U.S. policy toward Zimbabwe stood independent from Britain's
posture and was also not driven by opposition to land reform.
The U.S. recognized the need to correct historical
injustices in land use. However, the GOZ needed to shift its
focus to productivity. Finally, the Ambassador stressed the
potential importance of tolerating a loyal opposition and not
always painting them as "traitorous."

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Assistance Needs
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5. (C) The Ambassador said the U.S. had helped the people of
Zimbabwe more than any other country in the past, especially
with food assistance and with HIV/AIDS assistance. Despite
political differences, we stood ready to help again if
humanitarian assistance was required this year. We would not
play politics with food, nor would we let others do so. He
noted that the U.S. had continued with targeted food
assistance programs for vulnerable populations, including
school children. The program was winding down as stocks were
exhausted but we would be happy to continue it. More
broadly, we would respond positively should the GOZ issue an
appeal for food assistance through the World Food Program
(WFP). The Ambassador added that another program that was
winding down was providing drip-kit irrigation units for
HIV/AIDS affected families, which allowed them to grow their
own food. We hoped to create a legacy of trust that would
allow the program to continue.


6. (C) The Vice President expressed appreciation for USG
willingness to come forward with food aid. She confirmed
that the GOZ was in the midst of another assessment of the
country's food needs and may come forward with an appeal,
depending on the assessment's conclusions. She was not
responsible for the food situation per se, but was involved
through her work with ministries and parastatals relevant to
food production. She said she was unaware of the drip-kit
irrigation system and expressed interest in visiting some in
action. She stressed that the Ambassador was welcome to call
her in the future about food issues or any other matters of
concern.

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New Job
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7. (C) Mujuru said that, as Vice President, she would have
line authority over 39 parastatals and 11 ministries, mainly
in the social and economic arena. One of her priorities was
to resuscitate inefficient parastatals )- the railways, the
electrical authority, the national airline, for example --
which needed to be more self-reliant and less dependent on
government bail-outs. She was also retaining the water
resources and infrastructure development portfolio she had
held before assuming the vice-presidency.

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Comment
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8. (C) Unlike most of her high-level GOZ and ZANU-PF
colleagues, the personable Mujuru eschewed historical land
reform pedantry and anti-imperialist diatribes. In
substance, however, her engagement was consistent with
previous exchanges that projected only superficial GOZ
interest in better relations, i.e, only on the ruling party's
terms. An ethnic Zezuru like Mugabe, the new Vice President
has been the principal fill-in for President Mugabe of late
instead of reportedly ailing Vice President Joseph Msika.
DELL