SADC SUMMIT: MUGABE TAKES THE STAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MASERU 000411 FOR AF/S E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/18/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER ECON LT SUBJECT: SADC SUMMIT: MUGABE TAKES THE STAGE REF: MASERU 407 CLASSIFIED BY: W. Patrick Murphy, CDA, EXEC, STATE. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (CONFIDENTIAL) Summary: Although Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was quiet at the opening ceremonies of the 26th SADC Summit (reftel) he took center stage at a State Banquet hosted by Lesotho King Letsie III. In a response to the King's welcoming speech, Mugabe's humor and meandering observations generated an enthusiastic response from many attendees. His diatribe that characterized "so-called international leaders" as "hypocritical terrorists," however, drew stunned silence. Several participants said privately that there was no evidence that Summit discussions had provoked the Zimbabwean into comments unrelated to most SADC deliberations. "That's just Mugabe being Mugabe," suggested one official. Meanwhile, South African President Mbeki, apprised that there was considerable USG interest in finding the right conditions to re-engage with SADC in areas of mutual interest, told Charge that he thought such a development would be "Very, very good." End Summary. The Throne Sets the Mood -------------- ¶2. (U) King Letsie III opened the State Banquet on the evening of August 18--attended by SADC delegates, senior GOL officials, and members of the diplomatic corps--with a rousing welcoming speech that displayed impressive grace, wit, and insight. He reiterated his call earlier in the day (reftel) for SADC leaders to redouble their efforts to address regional poverty, hunger, and disease. "We must see results that indicate that we have delivered to our people," King Letsie said. He concluded that gender equality was also of importance, expressing his hope that the next time Lesotho hosted a SADC Summit there would be "two or three women heads of state and government." The Old Lion Responds -------------- ¶3. (U) President Mugabe gave an official response to the King's remarks on behalf of SADC leaders, apparently in his capacity as SADC "elder statesman" and unofficial dean of the organization's heads of state. Mugabe began his comments by matching King Letsie's humor with an extemporaneous and self-deprecating account of his second marriage. The Zimbabwean President, however, quickly turned to political matters. What Has Disturbed Us? -------------- ¶4. (U) Mugabe asserted that SADC had achieved substantial political progress, but declared that the organization "had a long way to go to reach integration and regional development." He claimed that the SADC collective had worked better in the past when the emphasis was on a multilateral approach. "Something went wrong," Mugabe said, "Was it our reliance on foreign assistance?" He cited as an example that Zimbabwe had once enjoyed food security, asking rhetorically, "What has disturbed us?" We Can Do Better -------------- ¶5. (U) Mugabe exhorted the SADC leaders to work together, noting that good regional cooperation existed on some issues, such as HIV/AIDS, but adding "We can do better." Even in Zimbabwe, Mugabe claimed, "We have border areas forgotten by civilization, but through regional cooperation we are bringing these people resources." Mugabe also cited Lesotho as an example of successful SADC cooperation. "Ten years ago, Lesotho was in upheaval," he said, "but we worked together and helped build what may now be the most peaceful country in Africa, if not the world." The Other Shoe Drops -------------- ¶6. (U) After citing SADC's success in Lesotho, Mugabe scowled and launched into a thinly veiled diatribe against "so-called international leaders." He said that participants should "Look at CNN, where there is ample evidence that peace is not global; rather instability reigns because these so-called 'fixers' have invaded places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lebanon." He paused, and suggested with a chuckle that he would be "freer to talk in my own country (about these issues)." The Zimbabwean President nonetheless plowed on, concluding that "those (international leaders) on the front lines regard themselves as great states, but they are in fact only hypocritical terrorists and agencies seeking to cause mayhem." ¶7. (CONFIDENTIAL) Details have been scarce on private discussions among SADC leaders. Several participants allowed that there had been limited talk about the Zimbabwe political situation, but suggested that no one had challenged Mugabe or otherwise raised "uncomfortable political issues." A Lesotho MFA official not present at the private talks, but close to several participants (PROTECT),told Emboff that Mugabe had agreed during Summit discussions to the appointment of former Tanzanian President, Benjamin Mkapa, as a mediator between the governments of Zimbabwe and the UK. Mbeki: USG Re-Engagement "Would Be Good, Very Good" -------------- -------------- ¶8. (CONFIDENTIAL) Charge approached Lesotho Prime Minister Mosisili and South Africa President Mbeki during the State Banquet to congratulate the former on hosting the SADC Summit, and to apprise the two leaders that there was considerable interest in Washington in finding the right conditions to re-engage with SADC in areas of mutual interest. Both leaders smiled broadly, and Mbeki said, "Good, that would be very, very good." "Mugabe Being Mugabe" -------------- ¶9. (CONFIDENTIAL) Mugabe clearly enjoys the respect and admiration of many of his SADC colleagues. His presence at the Summit and opening remarks at the State Banquet generated an enthusiastic response from many attendees. Mugabe's characterization of international leaders as "hypocritical terrorists," however, was a non sequitur that drew fairly stunned silence. Participants understood the reference to be a clear jab at the United States and possibly the UK, but several Ministerial-level participants told Charge that there was no evidence that Summit discussions had provoked the Zimbabwean President into his diatribe. As one senior GOL official put it privately (PROTECT),"That's just Mugabe being Mugabe." End Comment. MURPHY