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