Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MAPUTO1486
2007-12-19 15:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Maputo
Cable title:
MINISTER OF THE PRESIDENCY ON ZUMA AND ZIMBABWE
how-toVZCZCXRO5812 PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHTO #1486 3531552 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191552Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8382 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0223 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0106
C O N F I D E N T I A L MAPUTO 001486
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MZ SF ZI
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF THE PRESIDENCY ON ZUMA AND ZIMBABWE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Todd C. Chapman for reasons 1.4 (b)&(d
)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MAPUTO 001486
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MZ SF ZI
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF THE PRESIDENCY ON ZUMA AND ZIMBABWE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Todd C. Chapman for reasons 1.4 (b)&(d
)
1. (C) The Charge hosted Minister of the
Presidency Antonio Sumbana at his residence
December 19 for a one-on-one lunch to discuss
Zimbabwe and the election of Jacob Zuma as ANC
President (other topics covered septel).
Sumbana noted that the GRM and the Frelimo party
worked hard to maintain relationships with many
people within the ANC so as not to over-personalize
the relationship with South Africa. When asked
about the numerous legal cases pending against Zuma,
the Minister replied that he did not
know how many of these cases were real and how
many were fueled by Zuma's political rivals. With
this victory, his accusers may recede, he
commented. Sumbana confirmed that Zuma had spent
several years in Maputo and indeed was well-known
to the senior Frelimo leadership. He highlighted
that the Zulus also maintained strong ties with
many ethnic groups in southern Mozambique.
2. (C) Echoing a theme from earlier discussions,
the Minister said that Mozambique is interested
in identifying ways to bring more equity to the
Mozambique-South Africa relationship. The GRM
does not want Mozambique to be considered as part
of a Southern African region ruled by Pretoria.
Rather, the GRM is looking for ways to demonstrate,
in a subtle way, its independence from South Africa.
He cited the example of the recent turnover of the
Cahora Bassa Dam to Mozambique from Portugal, a
transaction which involved a USD700 million loan
organized by French and Portuguese banks. South
African banks complained and wrote an unfriendly
letter to President Armando Guebuza, expressing
disappointment that this financing deal was not led
by African banks. According to Sumbana, the GRM
did not want banks from South Africa, the country
receiving most of Cahora Bassa's energy, to finance
the deal as they could be subject to domestic
political pressure that could negatively impact the
Cahora Bassa Dam project. Better to involve other
regions in this important regional project, he
concluded.
3. (C) Sumbana lamented the continuing chaos in
Zimbabwe, acknowledging that the political
instability next door hurt Mozambique in many ways.
In response to the Charge's inquiry, Sumbana (a
former Ambassador to Zimbabwe) confirmed that GRM
officials remained in contact with ZANU-PF
dissidents who hoped for a change in leadership.
"But they are all scared," he said, "they want
change but dare not act." Towns along the border
were increasingly chaotic (especially since the GRM
and Zimbabwe lifted the visa requirements for their
citizens) as the flow of Zimbabwean immigrants
continued to increase.
4. (C) Sumbana asked if we knew who continued to
finance the Zimbabwean economy. He speculated that
it was Libya. The Charge responded that China
appeared to provide substantial economic support to
the Mugabe government. When asked if he would be
interested in having someone from the USG brief him
(and others in the GRM) on what we understand to be
happening in Zimbabwe, Sumbana showed great interest
in the idea. He said they could never make such an
official request, however, because if discovered
it would make many in the region upset with the
GRM--and when Mugabe feels isolated, he gets more
violent.
5. (C) COMMENT: On Zuma, Sumbana studiously avoided
stating that the GRM was pleased with the election of
Zuma, but it was clear that the relationships which
many Mozambicans already have with the new ANC
President were considered a potential asset. When
discussing the GRM-RSA relationship with Sumbana,
there is clearly a sense of unease with the perception
of a growing domination of the region by South Africa.
On Zimbabwe,the GRM continues to nervously watch
and wait. Post welcomes Washington input on the
possibility or desirability of providing a
Washington or Harare-based briefer to meet
informally with a small group of GRM officials to
provide an in-depth briefing. END COMMENT.
Chapman
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MZ SF ZI
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF THE PRESIDENCY ON ZUMA AND ZIMBABWE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Todd C. Chapman for reasons 1.4 (b)&(d
)
1. (C) The Charge hosted Minister of the
Presidency Antonio Sumbana at his residence
December 19 for a one-on-one lunch to discuss
Zimbabwe and the election of Jacob Zuma as ANC
President (other topics covered septel).
Sumbana noted that the GRM and the Frelimo party
worked hard to maintain relationships with many
people within the ANC so as not to over-personalize
the relationship with South Africa. When asked
about the numerous legal cases pending against Zuma,
the Minister replied that he did not
know how many of these cases were real and how
many were fueled by Zuma's political rivals. With
this victory, his accusers may recede, he
commented. Sumbana confirmed that Zuma had spent
several years in Maputo and indeed was well-known
to the senior Frelimo leadership. He highlighted
that the Zulus also maintained strong ties with
many ethnic groups in southern Mozambique.
2. (C) Echoing a theme from earlier discussions,
the Minister said that Mozambique is interested
in identifying ways to bring more equity to the
Mozambique-South Africa relationship. The GRM
does not want Mozambique to be considered as part
of a Southern African region ruled by Pretoria.
Rather, the GRM is looking for ways to demonstrate,
in a subtle way, its independence from South Africa.
He cited the example of the recent turnover of the
Cahora Bassa Dam to Mozambique from Portugal, a
transaction which involved a USD700 million loan
organized by French and Portuguese banks. South
African banks complained and wrote an unfriendly
letter to President Armando Guebuza, expressing
disappointment that this financing deal was not led
by African banks. According to Sumbana, the GRM
did not want banks from South Africa, the country
receiving most of Cahora Bassa's energy, to finance
the deal as they could be subject to domestic
political pressure that could negatively impact the
Cahora Bassa Dam project. Better to involve other
regions in this important regional project, he
concluded.
3. (C) Sumbana lamented the continuing chaos in
Zimbabwe, acknowledging that the political
instability next door hurt Mozambique in many ways.
In response to the Charge's inquiry, Sumbana (a
former Ambassador to Zimbabwe) confirmed that GRM
officials remained in contact with ZANU-PF
dissidents who hoped for a change in leadership.
"But they are all scared," he said, "they want
change but dare not act." Towns along the border
were increasingly chaotic (especially since the GRM
and Zimbabwe lifted the visa requirements for their
citizens) as the flow of Zimbabwean immigrants
continued to increase.
4. (C) Sumbana asked if we knew who continued to
finance the Zimbabwean economy. He speculated that
it was Libya. The Charge responded that China
appeared to provide substantial economic support to
the Mugabe government. When asked if he would be
interested in having someone from the USG brief him
(and others in the GRM) on what we understand to be
happening in Zimbabwe, Sumbana showed great interest
in the idea. He said they could never make such an
official request, however, because if discovered
it would make many in the region upset with the
GRM--and when Mugabe feels isolated, he gets more
violent.
5. (C) COMMENT: On Zuma, Sumbana studiously avoided
stating that the GRM was pleased with the election of
Zuma, but it was clear that the relationships which
many Mozambicans already have with the new ANC
President were considered a potential asset. When
discussing the GRM-RSA relationship with Sumbana,
there is clearly a sense of unease with the perception
of a growing domination of the region by South Africa.
On Zimbabwe,the GRM continues to nervously watch
and wait. Post welcomes Washington input on the
possibility or desirability of providing a
Washington or Harare-based briefer to meet
informally with a small group of GRM officials to
provide an in-depth briefing. END COMMENT.
Chapman