Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HARARE255
2008-04-01 09:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR CONFRONTS GONO ON RIGGING
how-toVZCZCXRO9849 OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSB #0255 0920903 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 010903Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2658 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1861 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1984 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0557 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1261 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1618 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2040 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4471 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1111 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000255
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CONFRONTS GONO ON RIGGING
REF: HARARE 254
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000255
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CONFRONTS GONO ON RIGGING
REF: HARARE 254
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) The Ambassador has talked with Reserve Bank Governor
Gideon Gono twice within the last 12 hours. He confronted
Gono with information (Reftel) that a coterie of ZANU-PF
officials was rigging the election for Mugabe. (We
inadvertently omitted Gono's name in Reftel). Gono denied
the allegation. The Ambassador pressed him, stating we had
hard evidence. Further, the Ambassador said that the
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) report demonstrated
that Tsvangirai was well ahead of Mugabe. Gono responded
that the ruling party would not rig, and would seek to work
with Tsvangirai if he won.
2. (C) COMMENT. Apart from the fact that Gono is obviously
lying, he is a conduit to Mugabe and the inner circle who
will all now know that the international community is aware
of their plotting. END COMMENT.
MCGEE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CONFRONTS GONO ON RIGGING
REF: HARARE 254
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) The Ambassador has talked with Reserve Bank Governor
Gideon Gono twice within the last 12 hours. He confronted
Gono with information (Reftel) that a coterie of ZANU-PF
officials was rigging the election for Mugabe. (We
inadvertently omitted Gono's name in Reftel). Gono denied
the allegation. The Ambassador pressed him, stating we had
hard evidence. Further, the Ambassador said that the
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) report demonstrated
that Tsvangirai was well ahead of Mugabe. Gono responded
that the ruling party would not rig, and would seek to work
with Tsvangirai if he won.
2. (C) COMMENT. Apart from the fact that Gono is obviously
lying, he is a conduit to Mugabe and the inner circle who
will all now know that the international community is aware
of their plotting. END COMMENT.
MCGEE