AMBASSADOR CALLS ON BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO BE

UNCLAS HARARE 000047 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS AF/S FOR S. HILL NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN STATE PASS TO USAID FOR L.DOBBINS AND E.LOKEN TREASURY FOR J. RALYEA AND T.RAND COMMERCE FOR BECKY ERKUL ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON PGOV ZI SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO BE ENGINE OF PEACEFUL CHANGE ¶1. (SBU) Beginning his outreach to Zimbabwe's beleaguered business community, on January 17 Ambassador challenged members of the American Business Association of Zimbabwe (ABAZ) to be more energetic in bringing about peaceful change in Zimbabwe. Speaking at the monthly meeting of ABAZ, he said that the business community could be the engine that carries the country forward. He called on it to step forward and make its collective voice heard. He praised ABAZ for engaging ministers and ruling-party and opposition parliamentarians at its meetings, as well as for stimulating public debate on reform in public fora and organizing briefings for visiting IMF and World Bank missions. But he called on the Association to ratchet up its public profile and its interaction with government, in particular with key parliamentary portfolio committee members and moderate members of government. "Your voices need to be heard, but they also need to be louder; your actions need to be seen, but they also need to be bolder," Ambassador told a group of 45 members representing 26 companies with U.S.-related businesses. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador enunciated the USG goal of advancing freedom by helping to build and sustain a more democratic, secure, and prosperous world composed of well-governed states that respond to the needs of their people, that reduce widespread poverty, and that act responsibly within the international system. In furtherance of that goal, he emphasized that there would be no relenting on principles: the USG wants to see free and fair elections, respect for the rule of law, and respect for human and property rights in Zimbabwe. To wide applause, he concluded by welcoming interaction with ABAZ and with individual members, as well as with the broader business community. ¶3. (SBU) At the recommendation of several ABAZ members, the Zimbabwe branch of the Institute of Directors subsequently invited the Ambassador to address one of its monthly meetings. In addition, Post is organizing a series of meetings for Ambassador with business leaders, and visits to major businesses. MCGEE