ZANU-PF EXPANDING MINISTERIAL DEMANDS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000867

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR G. GARLAND
DRL FOR N. WILETT
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: 09/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM ZI
SUBJECT: ZANU-PF EXPANDING MINISTERIAL DEMANDS

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires,a.i. Katherine Dhanani for reason 1.4
(d).

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SUMMARY
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1. (S) A well-connected businessman detailed ZANU-PF's
ministerial demands, which effectively amount to 18 of the
most significant ministries, instead of the 15 laid out in
last week's signed power-sharing agreement. The merger of
four separate ministries into two, and the proposed
integration of the national security ministry into the
President's Office account for the increase. Fear of
prosecution for human rights violations and fraud appear to
be driving ZANU-PF's aggressive ministerial demands. END
SUMMARY.


2. (S) Well-connecte%QQQ=% to put forward a list
representing non-negotiable demands that they would either
force the MDC-T to accept, or alternatively, would result in
delay of the implementation process. Delay would benefit
ZANU-PF in two ways: it would give ZANU-PF more time to
extract illicit profits, and ultimately it would allow
ZANU-PF to declare that the stalled deal demonstrates how
unfit the MDC is for governance.


4. (S) The list of ministries presented by ZANU-PF also
includes several notable alterations from the list attached
as an addendum to the signed deal on September 15. The list
submitted on September 18 actually represents 17 ministries
because Land and Resettlement and Agriculture were formerly
two separate ministries, as was Youth, Arts, Sport and
Culture and State Enterprises, Indigenization and
Empowerment. Mutanda explained that ZANU-PF was also now
insisting that the national security ministry (responsible
for overseeing the Central Intelligence Organization) be
placed within the Office of the President, thereby
effectively granting ZANU-PF 18 ministries.


5. (S) We have received multiple reports that senior ZANU-PF

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officers are highly concerned about being prosecuted for
human rights violations and fraud if they cede too much
power. Mutanda said that Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono
was particularly concerned that if ZANU-PF gave up the
Ministry of Finance, MDC-T would be able to uncover rampant
fraud. Meanwhile, a contact with frequent access to ZANU-PF
negotiator Patrick Chinamasa said that Chinamasa refuses to
concede Home Affairs because it would allow the MDC to direct
the police to gather evidence against ZANU-PF members.

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COMMENT
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6. (C) ZANU-PF's outrageous demands are likely in part a
negotiating strategy to protect its members by securing the
best deal possible and in part an effort to cause the power
sharing process to collapse. Tsvangirai's willingness to
sign a highly flawed and incomplete agreement may have
signaled to ZANU-PF that the harder they push, the more he
will yield. We believe Tsvangirai and the MDC know that
unless they control, at a minimum, Finance and the police,
their participation in government cannot bring about real
change. Unless outside pressure is brought to bear on
ZANU-PF or the MDC is willing to offer ZANU-PF elites amnesty
for past offenses, the current stalemate may last for some
time. END COMMENT.

DHANANI