PRESIDENCY MINISTER ON ZIMBABWE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 001008

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MZ ZI
SUBJECT: PRESIDENCY MINISTER ON ZIMBABWE

REF: SECSTATE 112727

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Todd C. Chapman, Reasons 1.4(b+d)


1. (C) SUMMARY/ACTION: Minister of the Presidency Antonio
Sumbana expressed significant frustration to the Charge on
October 23 about the failure of factions in Zimbabwe to
achieve a lasting political solution. He said that
Mozambican President Armando Guebuza had many important
domestic issues to address and that the prolongation of
Zimbabwe's political instability negatively affected
Mozambique. Sumbana roundly criticized Tsvangirai for not
having gone to the October 23 Troika meeting in Swaziland,
calling it a lost opportunity to shame Mugabe in front of his
peers. Sumbana said that
Tsvangirai needs to learn to work with regional leaders to
gain credibility and to reduce the perception by his
detractors that he was a pawn of the UK and the U.S. Sumbana
suggested that Tsvangirai ask for a private meeting with
Guebuza, whether in Harare, Maputo or elsewhere. Sumbana
said that the GRM wants to help Zimbabwe achieve a solution,
citing Mozambique's own experience. While the GRM is still
not ready to explicitly call for Mugabe to step down, it is
growing increasingly annoyed by his refusal to allow a true
transition to occur. South Africa's Mbeki arrives in Maputo
on Sunday to coordinate with Guebuza before traveling to
Harare on Monday. Should there be any additional points
beyond those contained in reftel that Washington would want
delivered to Guebuza before Mbeki's arrival on Sunday, we
believe that the GRM is most willing to take them on board.
END SUMMARY/ACTION.

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"Why Can't These Children Get Along?"
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2. (C) The Charge delivered reftel points to Minister of the
Presidency Antonio Sumbana on October 23. Sumbana said the
GRM was disappointed with the state of affairs in Zimbabwe,
as Mozambican officials had thought the September 15 accords
would lead to a permanent solution. Sumbana noted that after
all, in Mozambique there had been a much worse conflict--a
full-blown civil war with many deaths--yet the warring
factions were able to put down their arms, stop fighting,
have discussions, and come to a lasting peace. Sumbana
wondered aloud why Zimbabwe, which has better, more
experienced politicians than Mozambique, couldn't get this
done. Almost in exasperation, he asked, "Why can't these
children get along?"


3. (C) Sumbana said (again with some frustration) that
Mozambican President Armando Guebuza doesn't have time to
deal with these 'children' as the GRM has many issues to deal
with at home such as the upcoming local elections, and
concerns about narcotrafficking and corruption. Yet, he
said, Zimbabwe affects Mozambique negatively, with increased
crime and unemployment due to Zimbabwean illegals here, and
asked, "What can we do? We are always in trouble with
Zimbabwe." He added that Guebuza has delivered strong
messages many times in private directly to Mugabe, who will
readily agree to complete a genuine transition. Guebuza
leaves thinking an understanding has been reached--but then
advisors get to Mugabe and change his mind, and the agreement
falters, according to Sumbana.

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Swazi Meeting a Lost Opportunity for Tsvangirai
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4. (C) Sumbana said that the GRM believes Tsvangirai made a
mistake in not going to the Troika meeting in Swaziland
October 20--it was a lost opportunity. He said that
Tsvangirai could have upstaged Mugabe completely--in front of
all the other heads of state, he could have waved his
inadequate travel documents, and demanded that Mugabe explain
why he wasn't honoring the September 15 agreement. Instead,
the Swazi king was left to wonder why Tsvangirai, by his
absence, didn't show any respect to the other leaders. After
all, said Sumbana, many heads of state traveled a long way to
meet with them.
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Tsvangirai Needs to Work with Regional Govts
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5. (C) Sumbana said that Tsvangirai needs to learn how to
work with other governments in the region so that he can be
seen as credible, and not just as a pawn of the United
Kingdom and the USG. "If he wants to be a regional leader,
then he needs to act like one." He suggested that
Tsvangirai, if he wants, should send a message--and it

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wouldn't have to be secret--asking to speak with Guebuza
alone, a meeting that could happen in Harare, Maputo, or
anywhere else.

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There Needs to be a Transition in Zimbabwe
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6. (C) Asked what the GRM's objective for Zimbabwe is,
Sumbana replied that the GRM wants to help Zimbabweans find a
solution to the political impasse. He said that Mugabe needs
to follow regional examples like Mozambique's Joaquim
Chissano or the change within South Africa's ANC, where there
have been (relatively) peaceful transitions of power. He
claimed that Mugabe was the only regional leader to condemn
to changeover in the ANC, and said Mugabe needs to understand
that the state doesn't belong to an individual, but to the
entire nation's people.

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Mbeki in Maputo Sunday
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7. (C) Sumbana indicated that President Guebuza was only
going to Harare on Monday October 27 because of his role on
the Troika, and that the Swazi king would not/not go. The
Swazi's absence left Guebuza concerned that Mozambique would
be blamed for failure. He added that South Africa's Mbeki
would arrive in Maputo on Sunday so that the two could
coordinate their messages before flying to Harare together.
Curiously, Sumbana believed that Mbeki, now a former leader
himself, might be in a better place now to convince Mugabe to
prepare for a genuine transition.

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Comment/Action: Open to Suggestions
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8. (C) Sumbana was significantly more annoyed and frustrated
with Zimbabwe during this discussion than in previous
interactions on this subject. He clearly conveyed the level
of inconvenience that President Guebuza feels about having to
deal with this situation, right when local election
campaigning is about to begin, and concerns about
narcotrafficking and corruption are on the rise (septels).
Should there be any additional points beyond those contained
in reftel that Washington would want delivered to Guebuza
before Mbeki's arrival on Sunday, we believe that the GRM is
most willing to take them on board.
Chapman