Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MAPUTO933
2008-10-02 08:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Maputo
Cable title:
QUIET DIPLOMACY 'SUCCESS' IN ZIMBABWE LAUDED, YET
how-toVZCZCXRO6722 RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHTO #0933/01 2760811 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 020811Z OCT 08 ZFR FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9394 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0245 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000933
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ZI MZ
SUBJECT: QUIET DIPLOMACY 'SUCCESS' IN ZIMBABWE LAUDED, YET
CONCERNS REMAIN
MAPUTO 00000933 001.2 OF 002
ZFR_________________ZFR__________________ZFR_ ______________ZFR___
PLEASE CANCEL DETROY MAPUTO 000933 DTG R 020811Z OCT 08.
THIS IS A DUPICATE OF MAPUTO 000929. PLEASE CANCEL ALL ASSOCIATED MCNS
WWITH MAPUTO 000933.
ZFR_________________ZFR__________________ZFR_ ______________ZFR______
MAPUTO 00000933 002 OF 002
fuel trucks traveling from Beira to Zimbabwe. While along
the Beira Corridor, EmbOffs also confirmed suspicions that a
large number of Zimbabweans were seeking to purchase
products, trade for hard currency, and procure jobs in Manica
province, where a shared local dialect allows them to blend
in without drawing suspicion.
6. (C) Residents of Chimoio raised concerns with Emboffs
about increasing numbers of desperate Zimbabweans generating
income by means of prostitution and petty crime, while Mayor
Manuel Alberto Sarande downplayed the impact of Zimbabweans
on his city. Locals explained that relatively better-trained
Zimbabwean skilled workers were undercutting locals by
offering to work at cut rates in order to earn currency
stronger than Zim dollars. While xenophobic attacks against
Zimbabweans appear unlikely at this point, Mozambican public
sentiment along the Beira Corridor is becoming increasingly
negative, particularly after a recent shooting at a Shoprite
grocery store in broad daylight, perpetrated by Zimbabwean
youths. Some Zimbabweans living and working as teachers in
Mozambique have publicly expressed hopes of returning to a
stabilized Zimbabwe; however, most Zimbabweans encountered in
Chimoio and Manica did not express to EmbOffs any hope of a
return to normalcy.
-------------- --
OPPOSITION RENAMO AGAINST IDEA OF POWER-SHARING
-------------- --
7. (C) Opposition party RENAMO has not yet publicly
commented on the developments in Zimbabwe, but party contacts
have indicated to Pol Specialist that RENAMO privately
continues to hold its long-standing position against
power-sharing deals. RENAMO's position is that power-sharing
agreements are no more than convenient means for solving
electoral disputes, and do not necessarily promote
multi-party democracies in Africa, particularly after
electoral victories by opposition groups. (Note: RENAMO
still contends it won Mozambique's 1999 national elections.
End note.) When Tsvangirai visited Maputo several months
ago, RENAMO leader Afonso Dhlakama made it clear that he was
against power-sharing, offering to call Mugabe and encourage
him to step down following MDC and Tsvangirai's electoral
victory.
-------------- --------------
QUIET DIPLOMACY RESULT UNCLEAR, ECONOMIC IMPACTS STILL KEY
-------------- --------------
8. (C) COMMENT: While the extent of the GRM's involvement
via the SADC Troika in brokering an agreement between ZANU-PF
and the MDC is difficult to ascertain objectively, it is
clear that Guebuza is proud of the ultimate result. Even so,
many Mozambicans have continuing concerns about Zimbabwe's
economic collapse--as alluded to by FM Baloi--and potential
effects such a failure can still have on the Beira Corridor
and the Mozambican economy as a whole. END COMMENT.
Chapman
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ZI MZ
SUBJECT: QUIET DIPLOMACY 'SUCCESS' IN ZIMBABWE LAUDED, YET
CONCERNS REMAIN
MAPUTO 00000933 001.2 OF 002
ZFR_________________ZFR__________________ZFR_ ______________ZFR___
PLEASE CANCEL DETROY MAPUTO 000933 DTG R 020811Z OCT 08.
THIS IS A DUPICATE OF MAPUTO 000929. PLEASE CANCEL ALL ASSOCIATED MCNS
WWITH MAPUTO 000933.
ZFR_________________ZFR__________________ZFR_ ______________ZFR______
MAPUTO 00000933 002 OF 002
fuel trucks traveling from Beira to Zimbabwe. While along
the Beira Corridor, EmbOffs also confirmed suspicions that a
large number of Zimbabweans were seeking to purchase
products, trade for hard currency, and procure jobs in Manica
province, where a shared local dialect allows them to blend
in without drawing suspicion.
6. (C) Residents of Chimoio raised concerns with Emboffs
about increasing numbers of desperate Zimbabweans generating
income by means of prostitution and petty crime, while Mayor
Manuel Alberto Sarande downplayed the impact of Zimbabweans
on his city. Locals explained that relatively better-trained
Zimbabwean skilled workers were undercutting locals by
offering to work at cut rates in order to earn currency
stronger than Zim dollars. While xenophobic attacks against
Zimbabweans appear unlikely at this point, Mozambican public
sentiment along the Beira Corridor is becoming increasingly
negative, particularly after a recent shooting at a Shoprite
grocery store in broad daylight, perpetrated by Zimbabwean
youths. Some Zimbabweans living and working as teachers in
Mozambique have publicly expressed hopes of returning to a
stabilized Zimbabwe; however, most Zimbabweans encountered in
Chimoio and Manica did not express to EmbOffs any hope of a
return to normalcy.
-------------- --
OPPOSITION RENAMO AGAINST IDEA OF POWER-SHARING
-------------- --
7. (C) Opposition party RENAMO has not yet publicly
commented on the developments in Zimbabwe, but party contacts
have indicated to Pol Specialist that RENAMO privately
continues to hold its long-standing position against
power-sharing deals. RENAMO's position is that power-sharing
agreements are no more than convenient means for solving
electoral disputes, and do not necessarily promote
multi-party democracies in Africa, particularly after
electoral victories by opposition groups. (Note: RENAMO
still contends it won Mozambique's 1999 national elections.
End note.) When Tsvangirai visited Maputo several months
ago, RENAMO leader Afonso Dhlakama made it clear that he was
against power-sharing, offering to call Mugabe and encourage
him to step down following MDC and Tsvangirai's electoral
victory.
-------------- --------------
QUIET DIPLOMACY RESULT UNCLEAR, ECONOMIC IMPACTS STILL KEY
-------------- --------------
8. (C) COMMENT: While the extent of the GRM's involvement
via the SADC Troika in brokering an agreement between ZANU-PF
and the MDC is difficult to ascertain objectively, it is
clear that Guebuza is proud of the ultimate result. Even so,
many Mozambicans have continuing concerns about Zimbabwe's
economic collapse--as alluded to by FM Baloi--and potential
effects such a failure can still have on the Beira Corridor
and the Mozambican economy as a whole. END COMMENT.
Chapman