ZIMBABWE - REACHING OUT TO REFORM-MINDED ZANU-PF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000106 SIPDIS AF/S FOR B. WALCH 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 E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ZI SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE - REACHING OUT TO REFORM-MINDED ZANU-PF PARLIAMENTARIANS Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) As part of an effort to engage with moderate members of ZANU-PF, poloff met with Ivene Dzingirayi, a first-time ZANU-PF parliamentarian with good working relationships with his MDC counterparts. Dzingirayi discussed his perspective of reform elements within the ZANU-PF side of Parliament and shared that his ties to the MDC had made him a target of hardliners in his own party. END SUMMARY. -------------- Young, Reform-Minded ZANU-PF MPs Emerging -------------- ¶2. (C) On February 10, poloff met with the ZANU-PF MP for Chivi South in Masvingo province, Ivene Dzingirayi, to discuss his perspective of reform elements in ZANU-PF and the prospects for cooperation in Parliament between his party and the MDC-T. Dzingirayi told us that he is part of a circle of moderate ZANU-PF MPs who recognize the reality that Zimbabwe is in an economic and humanitarian crisis that requires a political solution involving both parties. While not openly critical of his party, he said that he was someone "who saw things as they were" and that his voting record would demonstrate support for his constituency; he would not simply adhere to the ZANU-PF party line. He said that other ZANU-PF MPs who shared his moderate outlook included Kudakwashe Bhasikiti of Mwenezi East, Walter Mzembi of Masvingo South, and Makhosini Hlongwane of Mberengwa East. ¶3. (C) Dzingirayi told us that he believed power should be shared 50/50 in the government and that he actually had closer ties to the MDC side of Parliament than to the ZANU-PF side. He repeatedly referred to the old ZANU-PF MPs as being resistant to change, while claiming the younger ZANU-PF MPs were better able to work with the MDC and were pushing for reform. Dzingirayi said that his priorities were to refurbish and supply the health clinic in his constituency, as well as generate economic opportunities stemming from Chivi's strategic location on the main road leading to South Africa. -------------- The Backlash from ZANU-PF Hardliners -------------- ¶4. (C) Dzingirayi explained that his ties to the MDC were well known and had made him a target of some hard-line elements in his own party. He mentioned that he had been falsely named in a February 6 article in the state-controlled daily newspaper, the Herald, alleging that he had abused free agricultural inputs he received from the state. (NOTE: The MDC-T chief whip, Innocent Gonese told us that he doubted the charges against Dzingirayi were credible, and he agreed that it was most likely an act of political retribution. The same article named one other ZANU-PF MP and seven MDC-T MPs. END NOTE.) -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) With the MDC on the verge of entering into a Q5. (C) With the MDC on the verge of entering into a government of national unity, cooperation between ZANU-PF and the MDC will be sorely tested. Parliament appears to be one venue where there is some convergence of priorities. Post HARARE 00000106 002 OF 002 will continue to reach out to reformist elements in ZANU-PF to better evaluate the prospects for political cooperation and success. END COMMENT. MCGEE