TSVANGIRAI OUTLINES NEXT 100-DAY PLAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000416 SENSITIVE SIPDIS AF/S FOR B. WALCH DRL FOR N. WILETT ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS STATE PASS TO USAID FOR J. HARMON AND L. DOBBINS STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM ZI ECON XA SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI OUTLINES NEXT 100-DAY PLAN REF: HARARE 405 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On May 13, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai unveiled his plan to guide the Government of Zimbabwe's (GOZ) activities during the next 100 days of the unity government at a conference attended by government officials, legislators, diplomats, civil society, and business leaders. In essence, the 100-day plan is a managerial tool to be used in the implementation and execution of the recently launched Short Term Emergency Recovery Program. Present at the launch were Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who gave the key note address, Vice President Joice Mujuru, who gave closing remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, Patrick Chinamasa (the only ZANU-PF heavyweight to give a presentation) and several ministers and deputy ministers. Slated to speak and conspicuous by their absence, were ZANU-PF Ministers Ignatius Chombo (Local Government), Emmerson Mnangagwa (Defense),Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (Foreign Affairs),and Sydney Sekeramayi (National Security). While well intentioned, it was clear that the government lacked the funding to carry out the plan. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The 100-day plan grouped the 32 cabinet ministries into five clusters: Economic, Infrastructure, Rights and Interest, Security, and Social. Each cluster is headed by a cabinet minister, with three of the five clusters led by ZANU-PF ministers and the remaining two by MDC-T ministers. In a brief, but well-received opening speech, Tsvangirai sought to assert his authority as Prime Minister by calling on all cluster heads to report directly to him. He also called on the signatories to the Global Political Agreement (GPA) -- an indirect reference to President Mugabe and other ZANU-PF obstructionists -- to implement the letter and spirit of the GPA to ensure the success of both the 100-day plan and the transitional government overall. Tsvangirai said that there was progress on resolving some outstanding issues between the parties (ref) and that a statement to that effect would soon be issued. (NOTE: Subsequent to the 100-day roll-out, Tsvangirai was forced to acknowledge that the principals had been unable to resolve their outstanding issues and would seek a SADC resolution. END NOTE.) ¶3. (U) Closing remarks were made by Mujuru who seized the opportunity to appeal to the U.S. and the EU to remove sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe -- a position also echoed by Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa who described the targeted measures on Zimbabwe as "illegal." There was vocal dissent in the gallery when Mujuru and Chinamasa harped on the oft-used sanctions refrain. -------------- Well Intentioned, But Poorly Funded -------------- ¶4. (U) Economic cluster leader, Elton Mangoma (MDC-T), Infrastructure cluster leader, Theresa Makone (MDC-T),Rights and Interest cluster leader, Patrick Chinamasa (ZANU-PF), Qand Interest cluster leader, Patrick Chinamasa (ZANU-PF), Giles Mutsekwa (MDC-T) on behalf of Security cluster leader, Sydney Sekeramayi (ZANU-PF),and Cecil Zvidzai (MDC-T) on behalf of Social cluster leader, Ignatius Chombo (ZANU-PF), each outlined their priorities and plans. Consistent across all clusters was a lack of budgetary support for the plans, and all cluster leaders or their representatives appealed to the donor and international community for funding. The following are highlights of the cluster presentations: HARARE 00000416 002 OF 003 -------------- Economic Cluster -------------- ¶5. (U) Mangoma focused on raising funds to finance the Short Term Emergency Recovery Program, macro-economic stability, and public sector reform. A critical aspect of the cluster's mandate is the restoration of public confidence in the banking system, and the cluster plans to implement IMF recommendations on reforming the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ). Public Finance Management System reforms to improve government accountability are also high on the cluster agenda. Mangoma spoke of achieving some success in fund raising and referred to securing a US$1 billion credit line from PTA Bank, Afreximbank and SADC. China (US$5 million) and South Africa (US$30 million) have provided direct budgetary assistance. An increased flow of humanitarian aid was also mentioned, totaling US$300 million for the first quarter of 2009. The cluster is geared to attracting foreign investment for infrastructure development by using the concept of Private/Public Partnerships. To this end, it has put in place investor-friendly policies with the aim of rebranding Zimbabwe as a place of sound economic management and respect for the rule of law. To improve the business environment, the cluster will seek to create a supportive legal and regulatory framework. A land audit will be conducted within the next 100 days to ascertain legal land ownership and resolve conflicts over competing claims. The cluster will also undertake a comprehensive reform of the public service sectors and parastatal enterprises, but parastatal sales may not occur in light of depressed current valuations. -------------- Infrastructure Cluster -------------- ¶6. (U) Makone identified energy, water, and public works development as key priority areas in need of urgent funding. -------------- Rights and Interest Cluster -------------- ¶7. (U) Chinamasa stated that his ministry, Justice and Legal Affairs, would work to facilitate the constitutional reform process, review of media policy, and the setting up of independent commissions. -------------- Security Cluster -------------- ¶8. (U) Co-Home Affairs Minister Mutsekwa did not provide a Security cluster 100-day plan. Rather, his presentation emphasized the interdependence between security and development. According to the cluster, failure to adequately provide the needs of the security forces in terms of accommodation, health facilities, equipment, and food rations could undermine development. -------------- Social Cluster -------------- ¶9. (U) Zvidzai discussed aligning the Social cluster's priorities to the joint scoping mission, which is being spearheaded by the European Commission, UNDP, African Development Bank and the World Bank. He acknowledged that it would take longer to unlock donor finance through the scoping Qwould take longer to unlock donor finance through the scoping HARARE 00000416 003 OF 003 mission process which will be followed by a needs assessment when conditions allow. The delay in international funding would require a bridge finance facility. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (SBU) While the objectives laid out in the 100-day plan are largely salutary, the GOZ lacks the financial means to achieve most of them. The exception is the Rights and Interest cluster where expanded media space and judicial reform could be accomplished inexpensively -- if the political will existed. What was most notable about the launch was who did and did not attend. Of the five clusters, three are headed by ZANU-PF ministers. Only Chinamasa was present. Sydney Sekeramayi, the Defense Minister and head of the Security cluster was absent and there was no explanation. Ignatius Chombo, head of the Social cluster, was absent allegedly because he was traveling. Vice President Mujuru, reportedly now close to Tsvangirai, was the lone ZANU-PF representative on the dais. Finally, it is worth noting that although the remarks of Chinamasa and Mujuru were largely positive and supportive of the 100-day plan, neither could resist blaming a large part of Zimbabwe's predicament on sanctions. END COMMENT. MCGEE