ZANU-PF AND MDC-T RESOLVE SOME OUTSTANDING ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000431 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: DECL: 05/21/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM ZI SUBJECT: ZANU-PF AND MDC-T RESOLVE SOME OUTSTANDING ISSUES Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Prime Minister Tsvangirai announced on May 21 that the three political parties had reached agreement on the contentious issues of division of governorships, appointment of permanent secretaries and ambassadors, and the delayed swearing in of Roy Bennett as Deputy Minister of Agriculture. The portfolio responsibilities for communications in Zimbabwe were also resolved. However, the three parties still disagree on the appointments of RBZ Governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana. The announcements break a deadlock that had forced the MDC-T to appeal to SADC for resolution, though SADC will still be asked to review the Gono and Tomana appointments. END SUMMARY. -------------- Deal Reached on Long Contested Issues... -------------- ¶2. (C) Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's advisor, Ian Makone, met with poloff on May 21 to clarify the terms of the recent agreement between the three political parties on outstanding issues including the appointment of permanent secretaries, governors, ambassadors, Roy Bennett, and the controversial appointments of Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono and Attorney General Johannes Tomana. ¶3. (SBU) On May 20, President Mugabe's spokesperson, Misheck Sibanda, announced that an agreement had been reached to retain all of the permanent secretaries unilaterally nominated by Mugabe in late February. The announcement failed to mention that in exchange the MDC-T would receive five out of ten governorships, four out of five vacant ambassadorships, and Mugabe's acquiescence on swearing Bennett into his position as Deputy Minister of Agriculture. ¶4. (C) On governors, Makone said that the provinces of Masvingo, Manicaland, Matabeleland North, and the two municipal provinces -- Bulawayo and Harare -- would be filled by MDC-T appointees. Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, and Midlands would be filled by ZANU-PF. The MDC-M would receive Matabeleland South. Makone clarified that the governorships would be filled in the next few weeks, rather than waiting for their terms to expire later this year. Five current ambassadorial vacancies would be filled by four MDC-T nominees and one MDC-M nominee. Future vacancies would be divided equitably. ¶5. (SBU) The ministerial responsibilities over communications in Zimbabwe were also clarified. The Ministry of Information Communications Technology led by Nelson Chamisa of the MDC-T will retain control over Zimbabwe's telecom and postal parastatals (Telone, NetOne and Zim Post), but will cede the responsibility for the Interception of Communications Act to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development led by Nicholas Goche of ZANU-PF. The Ministry of Media Information and Publicity, led by Q The Ministry of Media Information and Publicity, led by Webster Shamu of ZANU-PF, will oversee the Broadcasting Act. -------------- ... Though Still Stuck on Gono and Tomana -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The long contentious issue of Bennett's appointment may also be resolved. Tsvangirai announced that Bennett would be sworn in at the same time the governors assume their posts. While Bennett will be allowed to take his deputy HARARE 00000431 002 OF 002 ministerial position, the charges against him of possessing weapons to be used in banditry, sabotage, and terrorism will not be dropped. ¶7. (C) One area where progress was not achieved was on the status of Gono and Tomana. The Tsvangirai camp is holding firm that Gono must be fired because as a matter of legality his appointment was not in line with the Inter-party Political Agreement that formed the unity government. Makone believed that Mugabe had resisted his dismissal because "Gono knows too much." This was a reference to Gono's central role in maintaining the ZANU-PF patronage scheme. The MDC-T hoped that they would be able to check Tomana for overstepping his legal authority by personally ordering the arrest of individuals, including two journalists last week. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (C) While ZANU-PF has yet to confirm this agreement, if adopted, these announcements are positive indicators that Tsvangirai and Mugabe are able to reach agreement when absolutely necessary. In particular, the MDC's receipt of five governorships will be beneficial in curtailing the specter of ZANU-PF-led violence and intimidation in these provinces during the next electoral cycle. It may also prove beneficial on rule of law issues in these provinces that include some contentious farms and the Chiadzwa diamond fields. ¶9. (C) However, the most important issues were not settled, as Gono and Tomana remain despite Tsvangirai's best efforts. This is critical because international assistance may hinge on Gono's dismissal, and Tomana has been actively subverting the judicial system and threatening press freedom. END COMMENT. MCGEE