MBEKI SHYS AWAY FROM IDEA OF POLITICAL LEGACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 002251

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV SF
SUBJECT: MBEKI SHYS AWAY FROM IDEA OF POLITICAL LEGACY

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Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Madeline Seidenstricker for r
easons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary: Former President Thabo Mbeki gave his
first extended press interview since being removed from the
presidency in September 2008 by the African National Congress
(ANC). In the interview with the "Sunday Independent," Mbeki
sought to distance himself from some of the more
controversial parts of his legacy such as his handling of the
political crisis in Zimbabwe and his stance on HIV/AIDS.
(Note: Mbeki said nothing about HIV/AIDS. End Note.) Mbeki
also denied that he is involved in the Congress of the People
(COPE). Although the Mbeki interview was an easy way for the
former South African leader to re-engage publicly after more
than 12 months of relative silence, it probably is too soon
for him to counter the overwhelming anti-Mbeki sentiment
within the ANC and among many South African citizens. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) Mbeki gave a two part interview to Makhudu Sefara
that appeared in the October 24 and November 1 editions of
the "Sunday Independent." Mbeki conducted the conversation
with Sefara from his home in Johannesburg and was reportedly
relaxed, in a golf shirt and khaki pants. Sefara described
him as a man who still wants answers from Pietermaritzburg
High Court Judge Chris Nicholson. (Note: It was Nicholson's
judgment in September 2008 in favor of current President
Jacob ZUMA that prompted the ANC to recall Mbeki. Nicholson
argued that he could not discount Zuma's claims that there
was a "political conspiracy" against him perpetuated by the
state and Mbeki's associates. End Note.) Mbeki admitted in
the interview that Nicholson "made me angry."


3. (SBU) Mbeki began by saying that he does not think the
idea of a "legacy attributed to a person is correct." He
asserted that whatever happened during his terms as Deputy
President and then President to collective decisions made by
the ANC. In his view, there is nothing during the past 15
years that can be attributed to one individual. Mbeki said,
"Indeed, the three manifestos that followed (the three
manifestos from emerged from ANC party congresses) emanated
from policy positions that the ANC took. The idea of a
legacy that can be personalized is historically, factually
incorrect." After shying away from the idea of a legacy,
Mbeki had more to add on specific issues:

-- On Zimbabwe, Mbeki argued that the ANC discussed the issue
and set the agenda. He added that government tended to
discuss and implement the ANC's recommendations. He noted,
"As we engaged the Zimbabwean government, the ANC was doing
its engagement with the Zimbabwe African National
Union-Patriotic Front. The daily grind, of course, fell to
individuals in the government ... individuals had to sit with
Zimbabweans and sort out the issue."

-- On South African economic policy, he said that specific
policy plans such as the Reconstruction and Development
Program (RDP) and the Growth, Employment, and Redistribution
Plan (GEAR) emerged when the government saw that something
was very wrong with macroeconomic balances and budget
deficits. Mbeki asserted that the party decided to put the
question to the ANC party congress in 1997, at which policies
such as GEAR were supported by the collective.

-- On government efficiency, Mbeki said that the ANC made a
mistake in 1994 by sending some its best leaders to
Qmistake in 1994 by sending some its best leaders to
Parliament and to provinces instead of to local governments
across the country. He said, "... By the time you had to
constitute executive councils at local government we had to
draw from a pool of people who were less experienced." He
noted that this hurt the government's relationship with
communities.

-- On service delivery, the former President said his
government tried very hard to understand the root causes (of
protests) and found that the trigger tended to be instances
of corruption or political rivalries. He said to address the
root causes of the protests his government held numerous
community meetings to explain the situation at the national
government. He added, "It was important that you are honest
if you don't want trouble."

-- On his failed bid to win a third term as ANC leader in
2007, Mbeki was defiant in the idea that he "did not lose the
plot." He stated, "When the issue was raised with me about
running for president when there was another candidate, I

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said I've never looked for positions or campaigned. Even in
the run-up to Polokwane (ruling party congress) I never
canvassed anyone.

-- On COPE, a party with a number of his former close
confidantes, Mbeki reaffirmed his statements from last year
that he would not engage in domestic politics.


4. (C) Comment: Mbeki's interview a year after his
unceremonious dismissal by the ANC suggests that he sees the
need to begin rehabilitating his image. The talQwith the
"Sunday Independent" follows a public address he gave at the
University of Witswatersrand several weeks ago. Rebuilding
his reputation is unlikely to be easy, especially if he does
not own up to some of the more controversial aspects of his
15 years in government. Years of decisions and actions show
that Mbeki did dictate South Africa's stance toward Zimbabwe,
push through policies such as RDP and GEAR, and ignore
problems in local communities without listening to, or
consulting, a collective. Moreover, his statements on not
seeking a third term at Polokwane are disingenuous at best
considering the amount of work his allies did to canvass and
win him votes at the congress. Without honest answers, it
probably is best for Mbeki to let his record speak for itself
because, while he may see an opening to re-assert himself as
a public figure, it is unclear whether the public is ready to
re-embrace him. End Comment.
GIPS