FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES ZIMBABWE, IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L WINDHOEK 000018 NEA FOR IRAN DESK, ISN E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2019 TAGS: PREL IAEA ZI IR WA SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES ZIMBABWE, IRAN REF: A) WINDHOEK 12 B) 08 WINDHOEK 368 Classified By: Ambassador Dennise Mathieu for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On January 21, Ambassador met with Namibian Foreign Minister Marco Hausiku to convey a New Year's greeting and discuss the situation in Zimbabwe. Hausiku also briefly mentioned Namibia's overtures to Iran. -------------- Zimbabwe -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador began by urging the Government of Namibia (GRN) to show leadership on Zimbabwe as the country continues to confront political, economic, and social challenges in the new year. Hausiku agreed this was necessary and indicated this was why President Pohamba met with MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai in Namibia last November (ref B). He reckoned there would be an update on Zimbabwe at the upcoming AU Summit. In addition, he echoed reports that there probably would be an emergency SADC summit in the coming days, given that South African President and current SADC Chairperson Motlanthe, Mozambican President Guebuza, and former South African President Mbeki had failed to make a breakthrough in meetings between Zimbabwean President Mugabe and Tsvangirai in Harare this week. When asked if he thought Mbkei should remain the mediator, Hausiku replied affirmatively, saying that in addition to his impressive mediation skills, "it would be difficult to find someone who knows Zimbabwe better than Mbeki." ¶3. (C) Essentially, the Foreign Minister said, Mugabe and Tsvangirai must come to a compromise. Hausiku claimed that the GRN has urged both sides to accept that the Home Affairs Ministry should be co-chaired and that government should be a true coalition. He called on the international community, the "friends of Tsvangirai," to deliver the same message. Hausiku also opined that the resignation of Mugabe would not bring about peace. Asked if Namibia would support early elections in Zimbabwe, Hausiku replied that the GRN had not considered such a move, as it would be a waste of resources to hold elections prior to the formation of a government of national unity. Otherwise, he argued, there would continue to be national discord. Even if he won, he theorized, Tsvangirai would later be voted out before he had had a chance to improve conditions. ¶4. (C) Hausiku mentioned that the Government of Zimbabwe must also address kidnappings and disappearances of politicians, activists and journalists. Ambassador welcomed the Foreign Minister's comment, noting that it represented a positive evolution in the GRN's approach. She encouraged the GRN to work behind the scenes and in the SADC emergency meeting to help resolve the crisis as quickly as possible. -------------- Iran -------------- ¶5. (C) Hausiku offered that Namibia has been engaging Iran and urging its government to provide the international community and news media with better access to the country. Ambassador added that this should include cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to allow inspections. The Foreign Minister said he hoped President Obama would authorize greater contact with Iran, because a lack of engagement has led to misunderstandings in the past. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) The Foreign Minister made it clear that he believes the key to resolving the impasse in Zimbabwe is for the two sides to commit to working together, but he offered no new ideas about how that could be achieved. This meeting as well as Ambassador's recent conversation with Prime Minister Angula (ref A) indicate that Namibia is increasingly concerned about the deterioration in Zimbabwe but, at the same time, Namibia is not yet ready to call for the departure of Mugabe. MATHIEU