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.

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Zimbabwe
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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.

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Iran
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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.

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Comment
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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