US embassy cable - 00HARARE3448

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 003448 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/10 
TAGS: PGOV, CG, ZI 
SUBJECT: POLICE CLOSE DOWN MASIRE'S KINSHASA OFFICE 
 
REF: STATE 117859 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD REASONS 1.5 B/D. 
 
1.  (C) ON JUNE 23 DCM DELIVERED A DEMARCHE TO MINISTRY 
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS UNDER SECRETARY FOR AFRICA DAVID 
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HAMADZIRIPI PER REFTEL INSTRUCTION.  DCM ALSO LEFT A 
NON-PAPER CONTAINING POINTS IN PARAS 1 AND 3 FOR HIS 
CONSIDERATION. 
 
2.  (C) HAMADZIRIPI ACKNOWLEDGED THAT, "THIS IS A VERY 
DIFFICULT SITUATION."  HE NOTED THAT ZIMBABWE WAS 
CONCERNED THAT CLOSURE OF NATIONAL DIALOGUE FACILITATOR 
SIR KETUMILE MASIRE'S OFFICE IN KINSHASA PUTS A DAMPER 
ON THE MOMENTUM INDUCED IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS.  THE 
ZIMBABWEAN DIPLOMAT STRESSED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT 
SUPPORTED THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE, WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED 
WAS A VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT, AND 
HAD ENCOURAGED THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC 
OF THE CONGO TO WORK WITH MASIRE TO ACHIEVE A POLITICAL 
SOLUTION.  IN ZIMBABWE'S ANALYSIS, THE PROBLEM STEMS 
FROM THE FACT THAT THE ROLE OF THE FACILITATOR WAS FROM 
THE BEGINNING NEVER MADE VERY CLEAR.  IN JANUARY THE 
POLITICAL COMMITTEE ATTEMPTED TO CLARIFY IT, BUT 
UNFORTUNATELY NOT SUCCESSFULLY.  THE CONGOLESE, WHO HE 
SAID RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR A FACILITATOR, NEVERTHELESS 
REQUIRED THAT INDIVIDUAL TO RECOGNIZE THE AUTHORITY AND 
SOVEREIGNTY OF THE KABILA GOVERNMENT. 
 
3.  (C) FOR REASONS THAT THE ZIMBABWEANS DID NOT FULLY 
UNDERSTAND, KINSHASA HAD LOST CONFIDENCE IN MASIRE THE 
PERSON, AS FACILITATOR.  INDEED, THE CONGOLESE FOREIGN 
MINISTER HAD CALLED HIM THE "COMPLICATOR" AT A RECENT 
POLITICAL COMMITTEE MEETING IN LUSAKA.  THE ZIMBABWEANS 
QUESTIONED WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO RESTORE 
KABILA'S TRUST IN MASIRE; HAMADZIRIPI THOUGHT NOT, AND 
IS OF THE OPINION THAT THE CONGOLESE HEAD OF STATE WOULD 
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CONTINUE TO CHECK HIS EVERY MOVE.  THE ZIMBABWEAN 
DIPLOMAT SEEMED AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT THE NEXT STEPS 
MIGHT BE TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM, AND DOUBTED HIS 
GOVERNMENT WOULD BE ABLE TO PERSUADE KABILA TO REVERSE 
HIS DECISION AND COOPERATE WITH MASIRE.  "WE FIND 
OURSELVES IN A CRISIS," HE CONCLUDED, "BUT ZIMBABWE WILL 
DO WHAT IT CAN SO THE PROCESS IS CARRIED FORWARD". 
 
MCDONALD 
 
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