US embassy cable - 05HARARE128

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000128 
 
SIPDIS 
 
INFO ALL EUROPEAN DIPLOMATIC POSTS 
ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS 
NSC WASHDC 
 
AF/S FOR BNEULING 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVELLE, D. TEITELBAUM 
TREASURY FOR OREN WYCHE-SHAW, STATE PASS USAID FOR MARJORIE 
COPSON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2009 
TAGS: ECIN, EAID, AORC, ZI, EINV, Economic Policy 
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE NOMINATES SIMBA MAKONI FOR ADB PRESIDENT 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell for reason 1.4 b/d 
 
1. (SBU) The GOZ informed diplomatic representatives from 
African Development Bank (ADB) shareholder countries that it 
will nominate former Finance Minister Simba Makoni to succeed 
Moroccan Omar Kabbaj as ADB President.  Foreign Minister 
Mudenge and acting Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa presented 
Makoni's candidacy to assembled diplomats from ADB countries 
January 19.  Mudenge said Makoni enjoyed the "full support of 
the government and party" and that the GOZ had persuaded the 
other 13 SADC countries to back Makoni (N.B., the election is 
scheduled for May 18.)   In his brief remarks, Makoni said he 
would call on the ambassadors from ADB shareholder countries 
in the coming months to lobby for his candidacy. 
 
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Biographical Background and Comment 
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2. (C) Makoni was Finance Minister from 2000-2002.  After 
Makoni called for devaluation of the zimdollar, President 
Mugabe referred to him as a "traitor" and did not include him 
in the August 2002 cabinet reshuffle.  The 55-year old Makoni 
was one of Zimbabwe,s youngest ministers in 1980s, serving 
as Energy as well as Youth Minister while in his thirties. 
He also served ten years as SADC's executive secretary.  An 
UK-educated engineer and successful businessperson, Makoni 
was often seen as a technocrat among ZANU-PF Marxists and 
ideologues.  One of the party's few top leaders still 
well-regarded in international circles, Makoni wass the only 
serving GOZ cabinet minister against whom the U.S. did not 
imposed travel sanctions. 
 
3. (C) The decision by the politically ambitious Makoni to 
accept the GOZ's nomination for ADB President probably means 
he has given up on returning to the political upper echelons 
for now.  Before he fell out of favor in 2002, Makoni was 
often mentioned as a potential Mugabe successor, and a poll 
conducted by the Mass Public Opinion Institute last year 
showed him to be the only prospective ZANU-PF successor with 
significant support in all provinces.  He has been one of the 
Embassy's most accessible and candid interlocutors within the 
ruling party. 
 
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Recommendation 
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4. (SBU) On balance, we would not recommend supporting 
Makoni,s candidacy.  He is qualified and among the best of 
the ZANU-PF party members.  In addition, supporting his 
candidacy would be a way to signal our new policy of 
selective engagement.  That said, he is the national 
candidate of a government that is hundreds of millions of 
dollars in arrears to the IFIS, including the ADB, and we 
think this would send the wrong signal about the importance 
of sound economic policies. 
DELL