US embassy cable - 05MAPUTO321

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000321 
 
SIPDIS 
AF/S FOR HTREGER 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ETRD, KPKO, MARR, MASS, EINV, MZ, ZI, Peacekeeping 
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE: A/S NEWMAN MEETING WITH PRESIDENT 
GUEBUZA ADVISOR, MINISTER MADEIRA 
 
REF: MAPUTO 310 
Classified By: Ambassador Helen La Lime for reasons 1.4 (b/d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: Visiting Assistant Secretary for African 
Affairs Constance Newman, accompanied by the Ambassador, met 
with Mozambique's Minister in the Presidency for Diplomatic 
Affairs, Francisco Madeira, March 2. Minister Madeira 
received A/S Newman immediately after returning from a visit 
to Zimbabwe. Madeira emphasized how difficult it is to get 
Mugabe to respond to outside pressure, and, while saying 
Mozambique wanted its neighbor to change, cited the 
importance to Mozambique of remaining on good terms with 
Harare. A/S Newman and Madeira also discussed Mozambique's 
interest in peacekeeping missions and its lack of interest 
for now in SACU membership. End Summary. 
 
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ZIMBABWE 
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2. (C) Madeira described Zimbabwe as "a very delicate 
problem" for his government. The Zimbabweans are "very 
sensitive to advice," he told A/S Newman, and contend that 
they don't need any. When asked how they explain to their 
people the problems with their economy such as massive 
inflation, he said they blame the United States and the EU, 
replied Madeira, for imposing sanctions on the country. 
However, the government feels that it has found a way out of 
the crisis. It has a "good" governor of the Central Bank, 
according to Madeira, and with him the regime feels it is on 
the right path. And criticism by the people appears to be 
less acute, he continued -- for now "they are willing to live 
with Mugabe." 
 
3. (C) Zimbabwe is a delicate issue, Madeira explained, 
because his country is not only Zimbabwe's neighbor, but, in 
some measure, it is also dependent on Zimbabwe's economy. 
Problems in Zimbabwe affect the central region of Mozambique 
-- particularly Beira and its port, through which a 
significant amount of Zimbabwean trade passes. Lamenting 
that his country suffered from Zimbabwe's wrong policies, 
Madeira said Mozambique endured because "we cannot afford to 
have unfriendly relations across our borders." He said his 
government had little power to sway Zimbabwe's policies. 
When the Assistant Secretary asked what would happen if all 
of Zimbabwe's neighbors joined together to pressure Mugabe, 
Madeira indicated that this had been tried before. He 
reported that in 2001 a delegation from the region had met 
with Mugabe to urge him to moderate his policies, but to no 
avail. He listened, but that was all. One can only advise 
Mugabe when he is ready to accept advice, said Madeira. 
Otherwise, "the more you criticize, the more he stigmatizes 
you." 
 
4. (C) "Why doesn't the government in Harare open the country 
to outside observers for the Parliamentary election?" Ms. 
Newman pressed. After all, ZANU is in a strong position 
versus the opposition. Why not follow SADC principles? She 
warned Madeira that it would be very hard for the G8 to 
ignore the way Zimbabwe handled the election. The 
Zimbabweans believe that they have the right to choose who 
observes the elections, Madeira responded. SADC 
representatives have been invited, along with representatives 
from other African countries, Latin America, and Russia. The 
Assistant Secretary asked why not invite observers from the 
European Union or the Carter Center if the country really had 
nothing to hide. Nodding, Madeira agreed, saying that his 
government "wants our neighbor to change, but we don't want 
to lose our neighbor." 
 
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OTHER ISSUES 
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5. (C) Ms. Newman inquired into Mozambican intentions toward 
joining the Southern African Customs Union, SACU. For the 
time being the Mozambican leadership had little interest, 
Madeira answered. Customs duties were an important revenue 
source and, beyond this, there was a residual psychological 
stigma in many peoples' minds attached to dealing with South 
Africa, dating from the apartheid period, that blocked 
joining SACU. But Mozambique strongly welcomed South African 
investment in its economy, and had begun to request 
investment linked with managerial training. Would this be 
similar to the black empowerment policies of the Mbeki 
government?, the Assistant Secretary wondered. No, Madeira 
said, such empowerment regulations had not been codified, but 
Mozambique would be looking for investors who helped 
Mozambicans beyond just providing jobs. 
 
6. (C) On peacekeeping, Madeira echoed what others had told 
the Assistant Secretary of Mozambican willingness to engage 
in more peacekeeping missions, saying "the real problem is 
money." The government was working to professionalize the 
army, and peacekeeping duties helped this by exposing 
Mozambican soldiers to other peacekeeping forces. But 
President Guebuza was so committed to keeping his campaign 
promises on fighting poverty and other domestic problems that 
"there is not a cent to spare for peacekeeping." A/S Newman 
indicated that for Darfur, the U.S. and the EU between them 
were providing lift and equipment. 
LALIME