US embassy cable - 05GABORONE479

C O N F I D E N T I A L  GABORONE 000479 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR AF/S DIFFILY, DEPT PLEASE PASS TO TREASURY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ZI, BC, SADC 
SUBJECT: SADC SEEKS US SUPPORT FOR ADB CANDIDATE 
 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR HUGGINS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
1. (C)  Summary:  Minister of Finance and Development 
Planning Baledzi Gaolathe requested a meeting with Ambassador 
Huggins on April 4 to lobby for United States support for Dr. 
Simba Makoni as the Southern African Development Community's 
(SADC) candidate for the presidency of the African 
Development Bank (ADB).  He argued that Dr. Makoni should be 
acceptable to the US for professional and political reasons, 
given that he left the Government of Zimbabwe because "he 
could not go along with the status quo" there.  Minister 
Gaolathe pleaded that the US not punish the rest of SADC for 
the problems in Zimbabwe.  The Ambassador promised to 
communicate SADC's message to the Departments of State and 
Treasury but advised Gaolathe that it would be difficult for 
the US to reward the Mugabe regime after the March 31 
elections that confirmed the Government of Zimbabwe's refusal 
to respect human rights and democratic principles.  End 
Summary 
 
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MAKONI PROFESSIONALLY AND POLITICALLY QUALIFIED? 
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2. (C)  After a competitive review process, the SADC Council 
of Ministers settled on Dr. Simba Makoni as the best 
qualified candidate to stand for the Presidency of the 
African Development Bank, Minister Gaolathe explained. 
Botswana had been tasked to reach out to a number of Western 
countries, including the US, UK, and Switzerland, to seek 
support for Dr. Makoni.  Given his experience in government 
and the private sector, including stints as Executive 
Secretary of SADC and Minister of Finance in Zimbabwe, SADC 
 
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was confident of Dr. Makoni's professional credentials.  The 
organization did not choose Dr. Makoni on the basis of his 
connection with the Government of Zimbabwe, he asserted, but 
regarded him as a "citizen of SADC". 
 
3. (C)  Minister Gaolathe recognized that Dr. Makoni had been 
among some senior Zimbabwean officials whose travel to 
Western countries had been restricted as a means of 
pressuring Harare to improve its governance.  He pointed out, 
however, that Dr. Makoni had left the Government of Zimbabwe 
because "he could not go along with the status quo" there. 
The Minister suggested that if critics of the Mugabe regime 
did not support individuals such as Dr. Makoni, others like 
him might not have the courage to follow his example. 
 
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SADC: VIEW MAKONI AS AN INDIVIDUAL, NOT A GOZ INSIDER 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
4. (C)  Ambassador Huggins observed that, in view of 
Zimbabwe's uncompetitive March 31 election, it would be 
difficult for the US to support Dr. Makoni's candidacy, 
especially when Harare would undoubtedly use Dr. Makoni's 
selection to tout the legitimacy of the Mugabe regime. 
Minister Gaolathe admitted that many in Botswana and 
elsewhere in SADC share our concerns about governance in 
Zimbabwe and have voiced them "behind the scenes".  If 
elected President of the ADB, Minister Gaolathe continued, 
Dr. Makoni would be "completely severed" from the influence 
of the Government of Zimbabwe.  As a consequence, he argued, 
the US should look at Dr. Makoni as an individual, rather 
than as Mugabe's pick.  Ambassador Huggins noted that the 
GOZ's active support for Dr. Makoni's candidacy undermined 
the suggestion that he is truly independent of the Mugabe 
regime. 
 
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COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT 
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5. (C)  Finally, Minister Gaolathe agreed that while US-SADC 
relations have been stalled, the US maintains cordial 
relations with most members of SADC.  Refusing to support the 
SADC consensus candidate because of its objections to poor 
governance in Zimbabwe, he said, constitutes "collective 
punishment" for the misdeeds of one and, therefore, would be 
"unfair".  SADC should not be denied the opportunity to put 
forward the best qualified individual because he happens to 
come from Zimbabwe, Minister Gaolathe concluded. 
 
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TEXT OF LETTER TO TREASURY SECRETARY 
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6.  (U)  Minister Gaolathe passed Ambassador Huggins a letter 
to Treasury Secretary Snow formally requesting US support for 
Dr. Makoni.  The text of that letter follows: 
 
Dear Sir, 
 
I wish to take this opportunity, Sir, to seek your support 
for Dr. Simba Makoni, who has been endorsed by SADC as the 
regional candidate.  He was chosen as the most suitable among 
other candidates considered within the SADC region. 
 
I believe that in selecting the next President of the ADB, we 
should look at both the qualifications of the candidates and 
also take into account the principle of rotation. 
 
In this regard, I am of the view that our region should, in 
the spirit of rotation and sharing of responsibilities, be 
given the opportunity to serve our organization. 
 
Dr. Makoni distinguished himself as an outstanding Executive 
Secretary of the Southern African Development Community.  He 
 
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has also accumulated extensive experience as Managing 
Director of several companies in the Private Sector and as 
Minister in several ministries in the Public Sector.  I have 
no doubt, therefore, that with his wealth of experience and 
management skills, he will provide a dynamic leadership to 
our continental organization. 
 
It is my sincere hope that I can count on you to support the 
candidature of Dr. Makoni who curriculum vitae I attach for 
your consideration.  (Note:  Dr. Makoni's CV is seven pages 
long and, therefore, is not reproduced in this message.  End 
note.) 
 
Accept, Honourable Minister, the assurances of my highest 
consideration and esteem. 
 
Yours Sincerely, 
 
B. Gaolathe 
Minister of Finance and Development Planning 
 
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COMMENT 
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7. (C)  SADC's selection of a former senior official in the 
Mugabe regime as its candidate for the ADB Presidency shows a 
continued unwillingness to publicly recognize the crisis of 
governance in Zimbabwe and a lack of sensitivity to the 
importance of respect for human rights and democracy. 
Refusal to support Dr. Makoni's candidacy provides an 
opportunity to remind SADC that their failure to address the 
situation in Zimbabwe has negative repercussions for the 
entire region. 
HUGGINS 
 
 
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