US embassy cable - 05HARARE715

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000715 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF/S FOR B. NEULING 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2010 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, ZI, U.S.-Zimbabwe Bilateral Relations 
SUBJECT: VICE-PRESIDENT CORDIAL, SIGNALS LITTLE IN MEETING 
WITH AMBASSADOR 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher W. Dell under Section 1.4 b/d 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY: During a courtesy call by the Ambassador on 
May 19, Vice-President Joyce Mujuru reiterated her 
government's desire for better relations with the United 
States, but gave no indication that the GOZ was contemplating 
concrete steps to encourage rapprochement.  The Ambassador 
recounted USG programs to alleviate the suffering of 
Zimbabweans, noted USG willingness to ramp up food assistance 
should the GOZ issue an appeal, and stressed the importance 
of positive GOZ actions in moving bilateral relations to a 
better footing.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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Bilateral Relations 
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2.  (C) During the Ambassador's initial (long delayed) 
courtesy call at her office, Vice-President Mujuru asserted 
that strained bilateral relations were "just a phase" that 
she hoped would soon pass.  Sensationalist reporting had led 
many to misconstrue the situation in Zimbabwe.  Zimbabwe and 
the United States, however, had mutual interests in the 
"global village" and it was not in either's interest to let 
the strain in relations continue.  Mujuru said she hoped the 
two heads of state could work things out.  She emphasized 
that President Mugabe did not really have a problem with the 
United States.  She suggested that the U.K.'s difficulty with 
Zimbabwe may have complicated Zimbabwe-U.S. relations but 
stressed that Zimbabwe had issues with the U.K. alone, not 
the U.S. 
 
3.  (C) The Ambassador responded that the U.S. would continue 
to look for concrete measures on the GOZ's part as signals of 
its sincerity in rehabilitating relations.  He noted that 
bitter public rhetoric served no purpose and stressed that 
U.S. policy toward Zimbabwe stood independent from Britain's 
posture and was also not driven by opposition to land reform. 
 The U.S. recognized the need to correct historical 
injustices in land use.  However, the GOZ needed to shift its 
focus to  productivity.  Finally, the Ambassador stressed the 
potential importance of tolerating a loyal opposition and not 
always painting them as "traitorous." 
 
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Assistance Needs 
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5.  (C) The Ambassador said the U.S. had helped the people of 
Zimbabwe more than any other country in the past, especially 
with food assistance and with HIV/AIDS assistance.  Despite 
political differences, we stood ready to help again if 
humanitarian assistance was required this year.  We would not 
play politics with food, nor would we let others do so.  He 
noted that the U.S. had continued with targeted food 
assistance programs for vulnerable populations, including 
school children.  The program was winding down as stocks were 
exhausted but we would be happy to continue it.  More 
broadly, we would respond positively should the GOZ issue an 
appeal for food assistance through the World Food Program 
(WFP).  The Ambassador added that another program that was 
winding down was providing drip-kit irrigation units for 
HIV/AIDS affected families, which allowed them to grow their 
own food.  We hoped to create a legacy of trust that would 
allow the program to continue. 
 
6.  (C) The Vice President expressed appreciation for USG 
willingness to come forward with food aid.  She confirmed 
that the GOZ was in the midst of another assessment of the 
country's food needs and may come forward with an appeal, 
depending on the assessment's conclusions.  She was not 
responsible for the food situation per se, but was involved 
through her work with ministries and parastatals relevant to 
food production.  She said she was unaware of the drip-kit 
irrigation system and expressed interest in visiting some in 
action.  She stressed that the Ambassador was welcome to call 
her in the future about food issues or any other matters of 
concern. 
 
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New Job 
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7.  (C) Mujuru said that, as Vice President, she would have 
line authority over 39 parastatals and 11 ministries, mainly 
in the social and economic arena.  One of her priorities was 
to resuscitate inefficient parastatals )- the railways, the 
electrical authority, the national airline, for example -- 
which needed to be more self-reliant and less dependent on 
government bail-outs.  She was also retaining the water 
resources and infrastructure development portfolio she had 
held before assuming the vice-presidency. 
 
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Comment 
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8.  (C) Unlike most of her high-level GOZ and ZANU-PF 
colleagues, the personable Mujuru eschewed historical land 
reform pedantry and anti-imperialist diatribes.  In 
substance, however, her engagement was consistent with 
previous exchanges that projected only superficial GOZ 
interest in better relations, i.e, only on the ruling party's 
terms.  An ethnic Zezuru like Mugabe, the new Vice President 
has been the principal fill-in for President Mugabe of late 
instead of reportedly ailing Vice President Joseph Msika. 
DELL