US embassy cable - 02HARARE2381

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 002381 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
LONDON FOR CGURNEY 
PARIS FOR CNEARY 
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2012 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ZI 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S DISCUSSION WITH MUGABE'S CHIEF OF 
STAFF 
 
Classified By: political section chief Matt Harrington.  Reasons: 1.5 ( 
B) and (D). 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
1.  (C) In an October 30 conversation, the Ambassador and 
Charles Utete -- President Mugabe's Chief of Staff -- 
acknowledged the differences between our two governments but 
agreed on the importance of keeping communication channels 
open.  The Ambassador urged Utete to implement the Cabinet's 
decision to accept food assistance containing GMO and to 
facilitate GOZ approval of additional NGOs to conduct food 
deliveries.  Utete said the fact that some NGOs were involved 
in both political activities and food distribution created a 
"perception problem" and he advised that the World Food 
Program (WFP) keep this in mind when selecting implementing 
partners.  He agreed to intervene to resolve the impasse in 
Binga, where food deliveries were halted four weeks ago after 
the opposition MDC won 16 of 21 rural council seats.  The 
Ambassador lamented the extreme political polarization in 
Zimbabwe and said any sustainable solution to the crisis 
required both sides, as a first step, to recognize the 
legitimacy of the other.  Utete said he did not disagree with 
the Ambassador's points and would not try to excuse "anything 
that's happened here," but he stressed that the process of 
political and social development Zimbabwe was going through 
now would not happen without hitches.  End Summary. 
 
Let's Talk 
---------- 
 
2.  (C) In an October 30 meeting with Charles Utete, 
President Mugabe's Chief of Staff, the Ambassador noted that 
there are areas of disagreement between the USG and the 
Government of Zimbabwe, but he emphasized the importance of 
keeping communication channels open.   He stressed that 
Zimbabwe is suffering from an interrelated set of crises and 
that, while it was up to Zimbabweans to determine the way 
forward, the United States was willing to be helpful in the 
search for a solution.   Utete agreed on the importance of 
dialogue.  He said the GOZ had the impression that the USG 
had decided to keep it at arm's length and preferred to have 
as little contact as possible.  Utete noted that he had had 
frequent, productive interactions with the Ambassador's 
predecessors.  The two governments would not always agree, he 
said -- "that's impossible" -- but it was important to talk 
about our differences. 
 
Food shortage 
------------- 
 
3.  (C)  The Ambassador noted that deliveries of 
international food assistance were generally working well, 
with the major exceptions of Binga and Insiza districts, 
although GOZ concerns about GMO and suspicions of some NGOs 
was slowing the process down unnecessarily.  Despite 
President Mugabe's assurances to WFP head James Morris in 
August to accept food assistance containing GMO and a 
subsequent endorsement of that decision by Cabinet, the 
Ministry of Agriculture still had not signed the required 
paperwork for deliveries to move forward.  There is also an 
urgent need, the Ambassador continued, for Government 
approval of additional NGOs to distribute food, as only 
abvout a third of the districts that need assistance are 
currently getting it.  He noted that food deliveries in Binga 
had been suspended by local authorities four weeks ago after 
the MDC won 16 of 21 seats in the rural council elections, 
and by WFP in Insiza after ruling party supporters stole 
three metric tons of food.  The Ambassador urged that these 
two situations be resolved expeditiously. 
 
4.  (C) In response, Utete said he knew the Ambassador 
appreciated the controversy surrounding GMO.  Despite the 
speculation about possible negative long-term health effects, 
the GOZ had decided to accept food containing GMO under 
specified conditions.  He was, therefore, "surprised to hear 
that the bureaucratic wheels were moving so slowly after this 
decision was taken at the highest level."  He said the GOZ 
should not be placing obstacles in the way of assistance to 
the people of Zimbabwe -- "that makes no sense."  He pointed 
out that, if there were better communication between the 
Embassy and his office, he could intervene to resolve such 
problems. 
 
Binga 
----- 
 
5.  (C)  Utete said he was not fully informed of the 
situation in Binga, but mused that the lack of food 
deliveries there for four weeks surely could not be 
deliberate.  The Ambassador replied that food deliveries had 
been suspended at Government's order.  Utete noted the high 
degree of political polarization in Zimbabwe and said the 
fact that some organizations had been involved in both food 
distribution and "political" activities created a perception 
problem.  WFP, he emphasized, needed to pay closer attention 
to perceptions in choosing its implementing partners.  The 
Ambassador said the political preferences of NGO employees 
should be irrelevant so long as the NGO was doing a fair job. 
 Utete agreed but again stressed that perceptions matter. 
After the Ambassador pressed for his help in resolving the 
Binga impasse, Utete promised to look into the matter and 
said he would ask when, not whether, deliveries would resume. 
 
Political Crisis 
---------------- 
 
6.  (C)  Utete said the GOZ wants to reduce the country's 
reliance on rain-fed agriculture, but said a large-scale 
moved toward irrigated crops would require resources. 
"That's where donors like the United States come in," Utete 
said pointedly.  The Ambassador said Zimbabwe must first 
address its comprehensive set of problems, including the 
political crisis; if there is a genuine will to do so, we 
would consider helping.  Asked to elaborate, the Ambassador 
said the macroeconomic policies pursued by the GOZ are almost 
unique and are unlikely to produce positive results.  The 
political crisis is also very deep; the Ambassador said he 
had lived and worked in many different countries but had 
never seen an environment as polarized as that in Zimbabwe. 
"Polarized," Utete acknowledged, "but not hopeless."   The 
Ambassador agreed, emphasizing the need for Government to get 
beyond the polarization and harness the formidable talents of 
Zimbabweans on both sides of the political divide in 
addressing the country's significant challenges.  For any 
resolution of the political crisis to be sustainable, both 
sides must accept the legitimacy of the other and give the 
other sufficient space to operate, while the current 
political environment in which the winner takes all and the 
loser takes nothing has to change. 
 
7.  (C) Utete replied that he could not disagree in principle 
with the Ambassador's points.  It was important, however, to 
have some historical perspective.  The American political 
system is "beyond imitation," Utete said.  It took many years 
to develop and the path was not easy; Americans fought a 
Civil War along the way.  He thinks, sometimes, that 
developed countries are too harsh in their judgments of 
Zimbabwe.  He said his country was going through a process of 
political and social development, and it was unfair to think 
this could happen without hitches.  He emphasized that he was 
"not trying to excuse anything that has happened here," but 
was merely wearing his academic's hat.  In response, the 
Ambassador said it was ultimately up to Zimbabweans to 
determine the way forward.  The United States was willing to 
be helpful in                 resolving the political crisis, 
and the Ambassador was willing to talk at any time about any 
issues to Utete or individuals he suggested.  Utete welcomed 
engagement in discussions with other nations, as Zimbabweans 
can learn from other experiences as they work to find a 
solution of their own. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
8.  (C) Utete is no ideologue and he does not go overboard in 
parroting the party line.  He is bright and savvy, and has 
lived in the United States.  His access to Mugabe gives him 
significant influence within the Government, and he can be 
helpful in resolving problems and in passing messages.  We 
will be interested to see if his intervention helps resolve 
the food impasse in Binga.  The Ambassador's intention in 
seeking this meeting was to keep the channels of 
communication open.  Utete clearly was appreciative of the 
effort and seemed genuinely interested in maintaining regular 
contact. 
 
SULLIVAN