Movement for Democratic Change treasurer Roy Bennett was so frustrated by party leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s delay in returning to Zimbabwe that he complained that Tsvangirai’s concerns about security were “nonsense” because he could be assassinated in South Africa or elsewhere on the continent if the Mugabe regime wanted him dead.
Bennett said the major problem was that Tsvangirai was now firmly under the control of Econet boss Strive Masiyiwa who now told him what to do and when to return to Zimbabwe.
According to a cable released by Wikileaks Bennett told United States embassy officials that he had even volunteered to return with Tsvangirai and stand by his side.
He said Tsvangirai had a solid security team in Harare and could be assassinated in South Africa or elsewhere on the continent if the Mugabe regime really wanted him dead.
He also complained that MDC advisor Strive Masiyiwa was taking over the party, even though he was not an elected official and had no constituents to which to answer.
Masiyiwa was now controlling access to Tsvangirai “for his own purposes” and calling all the shots, including whether or not Tsvangirai returned to Zimbabwe.
“Strive is clever, rich, and a control freak, and Tsvangirai does what the last person tells him to do,” Bennett said.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08PRETORIA1074, MDC BENNETT CATALOGUES PARTY CHALLENGES
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|
Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO9633
RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSA #1074/01 1421229
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 211229Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4511
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE 3665
RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 5616
RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 9832
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 001074
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2018
SUBJECT: MDC BENNETT CATALOGUES PARTY CHALLENGES
PRETORIA 00001074 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(
b) and (d).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY. MDC Treasurer Roy Bennett (strictly protect)
on 19 May shared his frustrations about MDC Leader Morgan
Tsvangirai’s decision not to return to Harare, saying he does
not believe the threats are credible. He also said the
political violence in Zimbabwe is escalating and that the
current regime is conducting public executions. As for the
MDC’s leadership dynamics, Bennett complained about MDC
advisor Strive Masiyiwa, saying he is now controlling access
to Tsvangirai and making all party decisions. Looking ahead,
Bennett said the MDC has officially informed President Mbeki
that they no longer want him as mediator and are counting on
SADC holding another extraordinary meeting, presumably to
appoint someone else. END SUMMARY.
———————————-
BENNETT URGES TSVANGIRAI TO RETURN
———————————-
¶2. (C) PolOff met with MDC Treasurer Roy Bennett (strictly
protect) on 19 May to discuss MDC Leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s
last minute decision not to return to Harare on Saturday 17
May. Bennett said that Tsvangirai did not return because of
security concerns, which he dismissed as “nonsense.” Bennett
said he has been pushing Tsvangirai to return, and even
volunteered to return with him and stand by his side.
(COMMENT: Bennett was granted political asylum from South
Africa in 2007 on the basis that he fled political
persecution in Zimbabwe; his return to Zimbabwe would likely
put him in danger as well as jeopardize his asylum status.
END COMMENT)
¶3. (C) Bennett also emphasized that Tsvangirai has a solid
security team in Harare and that Tsvangirai could be
assassinated in South Africa or elsewhere on the continent if
the Mugabe regime really wanted him dead. Both Bennett and
IDASA analyst Sydney Masamvu separately told PolOff that
Tsvangirai is expected to return on 21 May, but MDC advisor
Kathi Walther told PolOff late on 19 May that she would not
count on it. (NOTE: On 19 May, MDC Secretary General Tendai
Biti publicly claimed that the Zimbabwean military
intelligence has a hit list of about 40 people, including
Tsvangirai, Biti, and MDC Spokesperson Nelson Chamisa. END
NOTE)
——————————–
POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS ESCALATING
——————————–
¶4. (C) Bennett was visibly upset by Tsvangirai’s reluctance
to return to Harare in light of the increasing political
violence. He said the official number of those killed in
post-election violence is around 35, but believes the number
is actually much higher. He has been hearing that the
military is now conducting “summary executions” in public in
business centers. (NOTE: Embassy Harare has not heard of any
public executions. END NOTE) He also gave the following
names as those perpetrating violence by “using youth aged
14-17 years old to carry out amputations, beatings, and
killings:”
— FNU Matemachani: Retired ZANU-PF politician and member of
JOC
— Never Ndemere: War Veteran
— Maxwell Hodze: War Veteran
— Colin Chitambalaza: ZANU-PF
— Rambi Nyabote: ZANU-PF Councillor
— Jacob Nyabote: Senator
—————————————–
TSVANGIRAI HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY MASIWIYA
—————————————–
¶5. (C) When asked how he was coping personally with all the
Q5. (C) When asked how he was coping personally with all the
ups and downs, Bennett admitted it has been difficult. He
also complained that MDC advisor Strive Masiyiwa is taking
over the party, even though he is not an elected official and
PRETORIA 00001074 002.2 OF 002
has no constituents to which to answer. Masiyiwa, he said,
is now controlling access to Tsvangirai “for his own
purposes” and calling all the shots, including whether or not
Tsvangirai returns. In fact, Bennett said that every time
Tsvangirai packs his bags and is ready to return to Harare,
Masiyiwa tells him not to go. As a countermeasure, Bennett
said he is trying to get Tsvangirai and Biti to maintain an
office and conduct meetings at MDC Headquarters in
Johannesburg, rather than having Masiwiya “hold court” at his
house. Bennett, however, expressed no surprise over
Masiyiwa’s behavior: “Strive is clever, rich, and a control
freak, and Tsvangirai does what the last person tells him to
do,” he said.
—————————-
MDC AXES MBEKI AS NEGOTIATOR
—————————-
¶6. (C) Looking ahead, Bennett said that Tsvangirai faxed a
letter to President Mbeki on 14 May officially informing him
that they do not trust him and that they no longer consider
him a credible mediator. He also said that the MDC has
copies of official state documents between South Africa
ForMin Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and ZANU-PF officials stating
the SAG will protect ZANU-PF. He confirmed diplomatic rumors
that there will be a SADC extraordinary meeting “soon” to
talk about mediation efforts. Bennett said that SADC
Chairperson Mwanawasa is waiting for other heads of state to
request the meeting first, presumably to discuss appointing a
new mediator.
¶7. (U) Embassy Harare cleared this message.
BOST
(77 VIEWS)
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