India’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Ashok Venkatesan said President Robert Mugabe and the Shona were transplants to Zimbabwe, just like the jacaranda tree which was an import from South America but had become pervasive.
As such they had no real traditional cultural roots and the people, like the tree, were extremely quiescent and undemanding.
The lack of cultural roots caused some irrational behaviour; with many in ZANU-PF saying that they were the bright jewels of the region and should be respected for it -“the most beautiful bride at the wedding”, apparently unaware of how outsiders viewed them.
The ambassador wondered if Mugabe ever gave any consideration to his legacy, and whether or not he wanted what was best for the country.
He said that although India had a long relationship with Mugabe, it maintained a neutral policy. Its view was that business is business.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 10HARARE19, AMBASSADOR’S COURTESY CALL WITH INDIAN AMBASSADOR
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Reference ID |
Created |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO7902
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0019/01 0141212
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 141212Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5297
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 3246
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 3357
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1780
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2614
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 2984
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 0045
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0047
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0074
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2515
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000019
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR BRIAN WALCH
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN
NEW DELHI FOR POLITICAL OFFICER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2020
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR’S COURTESY CALL WITH INDIAN AMBASSADOR
TO ZIMBABWE
Classified By: AMBASSADOR CHARLES A. RAY FOR REASONS 1.4 d
——-
SUMMARY
——-
¶1. (C) In a meeting on January 13, Indian ambassador to
Zimbabwe Ashok Venkatesan told the Ambassador that India has
had a relationship with Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF that dates
to the independence struggle, and Mugabe had a personal
relationship with Indira Gandhi. The GOI takes a neutral
stance toward the parties now, however, and there has not
been a ministerial-level visit to Harare since 1993. Until
the political situation improves, there is not likely to be
one. Venkatesan concentrates his efforts on keeping
Zimbabwe-India business relationships smooth. END SUMMARY.
———————————-
INDIAN POLICY, NEUTRAL – BUT . . .
———————————-
¶2. (C) The Ambassador met with Indian Ambassador Ashok
Venkatesan on January 13 at the Indian Embassy in Harare.
Venkatesan has been at post for just over one year. He said
that India has had a relationship with Robert Mugabe and
ZANU-PF since before 1980 during the war for independence.
The Indian Government’s current policy is to remain neutral
in the afairs of Zimbabwe, not publicly supporting or
criticizing either party. He pointed out, though, that there
has been no ministerial-level visit to Harare from India
since 1993, and until the political situation improves there
is not likely to be one. He has not even been able to get
Delhi to agree to a visit from the Vice-Ministerial level,
even as India provides support for some IT and other projects.
¶3. (SBU) India’s view is that business is business, and
while business interests here are minimal, he tries to keep
the business cooperation smooth. The ethnic Indian community
here has fallen from nearly 15,000 to between 5 – 6,000,
mainly the very old and the very young. Indians in the 20-40
age range have largely emigrated to Canada, Europe, the U.S.,
and South Africa, and have no plans to return. The Indian
expatriate community of around 500 is engaged in only a few
businesses, the primary one being a cotton factory that
provides inputs to cotton farmers, buys their crop, and then
produces cotton fiber and cottonseed oil for sale. During
2006-2008, the oil production facility was subject to
excessive government intervention, with the GOZ demanding
that it sell its production locally at artificially low and
unprofitable prices.
————————–
NO SHONA CULTURAL IDENTITY
————————-
¶4. (C) Venkatesan described Mugabe and the dominant Shona of
Zimbabwe as transplants to this land, like the jacaranda
tree, an import from South America that has become pervasive
– similar to kudzu and armadillos in the southern United
States. They have no real traditional cultural roots. He
also said that the people here, like the tree, are extremely
quiescent and undemanding. He said he wonders if Mugabe ever
gives any consideration to his legacy, and whether or not he
Qgives any consideration to his legacy, and whether or not he
wants what is best for the country. But, he added, the lack
of cultural roots causes some irrational behavior; with many
in ZANU-PF saying that they are the bright jewels of the
region and should be respected for it – “the most beautiful
bride at the wedding,” apparently unaware of how outsiders
view them.
¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: Venkatesan noted that Zimbabweans don’t
even know the true origins of the ruins at the Great
HARARE 00000019 002 OF 002
Zimbabwe, which were here when the Shona entered from East
Africa and settled on land that was essentially vacant. An
interesting twist on ZANU-PF’s view of truth; there have been
some articles claiming that the ruins were built by Mugabe’s
ancestors – with total disregard to the fact that most of the
people here know it to be a blatant falsehood. END COMMENT.
RAY
(75 VIEWS)
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