P 071114Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MBABANE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3377
INFO SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MBABANE 000004 
 
 
DEPT FOR AF/S (MHARRIS); S/GAC (CHOLMES) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2019 
TAGS: PGOV EAID KDEM PHUM PREL PTER PINR IR WZ
SUBJECT: SUBJECT:  PRIME MINISTER DISCUSSES U.S./SWAZI 
RELATIONS IN 2009 
 
Classified By: AMB Maurice S. Parker for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
 
¶1.  (U)  SUMMARY:  On December 31, Ambassador Maurice Parker 
met with Swazi Prime Minister Barnabus Dlamini.  The PM 
requested the meeting to gauge GKOS' standing with diplomatic 
missions accredited to Swaziland, and to request U.S. 
financial assistance in building a new state-of-the-art 
hospital.  The conversation also covered SADC's position on 
Zimbabwe, Iran-Swazi relations, and the continued 
imprisonment of an opposition leader.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (C)  In response to an invitation from the Office of the 
Prime Minister, Ambassador Parker met with Prime Minister 
Dlamini on December 31 to discuss U.S./Swazi relations in 
¶2009.  The PM began the meeting by trying to assess the 
current state of relations between the GKOS and the U.S. 
Government, due to the ongoing imprisonment of opposition 
leader Mario Masuku under Swaziland's new Suppression of 
Terrorism Act.  Ambassador Parker expressed his concern over 
the continued imprisonment of Mario Masuku, President of the 
opposition party the Peoples United Democratic Movement 
(PUDEMO), for statements supporting terrorism and sedition. 
The PM stated that Masuku prefers to stand on principal and 
remain imprisoned, because his bail is affordable (between 50 
) 100 U.S. dollars). When the Ambassador noted that Masuku's 
charges appears to be related to public statements he has 
made, rather than conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, the 
PM confided that the GKOS has evidence that PUDEMO was 
involved in planning the attempted bombing near Lozitha 
Palace, and their plan was hatched in Blomfontein, South 
Africa.  He continued by commenting that Mario strongly 
advocated for the bombing and other terrorist acts.  He said 
that Mario's case will be brought to trial early in 2009, but 
that he will leave the decision regarding Mario's guilt or 
innocence to the courts. 
 
¶3.  (C)  The PM commented that Swaziland would like to 
enhance the Suppression of Terrorism Act, modeled upon 
American anti-terrorism laws.  To ensure consistency with a 
similar message delivered by DAS Carol Thompson recently to 
Deputy Prime Masuku, during his recent visit to the 
Department, the Ambassador agreed that terrorism is a 
globally-shared concern that must be addressed.  He stated 
that governments have the responsibility, however, to ensure 
that counterterrorism laws do not lead to the repression of 
civil society or political participation.  The Prime Minister 
responded by stating that he will take the Embassy's concerns 
regarding the Suppression of Terrorism Act under advisement. 
 
 
CONSTRUCTION OF NATIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL 
 
¶4.  (U)  The Prime Minister then presented the Ambassador 
with a written proposal requesting U.S. financial assistance 
in constructing and equipping a National Referral Hospital 
for Swaziland in Swaziland.  He referred to a serious 
automobile accident on a highway outside Mbabane on December 
30, which critically injured Attorney General Majahenkhaba 
Dlamini, who was airlifted to a nearby hospital in South 
Africa.  The PM said that Swaziland would like to have a 
hospital with a well-equipped trauma center that could assist 
all Swazis, and not have to transfer the seriously injured 
citizens, like the Attorney General, to South Africa.  The PM 
said that King Mswati III had recently discussed the project 
with S/GAC Ambassador Mark Dybul, and DAS for Southern 
African Affairs Carol Thompson, during their meeting on the 
margins of UNGA.  The Ambassador cautioned the Prime Minister 
that it might be difficult for the USG to commit to a project 
of such magnitude during the international economic crisis. 
However, he reminded the PM that Swaziland could make a 
concerted effort to improve its scorecard in an effort to 
join the Millennium Challenge Account. 
 
 
ZIMBABWE 
 
¶5.  (C)  The Ambassador and PM discussed SADC's perspective 
on the Zimbabwe power-sharing agreement.  The PM stated that 
he doubts Mugabe could last in office more than three or four 
months.  He said that most SADC members believe the military 
will take action within that timeframe, but did not provide 
specifics to justify his position.  He said the King will 
resume the Chairmanship of the SADC Troika when he comes out 
of seclusion in early February, but he is doubtful that the 
Troika, or SADC, will be able to influence Mugabe.  He stated 
Robert Mugabe is a tough and difficult man and that, with the 
exception of President Khama of Botswana, African leaders do 
not believe in interfering in the internal affairs of other 
nations.  When reminded that neither Zimbabwe nor South 
Africa would be free of apartheid without sanctions imposed 
by the USG and the EU, the PM said that interference and 
sanctions were not the African way. 
 
 
IRAN 
 
¶6.  (C)  PM Dlamini confirmed that he met with Iran,s Deputy 
Foreign Minister (DFM) for African Affairs Ali Bagheri in 
November.  The PM stated that DFM Bagheri visited Swaziland 
with the intention of meeting the King.  Since the King was 
in seclusion, Bagheri met with the PM in his office.  PM 
Dlamini was guarded regarding the topics he discussed with 
the Iranian, but stated that DFM Bagheri wanted to deliver a 
quote pleasant greeting unquote to the King.  He mentioned 
that he received the greeting and delivered it to the King. 
The PM said that Swaziland is looking forward to improving 
relations with other Middle Eastern countries, particularly 
Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, but was not planning to 
develop bilateral relations with Iran.  As far as he is 
concerned, Iran is not of interest to Swaziland, but the 
decision to expand Swazi/Iranian relations is up to Minister 
of Foreign Affairs Lutfo Dlamini. 
 
¶7.  (C)  COMMENT:  The PM's New Year's message to the 
Ambassador indicated that Swaziland will not dramatically 
change political or economic direction in 2009.  The GKOS 
will continue to limit freedom of assembly and speech among 
its people, under the guise of enhancing counterterrorism 
programs; seek international donations to support their 
favorite infrastructure development programs without 
demonstrating a greater willingness to rule justly or invest 
in its people; and will not provide stronger leadership in 
the SADC Organ of Politics, Defense and Security.  Change 
comes slowly to Swaziland. 
 
 
PARKER