VZCZCXRO9738
PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHWD #0249/01 2261624
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 131624Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0018
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 WINDHOEK 000249 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR KDEM EAID EAGR KMCA ZI WA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ZIMBABWE, LAND REFORM WITH 
NAMIBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Dennise Mathieu for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
¶1. (C) During a cordial 45-minute meeting with the Ambassador 
in his office on August 12, Foreign Minister Marco Hausiku 
declined to describe the kind of agreement he hoped ZANU-PF 
and the MDC would reach, saying that was up to Zimbabweans. 
The Ambassador stressed the U.S. view that Morgan Tsvangirai 
should have a substantial role, that any new government 
should be transitional and followed quickly by new elections. 
 Hausiku replied that Zimbabweans need a cooling-off period 
before new elections.   The Minister delivered an emotional 
plea on the Government of Namibia's  need to proceed quickly 
with its land reform program, saying Namibians were getting 
frustrated with the slow pace.  The Ambassador noted that 
announcement of a detailed, transparent land reform program 
would make it easier for the GRN to manage internal 
expectations and attract international financial assistance. 
 Hausiku was delighted with the recent signature of the 
Millennium Challenge Compact, and regretted that he had been 
overseas at the time of the signing ceremony.  End Summary. 
 
Zimbabwe negotiations 
--------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C)  The Ambassador asked for Hausiku's assessment of the 
ongoing negotiations in Harare between ZANU-PF and MDC.  The 
Foreign Minister said he hoped there would be an agreement by 
the time of the SADC summit August 16-17.  He had spoken to 
the Namibian ambassador in Harare that morning and understood 
the two sides had reached agreement on most issues.   The one 
sticking point, he said, appeared to be how executive power 
would be shared.  The negotiators are now trying to work out 
an appropriate division of responsibilities between the 
President and Prime Minister.  The Government of Namibia, he 
added, is hoping an agreement would be finalized by the time 
of the SADC Summit August 16-17. 
 
¶3.  (C)  Asked whether the Troika would publicly express its 
views on the agreement, Hausiku responded in the affirmative. 
 That is why, he explained, President Mbeki would brief the 
Troika Chair before any public announcement, and the Troika 
Chair would brief his other SADC counterparts.  The 
Ambassador expressed the USG's hope that any final agreement 
should express the will of the  Zimbabwean people.   Since 
Morgan Tsvangirai had received so many votes, his role in 
government should be substantial.   Our view, she said, was 
that the new government should be transitional and followed 
soon after by new, free and fair elections.   The Ambassador 
asked Hausiku what kind of agreement Namibia preferred. 
Chuckling uncomfortably, Hausiku said "we may have an 
opinion," but the best outcome is whatever the Zimbabweans 
themselves agree to.  All the political parties should be 
satisfied with the agreement.   "We can't dictate a 
particular outcome," he declared.  He noted that both parties 
had accepted the legitimacy of the other by agreeing to the 
MOU on the negotiations.  The Foreign Minister was 
noncommital about new elections, saying that Zimbabweans 
needed a "cooling-off period" to develop a sense of trust in 
their leadership.   At that point, they might be ready for 
the "next phase."  Moving too quickly to new elections could 
spark similar problems, Hausiku asserted.  The Ambassador 
reiterated the need for the transition period to be as rapid 
as possible, to which the Minister replied, laughing, "it's 
better to go slow and arrive alive than to drive fast and 
arrive dead."  The time frame for new elections, he stressed, 
should be dictated by the situation on the ground. 
 
Land reform 
----------- 
 
¶4.  (C) The Ambassador noted that the SADC Tribunal recently 
had ruled against the government of Zimbabwe in a land 
seizure case and asked Hausiku's views on next steps.   The 
Minister was dismissive of the ruling, saying it was the 
first case and adding that "in our system, we accept what the 
courts say but whether we do what they say is another 
matter."  He said the court should provide an alternative to 
redress the imbalances that predated the beginning of land 
reform efforts in Zimbabwe. 
 
¶5.  (C) Turning to Namibia, Hausiku said he is under constant 
pressure from "my people" to speed up land reform efforts. 
He said he regularly assured Namibians that the government is 
proceeding with a land reform program, but he said they will 
stop listening in 15 or 20 years unless the process speeds 
up.  He said frustration is building among the population and 
made an appeal for resources from the international 
community.  Namibia needs to find a way to redress the 
imbalances in land ownership while also addressing the needs 
 
WINDHOEK 00000249  002 OF 002 
 
 
of landowners, he noted. 
 
¶6.  (C)  The Ambassador said the United States understands 
Namibia's unique history and she commended the GRN's 
constitutional approach, its stated preference to proceed 
with acquisition of land on a willing seller, willing buyer 
basis.  Before the GRN requested resources from the donor 
community, however, it was important to have a well-defined, 
transparent program.   For instance, it should make clear 
whether the goal is commercial viability or whether mere 
distribution of land is sufficient.  The GRN also will need 
to decide whether it will provide agricultural extension 
services to resettled communities.   Once the GRN clarifies 
those kinds of issues, it will be easier to manage the 
population's expectations and will facilitate requests for 
international assistance.  The Ambassador noted that the 
Millennium Challenge Corporation plans to work with communal 
farmers to help them become more productive. 
 
¶7.  (C)  Noting that he was Namibia's first Minister of Lands 
and Resettlement after independence, Hausiku said it wasn't 
true to say that Namibia doesn't have a land reform program. 
Policies have been developed, committees have been 
established to determine who gets settled where, and guidance 
has been developed on who can apply for land and how.  What 
is missing, though, is support services, such as agricultural 
extension and provision of inputs to farmers. And, for that, 
the GRN needs resources.  "I accept that the U.S. may see 
things differently," the Minister said.   Germany, he added, 
doesn't want the GRN interfering in farming, since a large 
percentage of commercial farmers have roots there.  He 
claimed that Germany had pledged financial assistance for 
construction of infrastructure on resettled farms ten years 
ago but still hasn't disbursed any funds.  Hausiku said he 
"can't imagine Germany would ever support our land reform 
program, regardless of what they say."  The only way to 
proceed is to plan carefully, but the GRN must move forward 
on this issue using available resources. 
 
Millennium Challenge Compact 
---------------------------- 
 
¶8. (C) The Foreign Minister said the recent signing of the 
Millennium Challenge Compact had been great news, and he 
thanked the Ambassador for shepherding the negotiations to a 
successful conclusion.  The Ambassador noted that the hard 
work of implementation would now begin. 
 
Mauritania 
---------- 
 
¶9.  (C)  The Ambassador thanked Hausiku for Namibia's public 
statement critical of the coup in Mauritania, noting that 
recent political developments there had been a setback for 
Africa.   Hausiku agreed, calling the coup a pity and 
commenting that Mauritania had been headed in the right 
direction. 
 
SWAPO 
----- 
 
¶10.  (C)  The Ambassador asked about recent media reports 
criticizing the President for not consulting widely enough 
prior to making diplomatic appointments, particularly 
Namibia's Permrep at the UN and ambassador to Botswana. 
Constitutionally, the President has every right to appoint 
his diplomatic representatives abroad, Hausiku replied, but 
"I advise him on all such appointments."  He said that no 
ambassadors have been assigned without his blessing, and 
ambassadors would remain in place unless the President or he 
decided otherwise. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶11.  (C) As usual, Hausiku was charming and engaged, even 
when discussing the very emotional issue of land reform. 
Despite his assurances to the contrary, the government does 
not appear to have a well-defined, transparent land reform 
program.   At a minimum, there has been widespread criticism 
of the lack of clear criteria for selection of recipients, 
and of government's failure to provide adequate support to 
those who are resettled.   On Zimbabwe, Hausiku remained 
noncommittal regarding a political solution.  It is unclear 
exactly what he envisions in terms of a "cooling-off period" 
prior to new elections, but we will continue to advocate 
support for a transitional government with the GRN. 
MATHIEU