Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Wikileaks: YEAR 2010 -USA AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH HON SAVIOUR KASUKUWEREZIMBABWE'S MINISTER OF YOUTH, INDEGINIZATION , AND EMPOWERMENT

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WIKELEAKS: YEAR 2010 -USA AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH HON SAVIOUR KASUKUWEREZIMBABWE'S MINISTER OF YOUTH, INDEGINIZATION , AND EMPOWERMENT 
ID 
10HARARE87
SUBJECT 
Ambassador's meeting with Zim Minister of Youth,
DATE 
2010-02-08 00:00:00
CLASSIFICATION 
CONFIDENTIAL
ORIGIN 
Embassy Harare
TEXT 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000087 

SIPDIS 
AF/S FOR BRIAN WALCH 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/08 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ZI, ECON, EINV 
SUBJECT: Ambassador's meeting with Zim Minister of Youth, 
Indigenization and Empowerment 

CLASSIFIED BY: Charles Ray, Ambassador, State, Exec; REASON: 1.4(B), 
(D) 

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SUMMARY 

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1. (SBU) Zimbabwe's Minister of Youth, Indigenization and 
Empowerment Saviour KASUKUWERE suggested to the Ambassador that all 
donor and NGO support for youth be channeled through the Zimbabwe 
Youth Council. He defended indigenization as necessary to protect 
Zimbabwe's resources, and said the policy would be applied 
flexibly. Finally, he argued that Western-imposed sanctions were 
the primary impediment to progress under the Global Political 
Agreement (GPA). END SUMMARY. 



2. (SBU) KASUKUWERE sought the meeting with the Ambassador, which 
took place at the Ministry on February 4 and was cordial. He said 
his purpose was to build bridges, and find areas of cooperation. 
Fundamental was assistance to youth. Zimbabwe youth were in a 
desperate situation and were being manipulated by different groups. 
He said he appreciated assistance to youths by the U.S. and NGOs, 
but he was concerned that money was being given to run programs 
without the knowledge of the government. He urged that any U.S. 
funds be channeled through the Zimbabwe Youth Council which he said 
had ZANU-PF, MDC, and civil society representation. 



3. (SBU) The Ambassador posited that many youth were essentially 
"ghost workers." They were on the civil service payroll, but were 
not actually working. (NOTE: We have reports that many of these 
individuals are involved in intimidation of MDC supporters in rural 
areas. END NOTE.) KASUKUWERE replied that many were actually 
involved in productive activities but were getting bad publicity. 



4. (SBU) Turning to indigenization, the Ambassador stated that the 
uncertain investment climate was a deterrent to investment and the 
recovery of the economy. KASUKUWERE said that indigenization was 
necessary so that resources could be protected and the Zimbabwean 
people have a stake in the economy. He was in the process of 
issuing regulations to support existing indigenization legislation. 
In summary, businesses involved in divestments or mergers would 
have to be 51 percent indigenous. Existing businesses would have 
up to five years to reach the 51 percent. The percentage of 
indigenization required for new investment would be determined by 
KASUKUWERE and the MDC-T Minister of Economic Development on a 
case-by-case basis according to the sector involved. For example, 
mining investment would have to immediately meet a minimum of 50 
percent, but high tech investment might start at 30 percent. 



5. (SBU) KASUKUWERE said Zimbabwe and the U.S. should work toward 
normalizing relations. But after viewing President Obama's 
inauguration-and offer of an open hand-with hope, he was becoming 
disappointed. Sanctions were still in place and were coming 
between Zimbabweans seeking to find common ground with each other. 
When the Ambassador told him he was willing to talk to anyone about 
the issues that divide us, KASUKUWERE responded that his (the 
Ambassador's) fist was clenched too. 



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COMMENT 

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HARARE 00000087 002 OF 002 


6. (C) KASUKUWERE is young, smooth, and ambitious. He reportedly 
orchestrated violence in Mashonaland East in the 2008 elections. 
Realizing that the future may not lie exclusively with ZANU-PF, he 
is on a charm offensive, reaching out to both MDC factions and to 
Western diplomats. He is an important player given the political 
importance of youth and the economic importance of investment. 



7. (C) KASUKUWERE is from Mt. Darwin in Mashonaland East Province, 
also the home of Vice President Joice Mujuru. At 40, he is the 
youngest ZANU-PF minister. While he has in the past been allied 
with the Mujuru faction, an advisor to the vice president told us 
he is untrustworthy and a "thug." END COMMENT. 
RAY
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