VZCZCXRO9007
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0047 0231409
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231409Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2416
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1824
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1735
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1861
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1138
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1495
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1917
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4345
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0988
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC//DHO-7//
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK//DOOC/ECMO/CC/DAO/DOB/DOI//
RUEPGBA/CDR USEUCOM INTEL VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ23-CH/ECJ5M//
UNCLAS HARARE 000047
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR L.DOBBINS AND E.LOKEN
TREASURY FOR J. RALYEA AND T.RAND
COMMERCE FOR BECKY ERKUL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV ZI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO BE
ENGINE OF PEACEFUL CHANGE
1. (SBU) Beginning his outreach to Zimbabwe's beleaguered
business community, on January 17 Ambassador challenged
members of the American Business Association of Zimbabwe
(ABAZ) to be more energetic in bringing about peaceful change
in Zimbabwe. Speaking at the monthly meeting of ABAZ, he
said that the business community could be the engine that
carries the country forward. He called on it to step forward
and make its collective voice heard. He praised ABAZ for
engaging ministers and ruling-party and opposition
parliamentarians at its meetings, as well as for stimulating
public debate on reform in public fora and organizing
briefings for visiting IMF and World Bank missions. But he
called on the Association to ratchet up its public profile
and its interaction with government, in particular with key
parliamentary portfolio committee members and moderate
members of government. "Your voices need to be heard, but
they also need to be louder; your actions need to be seen,
but they also need to be bolder," Ambassador told a group of
45 members representing 26 companies with U.S.-related
businesses.
2. (SBU) Ambassador enunciated the USG goal of advancing
freedom by helping to build and sustain a more democratic,
secure, and prosperous world composed of well-governed states
that respond to the needs of their people, that reduce
widespread poverty, and that act responsibly within the
international system. In furtherance of that goal, he
emphasized that there would be no relenting on principles:
the USG wants to see free and fair elections, respect for the
rule of law, and respect for human and property rights in
Zimbabwe. To wide applause, he concluded by welcoming
interaction with ABAZ and with individual members, as well as
with the broader business community.
3. (SBU) At the recommendation of several ABAZ members, the
Zimbabwe branch of the Institute of Directors subsequently
invited the Ambassador to address one of its monthly
meetings. In addition, Post is organizing a series of
meetings for Ambassador with business leaders, and visits to
major businesses.
MCGEE