WikiLeaks: Mandela asked Mugabe to step down in 2007

message to the ZANU PF leader via Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono. Mugabe’s response however was to insult Mandela as a ‘Western puppet’.

In the meeting with Dell, instigated by Moyo, the serial political turncoat told the ambassador that Mandela was acting on behalf of the African National Congress (ANC). According to the cable: “The ANC had defended Mugabe and wanted to continue to defend him but the situation in Zimbabwe was creating a threat to his legacy. It was time for him to go in order to preserve that legacy.”

It’claimed that Mandela advised Gono to deliver the message before the ZANU PF Central Committee meeting on Friday 30th March 2007 but that Gono only delivered it the following Monday, the 2nd April. Although Mugabe described Mandela as a ‘western puppet’ he told Gono to tell Mandela and the ANC that he would consider their advice and would respond at the right time.

Moyo is said to have explained that Mandela wanted to use a fast and secure route to pass on his message, outside normal diplomatic channels, and chose Gono as the man to do it. In the meeting with Ambassador Dell Moyo made it clear that the source of his information was Gono himself.

At the time ZANU PF tried to project the image that Mugabe had the support of most African leaders. Wikileaks have however exposed the fact that many African leaders and ambassadors were privately urging the ageing dictator to step down.