Richard Branson was ready to fund plan to persuade Mugabe to quit

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WikiLeaks cable reveals 2007 plan for African 'Elders' to persuade Zimbabwe leader to step down with cash incentives
Richard Branson was willing to bankroll a diplomatic offensive against Mugabe, say the cables.
Richard Branson was willing to bankroll a diplomatic offensive against Mugabe, say the cables. Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA

Sir Richard Branson wanted to bankroll a diplomatic effort to remove Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe, from power, according to a leaked US embassy cable.

Branson was due to hold a secret meeting with South Africa's former president Nelson Mandela and other senior African statesmen in July 2007, to discuss persuading Mugabe to step down, the confidential memo released by Wikileaks states.

The initiative, said to have been brokered by the Zimbabwean politician Jonathan Moyo, never came to fruition, although its proposal of a "broad-based government of all national talents and interests" bears similarities to the country's current power-sharing agreement.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for Branson acknowledged that he had been approached by Moyo to discuss achieving a peaceful reconciliation in Zimbabwe but no further action was taken.

The cable, classified by the US ambassador Eric Bost to South Africa, states: "UK businessman Richard Branson is bankrolling an African 'Elders' initiative to convince Zimbabwean President Mugabe to step down. The 'Elders' plan to meet secretly in Johannesburg July 17-18 with Branson to discuss their initiative."

The mooted meeting reads like  a who's who of African politics. Mandela, the former presidents Sam Nujoma (Namibia), Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia), Jerry Rawlings (Ghana), Joaquim Chissano (Mozambique), Daniel arap Moi (Kenya) and Ketumile Masire (Botswana) reportedly agreed to participate, the cable states, as did the ex-UN secretary-general Kofi Annan.

The former US president Jimmy Carter was also due to be in Johannesburg and to meet the group, although "it is not clear if he will be involved in the Zimbabwe discussion".

The memo identifies Moyo, a controversial political figure in Zimbabwe, as "working with Branson on the plan". Moyo is a former information minister who quit and became a critic of Mugabe before returning to the loyalist fold.

The cable notes: "Moyo reached out to Branson, who owns Virgin Atlantic airlines as well as a game lodge and chain of gyms in South Africa, in early June to suggest the involvement of the former African leaders.

"Branson agreed to fund the initiative, including Moyo's travel and technical assistance. Embassy contact XXXXX provided Post with emails between Moyo and Branson, as well as a copy of Moyo's draft concept paper for the initiative."

It goes on to describe Moyo's paper, which gave reasons for the Zimbabwe crisis, including the disagreement between its government and Britain and Mugabe's unwillingness to allow anyone to succeed him "due to his deep-seated immunity fears and concerns:

"Moyo proposes to the Elders a four-point strategy to deal with Mugabe:

The Elders would travel to Zimbabwe to meet with Mugabe.

The Elders would urge Mugabe to support a new constitution, which would include 'watertight' provisions on Mugabe's immunity from prosecution and allow for a truth and reconciliation process.

The new constitution would allow Mugabe to appoint an executive prime minister, who would form a 'broad-based government of all national talents and interests;' Parliament would then select a new, non-executive president.

This new government would last until November 2010, when a general election would be held."

Moyo even suggested a "script" for the Elders for their proposed meeting with Mugabe:

Tell Mugabe that they are approaching him because they "respect him" and want to safeguard his "proud legacy".

Express concern about the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe.

Tell Mugabe the time has come to step aside "graciously and with dignity to allow his country to move on".

Stress that "it is now certain Zimbabwe will slip into dangerous chaos" if Mugabe does not step down.

Suggest that they support Mugabe now, but "will not be able to do so if the situation in Zimbabwe deteriorates".

The Elders' visit to Zimbabwe never materialised. A year later, in 2008, Mugabe clung on to power after a chaotic election in which the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said 253 people died. The president's Zanu-PF party and the MDC formed a unity government which still holds today.

A spokesman for Branson said: "In 2007, Dr Jonathan Moyo approached Richard Branson to discuss ways to broker a peaceful reconciliation in Zimbabwe, help end the deteriorating political and economic situation and suggested the formation of a coalition government. After meeting no further action was taken."

Moyo said: "I never approached anyone about anything and the cable can only be explained by the source of the cable, and that's not me. I'm not in a position to comment about third parties. It's like asking me to comment on a third party saying someone is sleeping with his wife."

Asked if he had never spoken to Branson, Moyo replied: "I didn't say that. I said I can't comment on a cable based on a third party."