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WikiLeaks highlighted the prevalence of a tendency among some of us to have suspect relationships with US diplomats. The whistleblower website showed many Zimbabwean politicians and businesspeople disclosing privileged information about their government, economy and political parties to Americans. Such disclosures, when made to representatives of a hostile country like the US, can be damaging.

It appears some of our politicians did not learn anything from the possible dangers of those leaks, if recent Press reports are anything to go by. Twelve Zanu-PF MPs with questionable links with US Embassy second secretary in charge of parliamentary section, Eric Little were identified. Reports say the legislators provided Little, who is also said to be a US intelligence officer, with sensitive information on the ruling party’s succession issue, allegedly in return for grants for projects in their constituencies. The US has denied wrongdoing.

The MPs are Cde Paul Mavhima (Gokwe-Sengwa), Cde Walter Kanhanga (Guruve North), Cde Adam Chimwamurombe (Chipinge West), Cde Chriswell Mutematsaka (Guruve South), Cde Batsirayi Pemhanayi (Mutare North), Cde Enock Porusingazi (Chipinge West), Cde Tapiwanashe Matangaidze (Shurugwi South), Cde Temba Mliswa (Hurungwe West), Cde Kindness Paradza (Makonde), Cde David Butau (Mbire), Cde Simbaneuta Mudarikwa (Uzumba) and another from Masvingo.

MDC-T’s James Maridadi and Willas Madzimure also allegedly met Little separately. It is believed their discussions centred on possible replacements for Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC-T leader whose relations with America have soured.

Without getting into the merits of the issue under discussion, Zanu-PF legislators have to recognise that interactions with US diplomats must always be treated with caution.
It’s noteworthy at this stage that little is known about the exact content or the purpose of the discussions Little had with the 12 MPs. Therefore, due process must be followed to establish the truth whether or not the legislators indeed compromised themselves.

Zanu-PF spokesman, Cde Rugare Gumbo said:
“As they say no investigation, no right to speak, but as a party we cannot ignore such reports. We are going to carry out investigations and make the necessary pronouncements. We have only heard about that in the media and we have to establish what is happening. It may be innocent funding or it might be something else so we cannot relax on the matter. We do not want to be subjective or pre-empt the issue but those who are being quoted should bring the matter to the party otherwise it might be people who have got their own agendas.”

Whatever the findings of the planned probe, we feel that there should be processes and procedures to be followed by Zanu-PF MPs and other office bearers before they engage foreign diplomats or donors, who constitute a sensitive public which is also critical in constituency and national development.

We suggest that MPs and other ruling party leaders must notify their provincial and national leadership in advance of the meetings stating the agenda, venue and times. Minutes of the meetings must be taken too and forwarded to the party for perusal and record.

Minutes don’t necessarily capture everything; vital information can be deliberately omitted if mischief is intended. But it is better to have them than not at all as those involved would know that their party knows who they met, where and why. They are unlikely to sell out. Anyone who fails to provide the information can be challenged to explain why they did so. It is unlikely that our diplomats in US interact with political leaders in their host nations without respecting defined rules of engagement.

We are proposing checks- and they can be more – for Zanu-PF leaders’ interactions with people outside the party because of what we learnt from WikiLeaks. Members of the ruling party must be suspicious of American overtures on anything and be always vigilant. Americans themselves don’t trust anyone.
MDC-T cannot be too concerned about Maridadi and Madzimure because theirs is a stooge party of Europe and America.

The Zanu-PF MPs met Little, and possibly got carried away, in the name of their role in constituency development. Traditionally, the US, Europe and Canada have helped in that respect. The government tried to alleviate that dependence on Western donors when it introduced the Constituency Development Fund four years ago. The fund is empty now and there isn’t much hope money would be released into it, yet the need for constituency development is there and growing.

But even under these desperate circumstances, MPs have an obligation to conduct themselves honourably. Aid is welcome but it does not come for nothing. With this in mind, processes and procedures must be laid down on how the donations can be handled. Any sincere donor or beneficiary would not be frustrated by due processes.