Virgin Zimbabwe... Secret cable shows how Sir Richard Branson 'led plot to remove Mugabe'



Secret project: Virgin boss apparently launched a plot to persuade Mugabe to stand down

Sir Richard Branson funded a secret project to try to secure the end of Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe, leaked diplomatic cables have revealed.



An international initiative founded by the 61-year-old Virgin boss apparently launched a plot to persuade the tyrant to stand down.



Details of the covert plan were revealed in an American diplomatic message sent to Washington in July 2007 from the US embassy in South Africa.



The document, written by America's then-ambassador to South Africa Eric Bost, revealed how Sir Richard agreed to meet in Johannesburg to discuss the scheme with a group of former African statesmen.



The British entrepreneur is well known as one of the founders of the 'Elders' organisation which brings together respected former presidents to help tackle global crises.



However, Mr Bost's confidential memo is the first indication that the group had ever plotted to help directly instigate regime change.



In the memo, which has been published by Wikileaks, Mr Bost wrote: "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 to 18 with Branson to discuss their initiative.



"Former Presidents Nelson Mandela (South Africa), Sam Nujoma (Namibia), Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia), Jerry Rawlings (Ghana), Joaquim Chissano (Mozambique), Daniel Arap Moi (Kenya) and Ketumile Masire (Botswana) have reportedly agreed to participate."

The leaked cable detailed how the group of former statesmen planned to travel to Harare to meet with president Mugabe.



Once there, they hoped to convince him he could save his legacy by handing over power in a calm and controlled manner.



Extracts from the diplomatic memo have been published by Zimbabwe's Daily News newspaper, which claimed Sir Richard had even been prepared to offer Mugabe a £6.5 million incentive to stand down as part of the plan.

The document: This is the memo, published by Wikileaks, on which Mr Bost wrote: 'UK businessman Richard Branson is bankrolling an African 'Elders' initiative to convince Zimbabwean President Mugabe to step down'

Launch of Elders group: In 2007 Sir Richard Branson was joined by Nelson Mandela (centre) and former US President Jimmy Carter (right) for the launch of the group

The report said: "The Daily News on Sunday understands that among other initiatives, the plan involved dangling a US$10 million carrot to Mugabe to sweeten him to step down, but the 87-year-old leader was reportedly not interested."



The leaked cable said Sir Richard's group were being assisted in their plan by Zimbabwe's former information minister Jonathan Moyo.



Mr Bost wrote that the ex-cabinet minister, who was expelled from the country's ruling Zanu-PF party in 2005 after falling out with Mugabe, had helped prepare a script for the statesman to use on the aging tyrant.



The cable said: "Moyo suggests a script for the Elders in 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 and suggest that they support Mugabe now, but 'will not be able to do so if the situation in Zimbabwe deteriorates'."



Bost's memo stated that Branson had agreed to give financial backing to the plan.



The note was marked confidential and entitled 'UK businessman Branson funding 'Elder' initiative to get Mugabe out of power'.

Elders group from left to right: Activist Peter Gabriel, Professor Muhammad Yunus, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, former Secretary General of the U.N. Kofi Annan, Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, Archbishop Desmont Tutu and Richard Branson

Sir Richard Branson speaking during the official unveiling of The Elders in July 2007 in Johannesburg

It continued: "Former Mugabe Information Minister Jonathan Moyo is working with Branson on the plan.



"Moyo reached out to Branson, who owns Virgin Atlantic airline 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."



The leaked cable reported that the group's planned meeting in Johannesburg in July 2007 would be attended by former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan.



Bost said America's former president Jimmy Carter would also be present, although he added it was 'not clear if he will be involved in the Zimbabwe discussion'.



Sir Richard joined former South African president Mandela in 2007 at the launch of the Elders group.



The organisation stated then that its aim was to use the influence of retired statesmen to tackle some of the world's problems.



The group's supposed plan to try to persuade Mugabe to stand down came during a period of heightened tensions in Zimbabwe.



In 2007 the dictator unleashed a wave of violence against his political opponents ahead of elections due the following year.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, left, meeting with Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe at the State House in Harare, Zimbabwe, yesterday

Meanwhile the country's economy was suffering the effects of devastating inflation and its farming industry virtually collapsed following the forced seizures of properties.



The leaked cable claimed the secret group hoped to persuade Mugabe to accept a new constitution for the country.



They then hoped to persuade him to stand down by offering him total immunity from prosecution and allow for a 'truth and reconciliation process' similar to the one used during South Africa's post-apartheid years.



Under the proposals Mugabe would have been permitted to stay on as head of a coalition government until a general election in November 2010.



It is not known to what extent the plan was followed or whether the Elders group ever approached Mugabe with their proposals.



The following year the dictator clung to power despite losing the first round of a presidential election.



He was later forced into a 'unity government' with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.



Mugabe has recently stated his desire to call fresh elections in the country.



The 87-year-old statesman, who yesterday met the Archbishop of Canterbury in Harare, is believed to be keen to secure a fresh mandate for his government.



The claims about Sir Richard's supposed plot are the latest revelations to emerge from Wikileaks' US cable dump.



The document was one of around 250,000 secret and confidential diplomatic notes published online by the website.



Eric Bost was America's ambassador to South Africa from 2006 to 2009.



A spokesperson for Sir Richard Branson told Mail Online: '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.

