THE controversial business tycoon Billy Rautenbach says he hates January, when school fees are due, because of the large number of senior government officials who approach him for “donations” to pay their children's school fees.

Rautenbach made the claim during meetings with US Ambassador Charles Ray, according embassy communications released on Friday by whistleblower website WikiLeaks.

Ambassador Ray met Ambassador Rautenbach and his key aide, Robson "Taffy" Matonhodze -- a former soldier -- to get their perspective on attitudes among the Zanu PF military and civilian officials on December 29, 2009.

Accoding to the Wikileaks cable, Rautenbach – who is on the US sanctions list for his alleged financial links to President Robert Mugabe -- said being a Zanu PF supporter was no guarantee against negative Zanu PF actions.

“Rautenbach, for instance, said that even though he is an acknowledged financial supporter, it did not keep local Zanu PF thugs from seizing his brother's farm,” Ambassador Ray wrote.

“One of the problems with supporting Zanu PF, they acknowledged, is that once you start, it becomes difficult and dangerous to try to disengage. You could end up dead, was clearly their message.”

Rautenbach, who has denied any links to Zanu PF, allegedly warned Western countries against bribing military and police chiefs seen as impeding reform in the country with one-off payments and security from prosecution for rights abuses.

“What is not understood by the West is that except for a small number, most of these people have not amassed larges hoards of money. They have farms, most in terrible condition, and they operate them based on being able to demand inputs because of their position,” Ambassador Ray wrote following the meeting.

“When they get large amounts of money, it is almost immediately spent, on houses, cars, or girlfriends,” Rautenbach is quoted as telling the US envoy.

The businessman said he hates January, when school fees are due, because of the large number of senior officials who approach him for “donations” to pay their children's school fees.

He also claimed that Zanu PF chiefs were not terribly bothered by Western sanctions and only used them to “stonewall” the opposition’s push for more reforms.

Ambassador Ray wrote: “Zanu PF individuals on the sanctions list are not as affected as they publicly complain. Many of them, in fact, have no real desire to travel to the U.S. or Europe.

“It is, however, a handy tool to use in their campaign to stonewall opposition efforts to reform the political process and maintain the status quo.

“They know full well that the MDC has no power to lift sanctions, and probably little influence on the process, but will continue to use this as a 'bargaining' tool in order to stay in power.”