POLICE CLOSE DOWN MASIRE'S KINSHASA OFFICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 003448 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/10 TAGS: PGOV CG ZI SUBJECT: POLICE CLOSE DOWN MASIRE'S KINSHASA OFFICE REF: STATE 117859 CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD REASONS 1.5 B/D. ¶1. (C) ON JUNE 23 DCM DELIVERED A DEMARCHE TO MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS UNDER SECRETARY FOR AFRICA DAVID CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 03448 230924Z HAMADZIRIPI PER REFTEL INSTRUCTION. DCM ALSO LEFT A NON-PAPER CONTAINING POINTS IN PARAS 1 AND 3 FOR HIS CONSIDERATION. ¶2. (C) HAMADZIRIPI ACKNOWLEDGED THAT, "THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION." HE NOTED THAT ZIMBABWE WAS CONCERNED THAT CLOSURE OF NATIONAL DIALOGUE FACILITATOR SIR KETUMILE MASIRE'S OFFICE IN KINSHASA PUTS A DAMPER ON THE MOMENTUM INDUCED IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. THE ZIMBABWEAN DIPLOMAT STRESSED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE, WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED WAS A VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT, AND HAD ENCOURAGED THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO TO WORK WITH MASIRE TO ACHIEVE A POLITICAL SOLUTION. IN ZIMBABWE'S ANALYSIS, THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE FACT THAT THE ROLE OF THE FACILITATOR WAS FROM THE BEGINNING NEVER MADE VERY CLEAR. IN JANUARY THE POLITICAL COMMITTEE ATTEMPTED TO CLARIFY IT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT SUCCESSFULLY. THE CONGOLESE, WHO HE SAID RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR A FACILITATOR, NEVERTHELESS REQUIRED THAT INDIVIDUAL TO RECOGNIZE THE AUTHORITY AND SOVEREIGNTY OF THE KABILA GOVERNMENT. ¶3. (C) FOR REASONS THAT THE ZIMBABWEANS DID NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND, KINSHASA HAD LOST CONFIDENCE IN MASIRE THE PERSON, AS FACILITATOR. INDEED, THE CONGOLESE FOREIGN MINISTER HAD CALLED HIM THE "COMPLICATOR" AT A RECENT POLITICAL COMMITTEE MEETING IN LUSAKA. THE ZIMBABWEANS QUESTIONED WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO RESTORE KABILA'S TRUST IN MASIRE; HAMADZIRIPI THOUGHT NOT, AND IS OF THE OPINION THAT THE CONGOLESE HEAD OF STATE WOULD CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 03448 230924Z CONTINUE TO CHECK HIS EVERY MOVE. THE ZIMBABWEAN DIPLOMAT SEEMED AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT THE NEXT STEPS MIGHT BE TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM, AND DOUBTED HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD BE ABLE TO PERSUADE KABILA TO REVERSE HIS DECISION AND COOPERATE WITH MASIRE. "WE FIND OURSELVES IN A CRISIS," HE CONCLUDED, "BUT ZIMBABWE WILL DO WHAT IT CAN SO THE PROCESS IS CARRIED FORWARD". MCDONALD CONFIDENTIAL >