AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 003779 SIPDIS AF FOR P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS AND A/AFR MCCALL E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/10 TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM ZI MDC SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 03779 01 OF 04 121802Z REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: IN A JULY 10 MEETING WITH THE AMBASSADOR, MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) LEADER MORGAN TSVANGIRAI AND MDC PARLIAMENTARY LEADER GIBSON SIBANDA OUTLINED THE PARTY'S PARLIAMENTARY AGENDA, WHICH INCLUDES LAND REFORM, THE ECONOMY, AND THE CREATION OF MECHANISMS FOR HOLDING THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE. THE PARTY WILL ALSO PUSH FOR THE REMOVAL OF WAR VETS FROM FARMS, A WITHDRAWAL FROM THE DRC, AND A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE VIOLENCE SURROUNDING THE JUNE 24-25 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, AND WILL ADVOCATE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM AIMED AT LIMITING EXECUTIVE POWERS. TSVANGIRAI TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT IT IS JUST AS WELL THAT HIS PARTY DID NOT WIN A MAJORITY OF PARLIAMENTARY SEATS, SINCE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTABILIZING. THE MDC WILL CHALLENGE THE RESULTS OF A NUMBER OF CONTESTS, INCLUDING TSVANGIRAI'S OWN. THE PARTY LEADERS SAID THEY PLAN TO WORK HARD ON TRANSFORMING THE MDC FROM A UNION-BASED OPPOSITION FRONT TO A GENUINE POLITICAL PARTY. THE MDC'S AMBITIOUS AGENDA IS TEMPERED BY REALISM ABOUT WHAT IT CAN ACHIEVE, AND THE PARTY APPEARS WELL-POSITIONED TO DEAL WITH THE TOUGH PROBLEMS THAT LIE AHEAD. END COMMENT. ¶2. (U) AMBASSADOR, ACCOMPANIED BY POLOFF, CALLED ON MDC LEADER MORGAN TSVANGIRAI JULY 10. TSVANGIRAI WAS ACCOMPANIED BY MDC VICE PRESIDENT GIBSON SIBANDA, WHO WILL SERVE AS THE LEADER OF THE PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 03779 01 OF 04 121802Z "A FOOTHOLD IN DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT" ¶3. (C) THE AMBASSADOR CONGRATULATED THE MDC LEADERS FOR THE PARTY'S STRONG PERFORMANCE IN THE JUNE 24-25 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, AND APPLAUDED THE CONCILIATORY STANCE THE PARTY HAS ADOPTED SINCE THE ELECTION DESPITE ITS VALID CONCERNS ABOUT POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND ELECTORAL IRREGULARITIES. HE NOTED THAT THE PARTY'S RAPID SUCCESS -- OBTAINING ALMOST HALF OF THE CONTESTED PARLIAMENTARY SEATS ONLY NINE MONTHS AFTER ITS FOUNDING WAS INDEED MOST IMPRESSIVE. THE AMBASSADOR ALSO APPLAUDED THEIR COURAGE IN THE FACE OF SERIOUS THREATS TO THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY. ¶4. (C) TSVANGIRAI RESPONDED THAT THE MDC KNEW ALL ALONG THAT IT WAS GOING INTO AN IMPERFECT ELECTION PROCESS AND IS GRATIFIED TO HAVE OBTAINED A "FOOTHOLD IN DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT." HE SAID THAT IT IS HEALTHY FOR THE COUNTRY THAT MDC DID NOT SCORE AN OUTRIGHT ELECTION VICTORY, SINCE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTABILIZING. THE PARTY WILL LIKELY CHALLENGE THE RESULTS IN 20 TO 25 CONSTITUENCIES WHERE IT KNOWS THAT RIGGING TOOK PLACE, BUT IS STILL ASSESSING THE SITUATION. IF THE MDC IS SUCCESSFUL IN ENOUGH OF THE CHALLENGES TO OBTAIN A MAJORITY, THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE HAD TIME TO ABSORB THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN MDC SUCCESS. (NOTE: ZANU-PF WON 62 SEATS TO THE MDC'S 57; PRESIDENT MUGABE IS ENTITLED TO APPOINT 30 ADDITIONAL PARLIAMENTARIANS. END NOTE.) THE AMBASSADOR NOTED THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO OVERTURN ELECTION RESULTS NOT ONLY IN ZIMBABWE BUT IN THE UNITED STATES AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD; TSVANGIRAI ACKNOWLEDGED CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 03779 01 OF 04 121802Z THAT THIS IS TRUE. TSVANGIRAI ALSO NOTED THAT EVEN WITH AN MDC PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY ZANU-PF WOULD STILL CONTROL THE PRESIDENCY, AND THUS THE GOVERNMENT. ¶5. (C) ASKED WHETHER HE WILL CONTEST HIS OWN LOST RACE, TSVANGIRAI RESPONDED THAT HE PLANS TO DO SO, MORE FOR THE SAKE OF SHOWING THE COUNTRY THAT ZANU-PF COMMITTED ELECTORAL FRAUD THERE THAN TO OBTAIN A SEAT IN PARLIAMENT. WITHOUT A SEAT, HE SAID, HE WILL HAVE MORE TIME TO FOCUS ON PARTY MATTERS. HE ADDED THAT HE DID NOT REGRET HAVING CONTESTED IN A RURAL AREA RATHER THAN IN AN URBAN AREA WHERE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SHOO-IN, SINCE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE MDC'S SUPPORT IS NOT SIMPLY AN URBAN OR LABOR PHENOMENON. DESPITE HIS OWN LOSS, THE NATIONWIDE RESULTS HAVE BORNE THIS OUT; THE MDC, FOR EXAMPLE, WON A MAJORITY OF THE VOTE IN BOTH MATABELELAND NORTH AND SOUTH PROVINCES AND ABOUT HALF THE VOTE IN THE RURAL PROVINCE OF MANICALAND. THE TWO AREAS WHERE THE MDC PERFORMED MOST POORLY, HE CONTINUED, WERE MASHONALAND EAST AND MASHONALAND CENTRAL, WHERE THE LEVELS OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION WERE HIGHEST. THE MDC ARGUES, THEREFORE, THAT IT IS THE "ONLY NATIONAL PARTY," CUTTING ACROSS TRIBE AND REGION. ¶6. (C) WITH THE MDC'S SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE, CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ3070 PAGE 01 HARARE 03779 02 OF 04 121802Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 INL-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W -------------- 6D57CA 121802Z /38 P 121809Z JUL 00 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6583 INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 003779 SIPDIS AF FOR P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS AND A/AFR MCCALL E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/10 TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM ZI MDC SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI TSVANGIRAI SAID, POWER HAS SHIFTED FROM THE EXECUTIVE TO SIPDIS CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 03779 02 OF 04 121802Z PARLIAMENT. HE TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT THE MDC HAS NO PLANS TO JOIN A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY, SINCE DOING SO WOULD "DESTROY THIS WHOLE EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT" OF ZIMBABWEAN MULTIPARTYISM. "WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION IS THE OPPOSITION." TSVANGIRAI CONTINUED THAT PEOPLE (I.E. ZANU-PF) ARE TRYING TO COOPT MDC MEMBERS TO DESTROY THEIR CREDIBILITY, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. THE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT, IN SPITE OF THIS, HE ASSUMED THAT THE MDC WOULD WORK WITH ZANU-PF IN PARLIAMENT. "OF COURSE," TSVANGIRAI REPLIED. MDC PRIORITIES: ACCOUNTABILITY, THE ECONOMY, AND LAND ¶7. (C) TSVANGIRAI TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT THE MDC PLANS TO FOCUS ON TWO BROAD OBJECTIVES AFTER PARLIAMENT BEGINS. THE PARTY'S FIRST GOAL IS TO GET ZANU-PF TO "OPEN THE BOOKS" IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY NOT ONLY FINANCIALLY BUT IN ALL AREAS OF GOVERNANCE. THE SECOND OBJECTIVE IS TO WORK TO DEMOCRATIZE THE PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT. ¶8. (C) THE TWO SPECIFIC ISSUES THE MDC WILL ADDRESS FIRST, TSVANGIRAI TOLD THE AMBASSADOR, ARE THE ECONOMY AND LAND. ZIMBABWE HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT CAN ACCESS THE LAND REFORM FUNDS THAT THE DONORS HAVE PROMISED. THE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT REESTABLISHING THE RULE OF LAW AND ENSURING A TRANSPARENT PROCESS WILL BE THE KEY TO THIS. DONORS WANT TO BE HELPFUL, BUT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE. THE AMBASSADOR AND TSVANGIRAI AGREED THAT REMOVING THE WAR VETS FROM THE FARMS WOULD CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 03779 02 OF 04 121802Z BE THE FIRST STEP TOWARD REESTABLISHING A CLIMATE WHERE - MEANINGFUL LAND REFORM CAN BE DISCUSSED. TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT, IF ANYTHING, THE SITUATION ON THE FARMS SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. WHEREAS BEFORE FARMERS WERE ALLOWED TO WORK THEIR LAND WHILE IT WAS OCCUPIED, NOW THEY ARE BEING DRIVEN OFF. THE FARM OCCUPATIONS, TSAVANGIRAI CONTINUED, ARE MUGABE'S "OBSESSION," BUT THERE IS NO CONSENSUS IN THE CABINET SUPPORTING THIS POLICY. WHETHER THE MDC CAN EFFECTIVELY PRESS FOR A RESOLUTION OF THIS ISSUE IN PARLIAMENT, HE ACKNOWLEDGED, HAS YET TO BE TESTED. ¶9. (C) THE ECONOMY, TSVANGIRAI CONTINUED, CANNOT CONTINUE IN ITS CURRENT STATE OF "MELTDOWN." HE NOTED THAT A MAJOR PAPER PRODUCTS FACTORY IN BULAWAYO HAD CLOSED ON JULY 7 DUE TO A LACK OF FOREIGN CURRENCY. TSVANGIRAI AND SIBANDA POINTED TO A NUMBER OF STEPS THAT MUST BE TAKEN BEFORE THE ECONOMY CAN BE REINVIGORATED, INCLUDING ENDING THE FARM OCCUPATIONS, GETTING CORRUPTION UNDER CONTROL, AND WITHDRAWING ZIMBABWEAN TROOPS FROM THE DRC (SEE PARA 18). THE MDC WILL TRY TO CREATE MORE TRANSPARENCY SURROUNDING PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, PRIVATIZATION, AND LAND. ¶10. (C) EARLY IN THE PARLIAMENTARY SESSION, SIBANDA SAID, THE MDC WILL CALL FOR A FULL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE PRE- AND POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE. ZANU-PF WILL TRY TO RESIST THIS, BUT THIS IS ONE AREA WHERE THE MDC IS LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT THE MDC IS TRYING TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF HOW TO ASSIST THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF THE VIOLENCE. THE PARTY CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 03779 02 OF 04 121802Z IS SEEKING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THIS EFFORT. ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE WILL BE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM, WITH A FOCUS ON SHIFTING SOME PRESIDENTIAL POWERS TO PARLIAMENT. ¶11. (C) THE AMBASSADOR INFORMED THE MDC LEADERS THAT THE USG IS CURRENTLY FUNDING A PROGRAM FOR PARLIAMENTARY CAPACITY BUILDING CONDUCTED BY THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT ALBANY, WHICH HAS BEEN OPERATIONAL SINCE SEPTEMBER 1999. HE URGED THE PARTY'S PARLIAMENTARIANS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM. EVEN BEFORE THE MDC'S STRONG PERFORMANCE BROUGHT MULTIPARTYISM TO PARLIAMENT, THE AMBASSADOR NOTED, THE USG HAD IDENTIFIED PARLIAMENT AS A PROMISING VEHICLE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. CONTINUING VIOLENCE ¶12. (C) ASKED BY THE AMBASSADOR FOR HIS ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT LEVEL OF VIOLENCE, TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT VIOLENCE ON FARMS BY WAR VETERANS IS CONTINUING. IN A NUMBER OF FARMS IN THE MARONDERA AND MACHEKE AREAS OF MASHONALAND EAST PROVINCE, SUPERVISORY FARM WORKERS HAVE BEEN ROUNDED UP AND BEATEN. THE PERPETRATORS ARE LOYALISTS OF WAR VET LEADER HITLER HUNZVI. IN MASVINGO PROVINCE, PEOPLE ARE RANDOMLY INVADING FARMS, ACCORDING CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ3071 PAGE 01 HARARE 03779 03 OF 04 121803Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 INL-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W -------------- 6D57D4 121803Z /38 P 121809Z JUL 00 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6584 INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 003779 SIPDIS AF FOR P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS AND A/AFR MCCALL E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/10 TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM ZI MDC SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI TO TSVANGIRAI. HE ALSO NOTED THAT SOLDIERS HAVE GONE TO CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 03779 03 OF 04 121803Z HARARE AREAS PERCEIVED AS MDC STRONGHOLDS AND BEATEN UP LOCAL RESIDENTS. "THE VIOLENCE," TSVANGIRAI SUMMARIZED, "IS NOT EBBING." (NOTE: OTHER SOURCES CONFIRM THESE CONTINUED FARM OCCUPATIONS AND BEATINGS OF MDC SUPPORTERS. END NOTE.) THE AMBASSADOR RESPONDED BY INDICATING THAT THE EMBASSY CONTINUES TO BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION AND IS FOLLOWING THE ISSUE CLOSELY. "WE WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THE MATTER," HE SAID. FOCUS TURNS TO PARTY-BUILDING AND LOCAL ELECTIONS ¶13. (C) TSVANGIRAI ACKNOWLEDGED TO THE AMBASSADOR THAT THE MDC FACES A CHALLENGING TASK IN TRANSFORMING THE MDC FROM A LABOR-BASED OPPOSITION MOVEMENT TO A GENUINE POLITICAL PARTY. SINCE ITS CREATION, THE MDC HAS BEEN OPERATING WITH INTERIM STRUCTURES, SUCH AS LOCAL BRANCHES AND PROVINCIAL COMMITTEES, THAT ARE MOSTLY BASED ON ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNION (ZCTU) STRUCTURES. GIVEN THE PARTY'S BROAD BASE, THERE WILL INEVITABLY BE TENSIONS BETWEEN DIFFERENT PARTY ELEMENTS. THE WAY TO RESOLVE THIS IS TO HAVE DIALOGUE WITHIN THE PARTY, WITH WIDE PARTICIPATION, ABOUT WHAT THE MDC IS TO STAND FOR AND HOW COMPETING INTERESTS CAN BE ADDRESSED. ASKED BY THE AMBASSADOR HOW THE MDC WILL ATTEMPT TO DELIVER TO ITS CONSTITUENTS GIVEN ITS LACK OF ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT COFFERS, TSVANGIRAI REPLIED THAT HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT MDC SUPPORTERS EXPECT DELIVERY OF TANGIBLES SUCH AS ROADS. RATHER, THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT HOW WELL THE PARTY IS ADVOCATING THEIR INTERESTS. ONCE THE MDC WINS SOME MAYORAL POSITIONS, IT WILL BE ABLE TO START CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 03779 03 OF 04 121803Z DELIVERING. (NOTE: THREE KEY MAYORAL POSITIONS ARE TO BE FILLED IN HARARE, BULAWAYO, AND MASVINGO IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE MDC PLANS TO ACTIVELY CONTEST ALL OF THEM. END NOTE.) ¶14. (C) WHEN PEOPLE VOTED FOR THE MDC, TSVANGIRAI SAID, THEY VOTED FOR CHANGE, WHICH IS "NOT AN EVENT BUT A PROCESS." THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WERE JUST THE FIRST PHASE. THE MDC HAS ALREADY BEGUN FOCUSING ON THE NEXT PHASE, THE AS YET UNSCHEDULED LOCAL ELECTIONS. THE PARTY PLANS TO CONTEST A LARGE NUMBER OF MAYORAL POSTS AND OTHER LOCAL POSITIONS. TSVANGIRAI STATED THAT HE PLANS TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY IN 2002 (ASSUMING, HE TOOK CARE TO ADD, THAT HE IS SELECTED BY PARTY STRUCTURES). ¶15. (C) CLAIMS THAT THE MDC HAS RECEIVED MASSIVE FOREIGN FUNDING ARE FALSE, TSVANGIRAI SAID. WITH ALMOST FIFTY PERCENT OF THE VOTE, THE MDC IS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC FUNDING UNDER THE POLITICAL PARTIES FINANCE ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THESE FUNDS WILL ACTUALLY BE AVAILABLE. ASKED BY THE AMBASSADOR WHETHER THE MDC PLANS TO ESTABLISH LINKS WITH OTHER SMALL PARTIES THAT DID NOT FARE WELL IN THE ELECTIONS, TSVANGIRAI REPLIED THAT THE ELECTIONS HAD MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE MDC IS THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITION FORCE IN ZIMBABWE. MEMBERS OF OTHER PARTIES ARE, HOWEVER, WELCOME TO COME INTO THE MDC. TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT PEOPLE WISHING TO COME TO THE MDC FROM OTHER PARTIES WILL BE EDUCATED ABOUT THE MDC'S PRINCIPLES TO ENSURE THAT THEY SHARE THE PARTY'S VALUES. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 HARARE 03779 03 OF 04 121803Z MDC'S VIEWS OF CURRENT STATE OF ZANU-PF ¶16. (C) TSVANGIRAI TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF POWER STRUGGLES CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IN ZANU-PF. ONCE THEY HAVE PLAYED THEMSELVES OUT, IT WILL BE EASIER TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT OF ZANU- PF'S FUTURE. HE SAID THAT THE NEW CABINET, AS YET UNNAMED, IS LIKELY TO BE "A MIXTURE OF OLD GUARD RESISTANCE AND SO-CALLED NEW BLOOD FRUSTRATION." ASKED WHO HE BELIEVED WOULD BE NAMED TO THE NEW CABINET, TSVANGIRAI AND SIBANDA CITED HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER SIPDIS DUMISO DABENGWA, JUSTICE MINISTER EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR GENDER AFFAIRS OPPAH MUCHINGURI, SIPDIS AND MINISTER OF MINES, ENVIRONMENT, AND TOURISM SIMON KHAYA MOYO AS PEOPLE TO BE ACCOMMODATED IN SOME MINISTERIAL OR OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT POSITIONS. FORMER MASHONALAND CENTRAL GOVERNOR BORDER GEZI, TSVANGIRAI BELIEVES, WILL BE NAMED MINISTER OF LOCAL SIPDIS GOVERNMENT. ¶17. (C) ASKED BY THE AMBASSADOR WHETHER HE BELIEVED IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO WORK WITH RELATIVELY REFORMIST ELEMENTS WITHIN ZANU-PF IN PARLIAMENT, TSVANGIRAI RESPONDED THAT "THE 'NEW BLOOD' ELEMENT IS UNFORTUNATELY NOT NEW IN PRACTICES IN ETHICS." RATHER, THE YOUNGER ZANU-PF MEMBERS ARE SIMPLY "MORE OF THE SAME." CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PTQ3072 PAGE 01 HARARE 03779 04 OF 04 121803Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 INL-00 DINT-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-01 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W -------------- 6D57DC 121803Z /38 P 121809Z JUL 00 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6585 INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 003779 SIPDIS AF FOR P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS AND A/AFR MCCALL E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/10 TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM ZI MDC SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 HARARE 03779 04 OF 04 121803Z FOREIGN RELATIONS ¶18. (C) THE AMBASSADOR ASKED WHAT APPROACH THE MDC PLANS TO TAKE ON ZIMBABWE'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CONGO. TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT THE PARTY WILL MAKE A STRONG CALL SIPDIS FOR A WITHDRAWAL, EMPHASIZING THE EXPENSE OF THE OPERATION. A RETURN TO MACROECONOMIC STABILITY IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT A WITHDRAWAL. SIBANDA ADDED THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE IS THAT "THERE IS NO REASON TO HAVE OUR YOUNG BOYS DYING THERE." ¶19. (C) ASKED WHAT THE MDC PLANS TO DO TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH OTHER SADC COUNTRIES, TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT, DURING THE WORST OF THE PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE, THE MDC EXPRESSED INTEREST IN SENDING GROUPS OF EMINENT PERSONS TO MOZAMBIQUE, BOTSWANA, ZAMBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA. THE MDC'S FIRST PRIORITY IS NOW A VISIT TO MOZAMBIQUE, SINCE THE MOZAMBICAN GOVERNMENT RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO THE MDC'S OVERTURE. THE MDC THEN PLANS TO REACH OUT TO THE OTHER SADC COUNTRIES. COMMENT ¶20. (C) IN HIS MEETING WITH THE: AMBASSADOR AS IN HIS PUBLIC STATEMENTS, TSVANGIRAI WAS UPBEAT, FOCUSING ON THE MDC'S SUCCESS RATHER THAN DWELLING ON ITS (LEGITIMATE) FRUSTRATIONS. THE PARTY HAS SET AN AMBITIOUS AGENDA IN PARLIAMENT, BUT SEEMS TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT HOW MUCH CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. TSVANGIRAI AND SIBANDA ALSO HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF THE SIPDIS IMPORTANCE, AND DIFFICULTY,-OF PARTY-BUILDING. THE MDC CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 03779 04 OF 04 121803Z IS INDEED A PARTY OF DIVERSE INTERESTS WHO ALL OPPOSED THE CONTINUED BAD GOVERNANCE OF ZANU-PF. THE CHALLENGE WILL NOW BE TO TURN THAT DISSATISFACTION INTO CONSTRUCTIVE, UNIFIED PROGRAMS AND POLICIES. END COMMENT. MCDONALD CONFIDENTIAL >