DRC ALLIES HEADS OF STATE MEETING POSTPONED

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000671 SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER LONDON FOR CHARLES GURNEY PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS NAIROBI FOR TERRY PFLAUMER USUN FOR ALEX LASKARIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/11 TAGS: PREL PGOV ZI SUBJECT: DRC ALLIES HEADS OF STATE MEETING POSTPONED REF: KINSHASA 671 CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EARL M. IRVING FOR REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) MAXWELL CHIKOROWONDO, THE ZIMBABWE MFA'S DRC DESK OFFICER, INFORMED POLOFF FEBRUARY 8 THAT THE DRC ALLIES HEADS OF STATE MEETING DUE TO TAKE PLACE IN VICTORIA FALLS (REFTEL) HAS BEEN POSTPONED. NAMIBIAN PRESIDENT NUJOMA WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE FEBRUARY 8 MEETING BECAUSE OF A SCHEDULING CONFLICT. CHIKOROWONDO STATED THAT THE ALLIED GOVERNMENTS WERE CONSULTING WITH EACH OTHER TO DETERMINE A MORE SUITABLE DATE FOR A MEETING, WHICH HAS NOT YET BEEN DECIDED. ¶2. (C) THE DESK OFFICER ALSO STATED THAT THE JOINT MILITARY COMMISSION MEETING WOULD LIKELY BE HELD FEBRUARY 9 OR 10, THE POLITICAL COMMITTEE MEETING FEBRUARY 11 OR 12, AND THE LUSAKA ALL-SIGNATORIES SUMMIT FEBRUARY 13. CHIKOROWONDO WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PLANNING FOR A MAPUTO III SUMMIT. THE MFA OFFICIAL WAS SKEPTICAL OF THE USEFULNESS OF THE MAPUTO PROCESS BECAUSE THERE IS NO LEGAL MECHANISM OUTLINED IN LUSAKA FOR "OUTSIDERS" (COMMENT: READ "SOUTH AFRICANS" END COMMENT) TO CONVENE MEETINGS. IRVING CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 HARARE 00671 081423Z CONFIDENTIAL >