Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02HARARE618
2002-03-08 11:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
MARCH 7 MEETING WITH NIGERIAN ELECTION
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 081124Z Mar 02 CONFIDENTIAL PTQ5804 PAGE 01 HARARE 00618 081132Z ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DS-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 DSCC-00 DRL-02 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /005W ------------------716862 081132Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1134 INFO AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY OAU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000618
SIPDIS
FOR AF/FO AND AF/S
NSC FOR AFRICA SR DIR FRAZER
ABUJA FOR AMBASSADOR JETER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV ZI NI
SUBJECT: MARCH 7 MEETING WITH NIGERIAN ELECTION
DELEGATION
CLASSIFIED BY JOSEPH G. SULLIVAN FOR REASONS 1.5B/D
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000618
SIPDIS
FOR AF/FO AND AF/S
NSC FOR AFRICA SR DIR FRAZER
ABUJA FOR AMBASSADOR JETER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV ZI NI
SUBJECT: MARCH 7 MEETING WITH NIGERIAN ELECTION
DELEGATION
CLASSIFIED BY JOSEPH G. SULLIVAN FOR REASONS 1.5B/D
1. (C) THE AMBASSADOR MET MARCH 8 WITH THE HEAD OF
THE NIGERIAN ELECTION OBSERVER DELEGATION CHIEF
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 00618 081132Z
SHONEKAN, THE NIGERIAN ELECTION COMMISSION
REPRESENTATIVE AND HIGH COMMISSIONER JUTA. SHONEKAN
HAD EARLIER BEEN PRESIDENT OBASSANJO'S SPECIAL
EMISSARY TO ZIMBABWE FOR THE ABUJA PROCESS AND
ACCOMPANIED OBASSANJO ON HIS LATE JANUARY VISIT TO
ZIMBABWE TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT MUGABE AND MDC
LEADER TSVANGIRAI. SHONEKAN, WHO SAID HE WAS
SURPRISED THAT OBASSANJO HAD SELECTED HIM FOR THIS
ELECTION MISSION, PUT HIS EMPHASIS ON THE NEED FOR
ZIMBABWE'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY UNDER WHICHEVER
CANDIDATE WAS ELECTED. HE RELATED THE COMMITMENTS
TO END VIOLENCE AND RUN A FAIR ELECTION MADE BY
PRESIDENT MUGABE DURING HIS JANUARY VISIT. BUT,
SHONEKAN NOT SEEM TO DRAW THE APPROPRIATE
CONCLUSIONS ABOUT MUGABE'S LACK OF GOOD FAITH WHEN
THE AMBASSADOR OUTLINED THE GOVERNMENT-ORGANIZED
CAMPAIGN OF TARGETED VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION WHICH
WAS CONTINUING AND THE PROCEDURAL MANIPULATIONS AT
WORK. SHONEKAN WAS PLEASED WITH HIS MEETING WITH
MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI, AND PARTICULARLY HIS
WILLINGNESS TO FORM A NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT, BUT
WAS NOT DISTRESSED ABOUT THE ABSENCE OF INDICATIONS
OF CONCILIATORY SIGNALS FROM ZANU-PF.
2.(C) THE NIGERIAN ELECTION COMMISSIONER (WE DID NOT GET
HIS NAME.) AND THE NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER WERE MORE
ENGAGED. THEY EXPRESSED PARTICULAR DISTRESS ABOUT THE
REPORT THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ARMED FORCES MEMBERS
HAD VOTED ABSENTEE. THE ELECTION REGISTRAR HAD
CONFIRMED TO THEM THAT THIS WAS SO, BUT SAID HE DID NOT
KNOW UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES THEY HAD VOTED. THE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 00618 081132Z
AMBASSADOR CONFIRMED THAT OUR INFORMATION SHOWED THAT
THEY HAD VOTED UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THEIR COMMANDING
OFFICER. THE ELECTION COMMISSIONER EXPRESSED CONCERN
OVER THE LAST-MINUTE CHANGES IN ELECTION PROCEDURES AND
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER EXPRESSED CONCERN WHEN HE RECEIVED
A CALL FROM HIS ELECTION OBSERVERS IN MUTARE REPORTING
THAT ZANU-PF ACTIVISTS HAD BEEN GIVEN ELECTION OBSERVER
BADGES IDENTICAL TO THOSE OF HIS DELEGATION.
3. (C) CHIEF SHONEKAN'S LACK OF ENGAGEMENT IN THE KEY
ELECTION ISSUES WAS NOTABLE AND WE HAVE LITTLE
CONFIDENCE IN WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS HE WILL MAKE TO
PRESIDENT OBASSANJO FOLLOWING THE ELECTIONS. HE EVEN
SEEMED TO SHRUG OFF OUR COMMENT THAT PRESIDENTS
OBASSANJO AND MBEKI HAD THE GREATEST CAPACITY TO
CONVINCE PRESIDENT MUGABE TO ACCEPT A PEACEFUL
DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION. HC JUTA, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS
MORE ENGAGED THAN WE HAVE EVER SEEN HIM AND HE MADE A
POINT OF SUGGESTING THAT WE BE IN CONTACT ON MONDAY TO
COMPARE NOTES. WE KNOW THAT JUTA WAS RECENTLY CALLED
HOME TO RECOMMEND HOW PRESIDENT OBASSANJO COULD BE
HELPFUL AND HE SEEMS TO BE TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY
SERIOUSLY.
SULLIVAN
CONFIDENTIAL
>
SIPDIS
FOR AF/FO AND AF/S
NSC FOR AFRICA SR DIR FRAZER
ABUJA FOR AMBASSADOR JETER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV ZI NI
SUBJECT: MARCH 7 MEETING WITH NIGERIAN ELECTION
DELEGATION
CLASSIFIED BY JOSEPH G. SULLIVAN FOR REASONS 1.5B/D
1. (C) THE AMBASSADOR MET MARCH 8 WITH THE HEAD OF
THE NIGERIAN ELECTION OBSERVER DELEGATION CHIEF
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 00618 081132Z
SHONEKAN, THE NIGERIAN ELECTION COMMISSION
REPRESENTATIVE AND HIGH COMMISSIONER JUTA. SHONEKAN
HAD EARLIER BEEN PRESIDENT OBASSANJO'S SPECIAL
EMISSARY TO ZIMBABWE FOR THE ABUJA PROCESS AND
ACCOMPANIED OBASSANJO ON HIS LATE JANUARY VISIT TO
ZIMBABWE TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT MUGABE AND MDC
LEADER TSVANGIRAI. SHONEKAN, WHO SAID HE WAS
SURPRISED THAT OBASSANJO HAD SELECTED HIM FOR THIS
ELECTION MISSION, PUT HIS EMPHASIS ON THE NEED FOR
ZIMBABWE'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY UNDER WHICHEVER
CANDIDATE WAS ELECTED. HE RELATED THE COMMITMENTS
TO END VIOLENCE AND RUN A FAIR ELECTION MADE BY
PRESIDENT MUGABE DURING HIS JANUARY VISIT. BUT,
SHONEKAN NOT SEEM TO DRAW THE APPROPRIATE
CONCLUSIONS ABOUT MUGABE'S LACK OF GOOD FAITH WHEN
THE AMBASSADOR OUTLINED THE GOVERNMENT-ORGANIZED
CAMPAIGN OF TARGETED VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION WHICH
WAS CONTINUING AND THE PROCEDURAL MANIPULATIONS AT
WORK. SHONEKAN WAS PLEASED WITH HIS MEETING WITH
MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI, AND PARTICULARLY HIS
WILLINGNESS TO FORM A NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT, BUT
WAS NOT DISTRESSED ABOUT THE ABSENCE OF INDICATIONS
OF CONCILIATORY SIGNALS FROM ZANU-PF.
2.(C) THE NIGERIAN ELECTION COMMISSIONER (WE DID NOT GET
HIS NAME.) AND THE NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER WERE MORE
ENGAGED. THEY EXPRESSED PARTICULAR DISTRESS ABOUT THE
REPORT THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ARMED FORCES MEMBERS
HAD VOTED ABSENTEE. THE ELECTION REGISTRAR HAD
CONFIRMED TO THEM THAT THIS WAS SO, BUT SAID HE DID NOT
KNOW UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES THEY HAD VOTED. THE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 HARARE 00618 081132Z
AMBASSADOR CONFIRMED THAT OUR INFORMATION SHOWED THAT
THEY HAD VOTED UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THEIR COMMANDING
OFFICER. THE ELECTION COMMISSIONER EXPRESSED CONCERN
OVER THE LAST-MINUTE CHANGES IN ELECTION PROCEDURES AND
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER EXPRESSED CONCERN WHEN HE RECEIVED
A CALL FROM HIS ELECTION OBSERVERS IN MUTARE REPORTING
THAT ZANU-PF ACTIVISTS HAD BEEN GIVEN ELECTION OBSERVER
BADGES IDENTICAL TO THOSE OF HIS DELEGATION.
3. (C) CHIEF SHONEKAN'S LACK OF ENGAGEMENT IN THE KEY
ELECTION ISSUES WAS NOTABLE AND WE HAVE LITTLE
CONFIDENCE IN WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS HE WILL MAKE TO
PRESIDENT OBASSANJO FOLLOWING THE ELECTIONS. HE EVEN
SEEMED TO SHRUG OFF OUR COMMENT THAT PRESIDENTS
OBASSANJO AND MBEKI HAD THE GREATEST CAPACITY TO
CONVINCE PRESIDENT MUGABE TO ACCEPT A PEACEFUL
DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION. HC JUTA, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS
MORE ENGAGED THAN WE HAVE EVER SEEN HIM AND HE MADE A
POINT OF SUGGESTING THAT WE BE IN CONTACT ON MONDAY TO
COMPARE NOTES. WE KNOW THAT JUTA WAS RECENTLY CALLED
HOME TO RECOMMEND HOW PRESIDENT OBASSANJO COULD BE
HELPFUL AND HE SEEMS TO BE TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY
SERIOUSLY.
SULLIVAN
CONFIDENTIAL
>