SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY BELIEVES PROGRESS BEING MADE

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000890

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL SF ZI
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY BELIEVES PROGRESS BEING MADE
TOWARD DIALOGUE

REF: HARARE 883

Classified By: JGSULLIVAN FOR REASONS 1.5B/D


1. (c) The Ambassador met May 8 with South African High
Commissioner Jeremiah Ndou to discuss the May 5 visit of
Presidents Mbeki, Muluzi and Obasanjo. Ndou confirmed that
President Mugabe had accepted that the MDC court challenge of
presidential election results would not be an impediment to
dialogue. Ndou was still working with the GOZ to clear the
remaining sticking point regarding Mugabe's insistence that
the MDC recognize him as the "legitimate" President. Ndou
said that the visiting presidents had discussed this issue
with the MDC leadership and brought back to Mugabe that the
MDC accepted that he was "de facto" President and exercising
the functions of the President. Ndou said Mugabe appeared to
be satisfied with this formulation and prepared to let
dialogue continue on that basis. As of the morning of May 8,
the South Africans were faxing back and forth to Mugabe's
office formulations which might allow both sides to say that
the two had agreed to begin a dialogue.


2. (c) Ndou said that ZANU-PF said it wanted a dialogue held
without foreign presence, but the MDC is pressing for a
foreign facilitation or presence at any dialogue. Nor has it
been determined when a dialogue would begin, although the
South Africans recognize its urgency. Ndou said it was
possible the Presidents might return if this were necessary
to assure that the dialogue got off the ground. Preferably,
however, this could be done by sending emissaries.


3. (c) Ndou acknowledged that Monday's session had dealt only
with how to get dialogue begun and not dealt with any of the
complex issues of substance, such as Mugabe's retirement.
Indeed, what the dialogue should focus on had not been
addressed. One idea would be to seek to resolve the
differences among the several different constitutions
presented in recent years as a way to assure a new
presidential election, changes in electoral procedures, etc.
Ndou said that ZANU-PF was divided on this idea. The MDC was
concerned that its civil society supporters might oppose the
MDC acting on behalf of civil society.
SULLIVAN