Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04LILONGWE223
2004-03-18 14:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:  

MALAWI FRUSTRATED BY LACK OF PROGRESS IN ZIMBABWE

Tags:  PGOV PREL MI ZI 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L LILONGWE 000223 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL MI ZI
SUBJECT: MALAWI FRUSTRATED BY LACK OF PROGRESS IN ZIMBABWE

REF: STATE 53747

Classified By: POLOFF KIERA EMMONS FOR REASONS 1.5 B & D.

C O N F I D E N T I A L LILONGWE 000223

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL MI ZI
SUBJECT: MALAWI FRUSTRATED BY LACK OF PROGRESS IN ZIMBABWE

REF: STATE 53747

Classified By: POLOFF KIERA EMMONS FOR REASONS 1.5 B & D.


1. (U) Ambassador met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Lilian
Patel to deliver reftel demarche on Zimbabwe. At the March
16 meeting, the Ambassador also briefly discussed Haiti
(septel) and the MCA with the Minister.


2. (C) Patel stated that Malawi remains hopeful for
increased dialogue between opposition and government
leadership in Zimbabwe. She expressed disappointment that
after two years, no changes had occurred in Zimbabwe despite
Malawi's quiet diplomacy. The lack of progress has,
according to Patel, made Malawi a victim and she noted that
Zimbabwe is Malawi's number two trading partner. (NOTE: We
take Patel's characterization of Malawi as a victim to be a
reference to the regional and bilateral destabilization
resulting from the situation in Zimbabwe. END NOTE.) Patel
said any anti-Mugabe position by Malawi would have a negative
impact and acknowledged that Malawi had previously shown
support for Zimbabwe as a matter of solidarity among African
states. She said that Malawi, through direct intervention by
Muluzi, has taken initiatives on its own but cannot continue
doing so because such initiatives would be "misunderstood."


2. (C) Patel said SADC needs to take the issue of Zimbabwe
more seriously. The way forward for SADC regarding Zimbabwe,
she said, requires careful analysis. She observed that
within SADC "certain things happen behind the scenes" and
that there had been "much talk of Mugabe." Patel stated that
Malawi has done all it can within the SADC context and noted
she has visited Zimbabwe on four occasions and the president
has done so twice. President Muluzi, she said, is "the first
president who has tackled the Zimbabwe issue head-on." When
asked if she thought Muluzi would be willing to continue to
work to resolve the situation in Zimbabwe even after his
final term ends in May of 2004, she replied that he likely
would, though not on a full-time basis. South Africa, she
said, is playing a big role, though Malawi "would have hoped
for more."


3. (C) Patel raised the issue of sanctions on her own. She
met with the Ambassador immediately after meeting with EU
diplomats, and her first remark was that EU Ambassadors had
pushed for renewal of sanctions. She observed that targeted
sanctions did not affect ordinary Zimbabweans, but the broad
impact of sanctions should be carefully analyzed. She said
sanctions may be useful in making progress "in the absence of
any other way."


4. (C) COMMENT: Patel seemed willing to discuss the issue
of Zimbabwe and left the impression that Malawi was
interested in finding a solution through behind the scenes
diplomacy within the structure of SADC. This seems to be in
line with earlier GOM positions, but is now more interesting
in light of Patel's statements that Muluzi could be "used as
needed" once out of office to address the issue. EU diplomats
report that Patel made similar remarks to them about a future
role for Muluzi. It appears, however, that Malawi is more
comfortable letting SADC, and especially South Africa, take
the lead for now.
BROWNING