TANZANIAN PRESIDENT EXPRESSES INTEREST IN MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 001256 SIPDIS SIPDIS AF/S FOR S. HILL NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR USAID FOR M. COPSON AND E. LOKEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2011 TAGS: PGOV PREL ZI TZ SUBJECT: TANZANIAN PRESIDENT EXPRESSES INTEREST IN MEETING WITH ZIMBABWEAN CIVIL SOCIETY Classified By: Charge a.i. Eric Schultz under Section 1.4 b/d ¶1. (C) Summary. Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) director Reginald Matchaba-Hove told polchief that while in New York last month he met Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete and that Kikwete had expressed interest in the current situation in Zimbabwe and had said he was committed to a regional and continental solution to Zimbabwe's problems. Kikwete asked for an in-depth briefing by Matchaba-Hove and other members of Zimbabwean civil society. On his return to Harare, Matchaba-Hove said he met with the new Tanzanian Ambassador to Zimbabwe and requested a meeting with Kikwete in Dar Es Salaam. Matchaba-Hove said he hoped to convince Kikwete and SADC to facilitate an exit strategy for Mugabe and to support democratic processes. End Summary. -------------- New York Meeting With Kikwete -------------- ¶2. (C) Matchaba-Hove told polchief he attended a "Roundtable on Democracy" on September 20 during the UNGA in New York. The meeting was attended by 20 heads of state, including President Bush and six NGO leaders. It focused on the challenges faced by NGOs. Matchaba-Hove updated the roundtable on the Zimbabwean political situation, including state-sponsored violence against civil society and selective application of law against civil society leaders and activists. ¶3. (C) In a private conversation following his presentation, Matchaba-Hove said Tanzanian president Kikwete had expressed interest in the current situation in Zimbabwe. He told Matchaba-Hove that as chair of the SADC committee on Political, Defense, and Security Co-operation, he was committed to helping Zimbabwe solve its problems. While he had no objection to the Mpaka initiative*which he implied was moribund--, Kikwete said he believed Zimbabwe's problems had to be solved internally and that SADC could play a role in facilitating change. He invited Matchaba-Hove and other civil society leaders to brief him in depth in Dar Es Salaam and to discuss possible SADAC involvement. -------------- Follow Up In Harare -------------- ¶4. (C) Matchaba-Hove told polchief he followed up his conversation with Kikwete with a meeting last week with Tanzanian ambassador to Zimbabwe Adadi Rajabu, who recently arrived in Harare. After Matchaba-Hove recounted his conversation with Kikwete, Rajabu asked him what he wished to accomplish in a meeting with the Tanzanian president. Matchaba-Hove responded he hoped Kikwete and SADC would pressure Zimbabwe to adopt a new constitution before elections are held, for a fair election process, and for an end to human rights violations. At Rajabu's suggestion, Matchaba-Hove said he delivered a letter to the Tanzanian embassy for forwarding to Kikwete requesting a meeting for him and two or three other civil society leaders. -------------- U.S. Assistance -------------- ¶5. (C) Matchaba-Hove told polchief that although he had not discussed Mugabe with Rajabu, he would emphasize in a HARARE 00001256 002 OF 002 meeting with Kikwete that Mugabe needs to go and that an exit strategy guaranteeing Mugabe,s safety may be necessary to achieve this. Matchaba-Hove added that he thinks a regional approach to Zimbabwe is important, and after a meeting with Kikwete he would also like to visit the African Union in Addis Ababa. He asked for U.S. assistance in paying for and facilitating his travel. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Matchaba-Hove and ZESN are well-respected within Zimbabwean civil society and are critical to an improved electoral pocess in Zimbabwe. Although his sympathies lie with the democratic opposition, he has maintained his independence as a civil society leader. As such, he is in a position to give the Tanzanian president and other African leaders a credible picture of the political situation in Zimbabwe and to discuss the importance of regional pressure. We plan to support his trip. SCHULTZ