Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HARARE1256
2006-10-17 14:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
TANZANIAN PRESIDENT EXPRESSES INTEREST IN MEETING
how-toVZCZCXRO1810 PP RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSB #1256/01 2901449 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171449Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0704 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1339 RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1190 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1343 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0094 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0604 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0969 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1397 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 3775 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1166 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1818 RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC//DHO-7// RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1560 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK//DOOC/ECMO/CC/DAO/DOB/DOI// RUEPGBA/CDR USEUCOM INTEL VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ23-CH/ECJ5M//
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
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
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