OPPOSITION TELLS OF ASSAULT, CHARTS UNITED WAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000218 SIPDIS SIPDIS AF/S FOR S. HILL NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC ZI SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TELLS OF ASSAULT, CHARTS UNITED WAY FORWARD REF: REFTEL: HARARE 213 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Ambassador Christopher W. Dell under Section 1.4 b/d -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Key opposition leaders, excluding Morgan Tsvangirai (released from the hospital but recovering at home) held a press conference March 16 during which they recounted the brutal beatings they and other opposition members sustained at the hands of police and security officials. The opposition leaders pledged a continuing, united, and sustained drive against Mugabe and ZANU-PF. Meanwhile, the funeral service for the MDC activist killed has been scheduled for Monday, March 19. Separately, the Tanzanian political counselor told us his Embassy has no readout of the March 15 Kikwete-Mugabe meeting, but he believed a direct message had been delivered. End Summary. -------------- Horrifying Tales of Assault -------------- ¶2. (U) Anti-Senate MDC secretary general Tendai Biti told the press conference that Tsvangirai had been released from the hospital that morning but was still recovering from his injuries at home and would not be present. Biti then described in horrifying detail the beatings administered March 11 by police and other security officials to the opposition leaders and activists. Biti said that those arrested were initially held at Machipisa Police Station where officers indiscriminately beat them. When Tsvangirai arrived at the station to inquire as to the status of the detainees he too was taken into custody and also beaten. ¶3. (U) According to Biti, Tsvangirai and NCA chairman Lovemore Madhuku were singled out for especially savage treatment. Madhuku noted that the Zimbabwean police, in addition to paramilitaries and security forces, were definitely involved in the beatings. Madhuku said Commanding Officer Mandara of the Police law and order division ) which is responsible to disrupting protests ) was present at Machipisa station and called on police to further beat the detainees. -------------- Call for United Front -------------- ¶4. (U) Madhuku, his broken arm in a sling and his head recovering from a deep gash, pledged that the opposition would fight for a "meaningful" election in 2008, which he defined as one with fair electoral rules, no matter the cost in lives, broken heads, or broken bones. ¶5. (U) Seated between the ant-Senate faction's Biti and Madhuku, rival MDC pro-Senate faction leader Arthur Mutambara reiterated Madhuku's defiance. He said the past six days were a confirmation of the brutality and criminal nature of the Mugabe "dictatorship," and pledged that the opposition, including opposing MDC factions, would manage their differences and unite in opposition to "drive out Mugabe and ZANU-PF." The opposition was in "total rebellion" and would continue defiantly with rallies and demonstrations. Saying that Mugabe had better take note, Mutambara said that he would not stand against Tsvangirai in national elections. HARARE 00000218 002 OF 002 -------------- Funeral Scheduled for Monday -------------- ¶6. (C) MDC advisor Jameson Timba told poloff that the church service and funeral for slain MDC activist Gift Tandare would be held on Monday, March 19 in Harare. The Christian Alliance pastors planned to identify a suitable church later today. Timba said that the diplomatic community would be invited. -------------- Private Kikwete-Mugabe Meeting -------------- ¶7. (C) The political counselor at the Tanzanian Embassy in Harare, who was at the press conference, told polecon chief on the margins that President Kikwete had met with Mugabe one-on-one and did not brief the Tanzanian Ambassador after the meeting. However, he said prior to the meeting Kikwete had indicated an intention to deliver a strong message. He had planned to raise the serious concerns about Zimbabwe he had heard recently during a trip to Europe, to press for recognition by Mugabe of the MDC as a legitimate party, and to advocate for more democratic space in Zimbabwe. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) Adding further credence that Kikwete delivered a stern warning was his demeanor at the two Presidents joint press conference. Kikwete said little about what was discussed during the meeting and there was virtually none of the usual diplomatic spin. That said, even if such a message was delivered, Mugabe's vitriolic attack on the opposition and the West during the press conference would seem to indicate it had little effect. The time for quiet African diplomacy is past. DELL