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

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Summary
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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.

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Horrifying Tales of Assault
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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.

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Call for United Front
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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



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Funeral Scheduled for Monday
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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.

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Private Kikwete-Mugabe Meeting
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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.

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Comment
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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