Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HARARE42
2007-01-18 15:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
TSVANGIRAI OPPOSES 2010 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
VZCZCXRO1601 RR RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSB #0042/01 0181517 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 181517Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1046 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1445 RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1301 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1449 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0153 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0710 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1075 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1503 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 3899 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1272 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1928 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUFGNOA/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RUEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1665
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000042
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S.HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E.LOKEN
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B.PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ZI
SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI OPPOSES 2010 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell under Section 1.4 b/d
-------
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000042
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S.HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E.LOKEN
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B.PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ZI
SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI OPPOSES 2010 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell under Section 1.4 b/d
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (U) MDC anti-Senate faction leader Morgan Tsvangirai at a
press conference at MDC headquarters vowed to resist a
postponement of the 2008 presidential election until 2010.
Tsivangirai also said that constitutional reform should
SIPDIS
precede elections and allowed that negotiations on reform
among stakeholders could result in the election slipping
beyond 2008. On the issue of MDC reunification, he said this
would be "ideal," but the pro-Senate faction had not
indicated a willingness to reunify. End Summary.
--------------
Opposition to 2010 elections
--------------
2. (U) Tsvangirai told the press that the MDC would do
everything possible to assure that presidential elections
take place in 2008. He further argued that elections should
take place under a new constitution to ensure they are fair.
Tsvangirai added that the MDC will work with the Save
SIPDIS
Zimbabwe Coalition to negotiate a new constitution with all
stakeholders.
3. (U) Although short on specifics, Tsvangirai said mass
action is necessary and that all Zimbabweans must sacrifice.
Noting increasingly difficult times, he stated that "the time
to act is now. Our call for elections in 2008 is out of the
realization that the national crisis cannot be extended by
another day...."
4. (U) As part of the MDC strategy, Tsvangirai said the MDC
would conduct an international public relations campaign
directed at SADC , the AU, and the UN to create additional
international pressure on the regime.
4. (C) Tsvangirai told polecon chief after the press
conference that constitutional reform is more of a priority
than elections. If negotiations for such reform are underway
in 2008, he would support a postponement of 2008 elections
until a new constitution is in place. (N.B. This has been
Tsvangirai,s position for some time. He has argued that
SIPDIS
there must be a new constitution and a transitional
government of unity in place prior to elections to ensure
that they are free and fair.)
--------------
On reunification
--------------
5. (C) Asked by the press about prospects for reunification,
Tsvangirai said "it takes two to tango." He said party unity
SIPDIS
would be "ideal," but that more important than unity of
individuals is unity of purpose. When polecon chief
suggested to him that reunification at this time could
provide momentum to the opposition, he agreed, but said the
pro-Senate faction is resisting. He dismissed pro-Senate
faction president Arthur Mutambara (whom he has not seen
since July) as a "figurehead," and said the main obstacle is
pro-Senate secretary-general Welshman Ncube.
--------------
Comment
--------------
HARARE 00000042 002 OF 002
6. (C) Tsvangirai and the MDC have talked for some time,
without results, of mass mobilization. Mugabe,s apparent
intention to remain in power and postpone elections until
2010 presents another potential rallying point. This is
particularly true as more and more Zimbabweans, including
many ZANU-PF members, are coming to the realization that
political change at the top is necessary to prevent a
complete economic implosion.
DELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S.HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E.LOKEN
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B.PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ZI
SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI OPPOSES 2010 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell under Section 1.4 b/d
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (U) MDC anti-Senate faction leader Morgan Tsvangirai at a
press conference at MDC headquarters vowed to resist a
postponement of the 2008 presidential election until 2010.
Tsivangirai also said that constitutional reform should
SIPDIS
precede elections and allowed that negotiations on reform
among stakeholders could result in the election slipping
beyond 2008. On the issue of MDC reunification, he said this
would be "ideal," but the pro-Senate faction had not
indicated a willingness to reunify. End Summary.
--------------
Opposition to 2010 elections
--------------
2. (U) Tsvangirai told the press that the MDC would do
everything possible to assure that presidential elections
take place in 2008. He further argued that elections should
take place under a new constitution to ensure they are fair.
Tsvangirai added that the MDC will work with the Save
SIPDIS
Zimbabwe Coalition to negotiate a new constitution with all
stakeholders.
3. (U) Although short on specifics, Tsvangirai said mass
action is necessary and that all Zimbabweans must sacrifice.
Noting increasingly difficult times, he stated that "the time
to act is now. Our call for elections in 2008 is out of the
realization that the national crisis cannot be extended by
another day...."
4. (U) As part of the MDC strategy, Tsvangirai said the MDC
would conduct an international public relations campaign
directed at SADC , the AU, and the UN to create additional
international pressure on the regime.
4. (C) Tsvangirai told polecon chief after the press
conference that constitutional reform is more of a priority
than elections. If negotiations for such reform are underway
in 2008, he would support a postponement of 2008 elections
until a new constitution is in place. (N.B. This has been
Tsvangirai,s position for some time. He has argued that
SIPDIS
there must be a new constitution and a transitional
government of unity in place prior to elections to ensure
that they are free and fair.)
--------------
On reunification
--------------
5. (C) Asked by the press about prospects for reunification,
Tsvangirai said "it takes two to tango." He said party unity
SIPDIS
would be "ideal," but that more important than unity of
individuals is unity of purpose. When polecon chief
suggested to him that reunification at this time could
provide momentum to the opposition, he agreed, but said the
pro-Senate faction is resisting. He dismissed pro-Senate
faction president Arthur Mutambara (whom he has not seen
since July) as a "figurehead," and said the main obstacle is
pro-Senate secretary-general Welshman Ncube.
--------------
Comment
--------------
HARARE 00000042 002 OF 002
6. (C) Tsvangirai and the MDC have talked for some time,
without results, of mass mobilization. Mugabe,s apparent
intention to remain in power and postpone elections until
2010 presents another potential rallying point. This is
particularly true as more and more Zimbabweans, including
many ZANU-PF members, are coming to the realization that
political change at the top is necessary to prevent a
complete economic implosion.
DELL