TSVANGIRAI OPPOSES 2010 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

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

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Summary
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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.

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Opposition to 2010 elections
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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.)

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On reunification
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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.

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Comment
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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