Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HARARE508
2007-06-11 09:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
TSVANGIRAI UPDATES AMBASSADOR ON SOUTH AFRICA
VZCZCXRO1247 RR RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSB #0508 1620946 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 110946Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1571 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1624 RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1491 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1628 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0287 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0893 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1256 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1684 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4092 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1453 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 2111 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0751 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1845
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000508
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: 06/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI UPDATES AMBASSADOR ON SOUTH AFRICA
TALKS, TRIP TO THE US
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher W. Dell under Section 1.4 b/d
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000508
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: 06/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI UPDATES AMBASSADOR ON SOUTH AFRICA
TALKS, TRIP TO THE US
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher W. Dell under Section 1.4 b/d
1. (C) MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai told the Ambassador
on June 11 that the ZANU-PF position paper submitted to the
South African-moderated talks was nothing more than the usual
rhetoric, confirming prior suspicion that the GOZ was merely
stalling. Unlike the MDC submission that addressed
Zimbabwe's future, the ZANU-PF paper rehashed old arguments
of colonial oppression and diatribes against the British and
supposed "illegal" sanctions, and called on South African
President Mbeki to bring the MDC's "British masters" to the
negotiating table. Tsvangirai said that the South Africans
had yet to respond to the ZANU-PF paper, but added that he
was skeptical that Pretoria would be critical or push Robert
Mugabe very hard. Tsvangirai referred to the introduction of
Constitution Amendment 18 into Parliament (septel) as yet
another indication that the GOZ was not serious about the
talks as it moved unilaterally to change facts on the ground
in advance of elections.
2. (C) In a welcome display of creativity, Tsvangirai said
he planned to lead a delegation of opposition and civil
society leaders to the United States June 25-27. Joining the
delegation would be Pro-Senate MDC leader Arthur Mutambara,
National Constitutional Assembly Chairman Lovemore Madhuku,
Christian Alliance head Levee Kadenge, student activist
Lynnett Mudehwe, and Matabeleland-based ZAPU-Federal Party
president Paul Siwela. Labor leader Lucia Matibenga hoped
also to join the delegation, but did not have a passport.
The delegation would also visit the AU, EU, and Canada before
and after stopping in Washington and New York. Welcoming the
combined visit, the Ambassador promised to facilitate visas
for the group ) including a travel document for Matibenga )
and meetings with Administration officials.
--------------
Comment
--------------
3. (C) The Zimbabwean opposition has found a clever way
around the internal MDC impasse and this broad delegation is
the most hopeful sign from them in some time. We recommend
the Department facilitate the highest level of access
possible for the Save Zimbabwe delegation to reinforce this
new found spirit of cooperation.
DELL
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: 06/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI UPDATES AMBASSADOR ON SOUTH AFRICA
TALKS, TRIP TO THE US
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher W. Dell under Section 1.4 b/d
1. (C) MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai told the Ambassador
on June 11 that the ZANU-PF position paper submitted to the
South African-moderated talks was nothing more than the usual
rhetoric, confirming prior suspicion that the GOZ was merely
stalling. Unlike the MDC submission that addressed
Zimbabwe's future, the ZANU-PF paper rehashed old arguments
of colonial oppression and diatribes against the British and
supposed "illegal" sanctions, and called on South African
President Mbeki to bring the MDC's "British masters" to the
negotiating table. Tsvangirai said that the South Africans
had yet to respond to the ZANU-PF paper, but added that he
was skeptical that Pretoria would be critical or push Robert
Mugabe very hard. Tsvangirai referred to the introduction of
Constitution Amendment 18 into Parliament (septel) as yet
another indication that the GOZ was not serious about the
talks as it moved unilaterally to change facts on the ground
in advance of elections.
2. (C) In a welcome display of creativity, Tsvangirai said
he planned to lead a delegation of opposition and civil
society leaders to the United States June 25-27. Joining the
delegation would be Pro-Senate MDC leader Arthur Mutambara,
National Constitutional Assembly Chairman Lovemore Madhuku,
Christian Alliance head Levee Kadenge, student activist
Lynnett Mudehwe, and Matabeleland-based ZAPU-Federal Party
president Paul Siwela. Labor leader Lucia Matibenga hoped
also to join the delegation, but did not have a passport.
The delegation would also visit the AU, EU, and Canada before
and after stopping in Washington and New York. Welcoming the
combined visit, the Ambassador promised to facilitate visas
for the group ) including a travel document for Matibenga )
and meetings with Administration officials.
--------------
Comment
--------------
3. (C) The Zimbabwean opposition has found a clever way
around the internal MDC impasse and this broad delegation is
the most hopeful sign from them in some time. We recommend
the Department facilitate the highest level of access
possible for the Save Zimbabwe delegation to reinforce this
new found spirit of cooperation.
DELL