ZIMBABWE: TANZANIA PRESSING FOR INTERNATIONAL

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000159 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT AF/S FOR SHILL, AF/E FOR JLIDDLE, ALSO AF/RSA FOR MBITTRICK ADDIS ABABA FOR AU MISSION LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ZI TZ SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE: TANZANIA PRESSING FOR INTERNATIONAL MONITORS TO BE IN PLACE WELL IN ADVANCE OF ELECTION DAY REF: STATE 018257 ¶1. (SBU) Honorable Bernard Membe, Tanzania's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, assured Ambassador Green on February 27 that President Kikwete is working closely with President Mbeki of South Africa and within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as well as with African Union (AU) states to ensure that international monitors be allowed into Zimbabwe well in advance of the presidential, legislative and local elections. ¶2. (SBU) Minister Membe understood that a SADC observer team was scheduled to arrive in Harare about three weeks before the March 29 elections. However, he completely supported the need for AU, Commonwealth, the SADC Parliamentary Forum and other key international observer teams, including domestic civil society groups, to also be in place from the earliest possible date in order to monitor pre-election activities. Membe was clear that President Kikwete will continue to use all avenues to influence President Mugabe to agree that international election monitors be credentialed and allowed to enter Zimbabwe as quickly as possible. GREEN