Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08GABORONE406
2008-05-27 14:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Gaborone
Cable title:  

DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SADC OBSERVERS FOR ZIMBABWE

Tags:  PREL SADC ZI BC AU 
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O 271414Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY GABORONE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4994
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 
HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L GABORONE 000406 

DEPT. FOR AF/S: STEVE HILL
USAFRICOM FOR STRATEGY PLANS AND PROGRAMS (MC) SOUTHERN BRANCH
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018
TAGS: PREL SADC ZI BC AU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SADC OBSERVERS FOR ZIMBABWE

REF: STATE 556159 (NOTAL)

Classified By: Ambassador Katherine Canavan, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L GABORONE 000406

DEPT. FOR AF/S: STEVE HILL
USAFRICOM FOR STRATEGY PLANS AND PROGRAMS (MC) SOUTHERN BRANCH
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018
TAGS: PREL SADC ZI BC AU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SADC OBSERVERS FOR ZIMBABWE

REF: STATE 556159 (NOTAL)

Classified By: Ambassador Katherine Canavan, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Canavan delivered demarche
regarding election observers for Zimbabwe to the SADC
Executive Secretary, who agreed on the need and outlined
SADC's current activities and plans. He said he has lined up
pledges for between 400 and 500 SADC observers and hopes to
arrange many more, and has already sent a low-profile group
of retired generals from several member states into Zimbabwe
to liaise with all sides on ways to defuse the violence. He
was frank about the need for SADC to help Zimbabweans express
"their clear desire for change." End summary.


2. (SBU) Ambassador Canavan met with SADC Executive
Secretary Dr. Tomaz Salomao on May 27, and delivered demarche
points on the need for SADC election observers in Zimbabwe
(reftel). Dr. Salomao was in general agreement with all U.S.
views, and outlined the current status of SADC's election
efforts and plans:

-- For the last several weeks a group of retired generals
from South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, and Angola have been
in Zimbabwe at SADC's behest, sent to help defuse the
violence surrounding the election preparations. The team of
about twenty-five individuals is not there "to write
reports," he said, but to actively liaise with the police,
military, government, political parties, and any other key
players in order to help the sides head off potential
problems and violence. Salomao said he was certain that the
team's low-profile confidence-building efforts were paying
off, and he wants to further increase the size of the group.

-- SADC has already arranged for the deployment of about 400
observers, and expects that number to quickly reach "a
minimum of five hundred." He endorsed the idea that 1,000
observers could be very well utilized, and was happy to
discuss ideas for adding to the pledges he has now. He wants
"senior" observers, including as many MPs as possible, and
noted that most regional parliaments are now in recess. He
said he is working closely with member states to obtain their
actual lists of observers by name, and is pushing them to

send high-level representatives such as members of
parliament. Separately, he said, the African Union is also
arranging to send observers from other regions of Africa, but
the AU has not yet provided him details or numbers. Salomao
has been given authority to draw on SADC's Reserve Fund to
pay for the deployments, and said that for now that funding
is adequate.

-- On May 29, a group of five SADC officials will relocate to
Harare to establish SADC's election observation headquarters.
The next day, Dr. Salomao will himself travel to Harare, in
order to be able to personally coordinate SADC's efforts. He
expects to travel back and forth in the period prior to the
election, and promised to brief Ambassadors Canavan and McGee
on the progress of the observer missions.

-- During the first week of July SADC observers will begin to
arrive in Zimbabwe for briefings and deployment. If
additional observers become available, they will be added to
the deployed personnel. Botswana has advised that its
observers are ready to be deployed.


3. (SBU) Dr. Salomao also observed that the Zimbabwe
elections are only the beginning of a series of elections
that will take place in the region in the next two years. He
cited South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Angola, and Mozambique
among the countries that will be holding elections and may
need SADC assistance. Ambassador Canavan suggested that the
SADC Parliamentary Forum is an excellent resource and
expressed the hope that the SADC PF can play a constructive
role in the upcoming elections in all of these countries.


4. (C) Comment: Dr. Salomao was notably sympathetic to our
views, and projected an energy and frankness that has not
always marked previous discussions about Zimbabwe. For the
first time, he dropped his diplomatic reserve and said quite
simply that it is clear the people of Zimbabwe want a change
of government, and that SADC needs to do all it can to allow
them the means to express that desire in the upcoming vote.
Given SADC's decidedly mixed track record on Zimbabwe, the
plans he outlined are advanced, specific, and very positive.
Salomao's personal commitment seemed strong. He agreed that
it could be useful for him to have a conversation with
Ambassador McGee once he is established in Harare, and we
will provide him some contact information. Meanwhile, he
will be in contact with the SADC Parliamentary Forum, which
cannot itself send an official delegation of observers, but
which can urge member MPs to volunteer to serve as bi-lateral
or general SADC observers. He agreed that any encouragement
U.S. missions could give to MPs and other prominent contacts
across the continent would be useful in gathering the
increased numbers of credible observers that we feel are
warranted. End comment.

CANAVAN