TSVANGIRAI VISITS GABORONE AS FIRST STOP AFTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L GABORONE 000714


DEPARTMENT FOR AF/S, ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2018
TAGS: PREL PINR SADC SOCI ETRD ZI BC SF
SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI VISITS GABORONE AS FIRST STOP AFTER
SADC SUMMIT

REF: GABORONE 705

Classified By: ACTING POLE CHIEF DAVID YOUNG; REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary: Zimbabwe MDC opposition leader Morgan
Tsvangirai visited Gaborone immediately after the SADC
Summit, reportedly meeting with President Khama who had
boycotted the weekend's Johannesburg Summit in protest over
the Zimbabwe political impasse. The GOB has been cagey about
the visit, first spinning it as a regional tour, but
Tsvangirai was definitely here. End Summary.


2. (U) Botswana print and radio media has reported the
August 18-19 visit of Morgan Tsvangirai to Gaborone, straight
from the SADC Summit in South Africa, which was boycotted by
Botswana President Ian Khama because the GOB does not
recognize the results of the June 27 election run-off in
Zimbabwe. Reports noted that Botswana has been accommodating
to Tsvangirai and offered him temporary refuge at the height
of electoral violence in Zimbabwe. An MFA spokesperson was
quoted in the media as characterizing Tsvangirai's visit as
part of a regional tour to brief regional leaders on progress
made on the power-sharing deal mediations. Also according to
the press, the GOB denied reports that Botswana is
considering plans to grant Tsvangirai a diplomatic passport.
The MFA spokesperson said Botswana cannot give a foreign
national a passport.


3. (C) Embassy contacts have confirmed that Tsvangirai spent
the night of August 18 in Gaborone and met with the Botswana
President and the Foreign Minister. The Charge rode by the
GOB's usually dark official guest house in Gaborone (where
Tsvangirai has stayed before) around 1930 on August 18, and
lights were on and GOB vehicles present. The same scene was
much more pronounced around 0930 on August 19, with more
official cars and apparent security or staff standing around
outside. Our contacts believe Tsvangirai's mission here was
to raise funds, meet people otherwise difficult to meet in
South Africa, and consolidate his position for power-sharing
talks. Our contacts suggest the regional tour description
may have been an artificial spin, and Tsvangirai may have
departed back to South Africa on August 19 (at least
according to what we have been told thus far). The MFA
Americas Director confirmed Tsvangirai's visit to Acting P/E
Chief, but was unable or unwilling to provide any other
information.


4. (C) Comment: The SADC Heads of State Summit heralded the
launch of the regional Free Trade Area, aimed to usher in a
new level of regional integration, with reportedly no import
tariffs on 85 percent of all traded goods in the twelve
country region. The summit's integration bash was distracted
by President Khama's principled boycott and continuing
difficult Zimbabwe power-sharing negotiations on the margins.
It is not clear yet what Tsvangirai may have accomplished by
his quick trip to Gaborone, other than needed solidarity from
a close-by friend, but Botswana appears to have amplified its
role as Tsvangirai's key supporter. End Comment.


DROUIN