Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HARARE46
2008-01-23 13:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
MDC'S BITI ON SADC FAILURE, MDC RECONCILIATION
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C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000046
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL,
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: MDC'S BITI ON SADC FAILURE, MDC RECONCILIATION
REF: HARARE 38
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee. Reason: 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000046
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL,
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: MDC'S BITI ON SADC FAILURE, MDC RECONCILIATION
REF: HARARE 38
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee. Reason: 1.4 (d)
1. (C) Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Tsvangirai
faction secretary general Tendai Biti told Polecon chief on
January 21 that South African president Mbeki, after four
hours of meetings with President Mugabe and two hours with
MDC president organ Tsvangirai on January 17, had failed to
brek the negotiation logjam. The principal issues blcking
agreement were the MDC's insistence that the draft
constitution be implemented before the election and that the
eletion be postponed. Subsidiary issues were MDC demnds
that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) be reconstituted
(at least with a new chairman),that new registration and
delimitation of constituencies take place, that rural chiefs
and ZANU-PF patronage in these areas be ended and that
monitors be dispatched to ensure this; and that food aid
manipulation be ended. (NOTE: Biti said the MDC was not
seeking Diaspora voting since it believed ZANU-PF could
fraudulently manipulate this. END NOTE.)
2. (C) Biti told us MDC leaders met with Mbeki and his
negotiating team last weekend in South Africa, following
Mbeki's unsuccessful trip to Harare. Mbeki suggested that
MDC faction leaders Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara meet
directly with Mugabe. Biti termed this idea "ludicrous." He
said Mbeki was "full of b.s." and that the MDC had lost all
confidence in him. The MDC has formally requested that Mbeki
report to SADC and ask SADC as a body to attempt to resolve
the impasse.
3. (C) Biti was not hopeful that SADC would act. He
suggested that the USG privately pressure Mbeki and SADC to
place more pressure on Mugabe. He told us he believed a
public USG response to the logjam would be premature at this
time, but if the talks formally deadlock the MDC believed a
USG condemnation of Mugabe would be appropriate.
4. (C) On MDC reconciliation, Biti said standing committees
of both factions had met last weekend in South Africa and had
agreed to a coalition to contest the March election. The
agreement would not be made public until details had been
worked out. The ultimate objective, according to Biti, was
reunification.
MCGEE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL,
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: MDC'S BITI ON SADC FAILURE, MDC RECONCILIATION
REF: HARARE 38
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee. Reason: 1.4 (d)
1. (C) Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Tsvangirai
faction secretary general Tendai Biti told Polecon chief on
January 21 that South African president Mbeki, after four
hours of meetings with President Mugabe and two hours with
MDC president organ Tsvangirai on January 17, had failed to
brek the negotiation logjam. The principal issues blcking
agreement were the MDC's insistence that the draft
constitution be implemented before the election and that the
eletion be postponed. Subsidiary issues were MDC demnds
that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) be reconstituted
(at least with a new chairman),that new registration and
delimitation of constituencies take place, that rural chiefs
and ZANU-PF patronage in these areas be ended and that
monitors be dispatched to ensure this; and that food aid
manipulation be ended. (NOTE: Biti said the MDC was not
seeking Diaspora voting since it believed ZANU-PF could
fraudulently manipulate this. END NOTE.)
2. (C) Biti told us MDC leaders met with Mbeki and his
negotiating team last weekend in South Africa, following
Mbeki's unsuccessful trip to Harare. Mbeki suggested that
MDC faction leaders Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara meet
directly with Mugabe. Biti termed this idea "ludicrous." He
said Mbeki was "full of b.s." and that the MDC had lost all
confidence in him. The MDC has formally requested that Mbeki
report to SADC and ask SADC as a body to attempt to resolve
the impasse.
3. (C) Biti was not hopeful that SADC would act. He
suggested that the USG privately pressure Mbeki and SADC to
place more pressure on Mugabe. He told us he believed a
public USG response to the logjam would be premature at this
time, but if the talks formally deadlock the MDC believed a
USG condemnation of Mugabe would be appropriate.
4. (C) On MDC reconciliation, Biti said standing committees
of both factions had met last weekend in South Africa and had
agreed to a coalition to contest the March election. The
agreement would not be made public until details had been
worked out. The ultimate objective, according to Biti, was
reunification.
MCGEE