TSVANGIRAI OUTLINES GOALS FOR MDC-LED PARLIAMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000482 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: 06/03/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM KDEM ZI SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI OUTLINES GOALS FOR MDC-LED PARLIAMENT Classified By: Charge d'affaires, a.i. Glenn Warren for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On May 30, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai addressed MDC Members of Parliament (MPs),outlining his initiatives for parliament. Describing his goals as the "Restore Hope Campaign," he laid out a number of ambitious initiatives intended to put Zimbabwe on the right track. However, even as Tsvangirai described his vision for the first MDC-led parliament in Zimbabwe's history, MDC leaders continue to fear arrest. The ability of the MDC to successfully organize and plan for the runoff remains in question. END SUMMARY. -------------- MDC: Unified and in Control -------------- ¶2. (U) In his May 30 State of the Nation address to MDC MPs, President Morgan Tsvangirai outlined his "Restore Hope Campaign" and reminded his MPs that they now control the House of Assembly. No longer the opposition party, he urged his MPs to embark on numerous initiatives aimed at restoring Zimbabwe and reversing the economic and social deterioration of the country. The speech contained such Americanisms as "a government of the people by the people" and declared that "Zimbabweans should not ask what their government will do for them, but what they will also do for government." Tsvangirai spoke of creating a "New Zimbabwe" or a "Third Republic" that would follow the "First Republic" of Colonialism and the "Second Republic" of Liberation. ¶3. (SBU) Significantly, Tsvangirai welcomed the presence of MDC members from the MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara and declared both factions were committed to working together. (COMMENT: Despite the note of unity candidates from both factions filed notices last week to contest three by-elections on June 27. Since all three constituencies are heavily MDC, it is doubtful split votes will result in ZANU-PF victories. END COMMENT.) Before his speech, Tsvangirai led a moment of silence to remember "all Zimbabweans killed in the struggle for democracy", an apparent reference not only to victims of the current violence but also the liberation movement. ---------------------------- Zim: "Unmitigated Embarrassment to the African Continent" -------------- -------------- ¶4. (U) Tsvangirai congratulated his MPs for winning their constituencies, but declared that it was time to get to work. Describing Zimbabwe as an "unmitigated embarrassment to the African continent", Tsvangirai went on to describe the five necessary components to fulfill his "Restore Hope Campaign": (1) Promote national healing, (2) Restore people's freedom, (3) Restore people's dignity, (4) Restore basic services, and (5) Restore Zimbabwe to the community of nations. -------------- Promote National Healing -------------- ¶5. (U) To promote national healing, Tsvangirai declared that MDC would not replace old oppressors for new ones, and explained his intention to restore even ZANU-PF, as it is the party of Zimbabwe's history. He went on to acknowledge that members of ZANU-PF have been victimized, and he called on the MDC to seek out those ZANU-PF members whose "eyes are open" and invite them where they have agreements. He further called for the establishment of a Truth and Justice Commission to investigate human rights violations and corruption. However, he said, truth is not enough to HARARE 00000482 002 OF 003 compensate for Operation Gukurahundi, massacres in the early 1980s in Matabeleland directed against the minority Ndebele population that left an estimated 20,000 dead, and Operation Murambatsvina, a 2005 government campaign to destroy opposition strongholds that left some 700,000 displaced. Tsvangirai called for reparations for victims of those two operations, as well as victims of the current post-election violence. (NOTE: Before Tsvangirai arrived, MDC's National Chairman Lovemore Moyo called on parliamentarians "experiencing problems" to speak with an MDC member coordinating housing in Harare. As several MDC MPs have been harassed and are staying in safe houses in Harare, they have not been immune to this post-election violence. END NOTE.) -------------- Restore People's Freedom -------------- ¶6. (U) Tsvangirai called on parliament to create a people-driven constitution within the next 18 months. He was met with applause when he declared this constitution should be parliament's first task and should ensure that no person or institution is above the law. Tsvangirai also reached out to current civil servants working for the GOZ. Saying he understood that civil servants had been fearful of retribution, and losing their jobs, Tsvangirai pledged to de-politicize the work of the GOZ's civil service. He further called on parliament to repeal acts that limit freedoms, specifically AIPPA and POSA. -------------- Restore Dignity -------------- ¶7. (U) Tsvangirai declared that an MDC-led government would be small - a jab at the bloated structure of the current government - and would work to restore the dignity of Zimbabweans. In particular, he outlined measures to improve the economy through increased accountability, a business-friendly environment, and resolution to the land issue. He called on Parliament to establish an Economic Development Council to reverse the shrinking economy, rehabilitate national industry, restore international credibility, and address the humanitarian crisis - food shortages in particular. ¶8. (U) On the controversial subject of land, he described land ownership as a constitutional issue, and called on parliament to consult with "everyone" and establish a land commission. The commission would identify measures to compensate or reincorporate land that was lost to ZANU-PF, based on the commission's findings. He optimistically declared he expected the land commission to "depoliticize" the land issue. (NOTE: The next day, The Herald, the government mouthpiece newspaper, seized on this to reinforce their claim that Tsvangirai intends to return land to the "Rhodesians." END NOTE.) -------------- Restore Basic Services -------------- ¶9. (U) Tsvangirai briefly outlined his key priorities to restore services to Zimbabweans: (1) provision of free anti-retroviral drugs to HIV/AIDS patients, (2) provision of affordable education, (3) rehabilitation of hospitals, (4) de-politicization of food distribution, and (5) reforms in the transportation sector. -------------- Restore Zimbabwe to the Community of Nations -------------- HARARE 00000482 003 OF 003 ¶10. (U) Referring to the current president of Zimbabwe as "Mr. Mugabe", Tsvangirai appeared to belittle the legitimacy of Robert Mugabe's hold on the presidency. In contrast, he portrayed himself as a statesman as he described his travels throughout Africa since the March 29 presidential election. He described other African leaders as "outraged" that the will of the Zimbabwean people had been betrayed by the government's broken promises for a free and fair election. He completed his speech, with a prediction of his own victory in the upcoming presidential runoff on June 27: "People will reconfirm on the 27th their vote of the 29th." -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶11. (C) With less than a month remaining to the Presidential runoff election, the MDC has to act fast to organize its efforts and build up morale among voters. In calling the "parliament" together, Tsvangirai sought to demonstrate his leadership and to stand up to the current government. However, these reminders to the MDC that they are now the majority party ring hollow, as the MPs themselves flee violence inflicted by ZANU-PF militias and are arrested on drummed-up charges. While Tsvangirai is right to call upon his allies to implement the changes for which they have campaigned, they are unable to do so until they are sworn in by the President. MDC still appears to be playing catch-up, and it is unclear if they will be able to organize themselves in the weeks before the runoff. Tsvangirai's State of the Nation address was announced to diplomats and the press less than 24 hours before the event. Aside from the approximately 100 MDC members of parliament and a few dozen others, the event was poorly attended. Just before it began, organizers asked diplomats and journalists to fill in empty seats to making the event appear better-attended. END COMMENT. Warren