DEMARCHE ON IMPORTANCE OF

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000925 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL CG ZI SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON IMPORTANCE OF SADC ENGAGEMENT ON ZIMBABWE REF: SECSTATE 112727 ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel, Charge d'Affaires and poloff delivered demarche October 23 to Ambassador Clementine Shakembo, Diplomatic Counselor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. (Note: Meeting was held with Shakembo, Ministry's senior career employee, given unavailability of Minister and Deputy Minister to receive us on short notice. End note.) ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Shakembo pledged to transmit our message to Mbusa Nyamwisi, who would ensure that the message was given to the proper person as it was not clear who would go to the October 27 meeting in Harare. Shakembo did state, however, that regardless of who led the Congolese delegation to that meeting Foreign Minister Mbusa would not/not attend if Prime Minister Muzito had not yet formed a new government with him, Mbusa, remaining in the post of Foreign Minister. ¶3. (SBU) On substance, Shakembo said the difficult political situation in Zimbabwe will require tact, noting that the DRC had its own experience with power sharing agreements. She also expressed sympathy for the suffering of the Zimbabwean people. Shakembo said the GDRC fully understands USG views on Zimbabwe. BROCK