ANGOLA CONCERNED DELAY IN ZIMBABWE VOTE RESULTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUANDA 000263

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2013
TAGS: PREL AO ZI
SUBJECT: ANGOLA CONCERNED DELAY IN ZIMBABWE VOTE RESULTS
COULD LEAD TO VIOLENCE

REF: LUANDA 254

Classified By: Ambassador Dan Mozena for Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Foreign Relations Vice Minister Jorge Chicoti called
Ambassador Mozena April 2 to convey Angola's "worry" over the
continued delay in release of the results of Zimbabwe's
presidential election. Chicoti said the GRA is internally
grappling at the highest levels with how to handle the
situation. The GRA is transmitting its concerns directly to
the Government of Zimbabwe. Chicoti said his government will
continue to observe the process and, as long as there is no
violence, wait for the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to
release the official results.


2. (C) Chicoti said the NEC, as an independent body, should
not be subjected to pressure from the Zimbabwean government
or other domestic or foreign actors. He acknowledged that
the ZEC's failure to release the results is problematic,
declaring that the longer the NEC remains silent, the more
dangerous the situation becomes. Chicoti added that the NEC
is already in violation of Zimbabwe's own laws, which require
the release of electoral results within 48 hours.


3. (C) Chicoti said SADC is monitoring the situation in
Zimbabwe (Note: Angola is chairing the SADC observation
mission to Zimbabwe and is chair of the SADC Organ for
Politics, Defense, and Security). Angola, Chicoti said, will
"do what is appropriate" in consultations with SADC if the
Zimbabwe situation takes a turn for the worse. A bit
enigmatically, Chicoti said, "If one side says the results
are unfair, we will be there."


4. (C) Ambassador Mozena suggested that the GRA could urge
the Government of Zimbabwe to speak publicly to call for the
ZEC to release the election results quickly. Chicoti agreed
and said perhaps all political leaders should make a joint
public call for the quick release of the election results.


5. (C) Comment: Angola was not prepared for the uncertain
outcome unfolding in Zimbabwe; they had assumed Mugabe would
win. The GRA is now rightly concerned at the prospect of
violence in Zimbabwe and the potential for said violence to
destabilize the region. Despite their concerns, the GRA has
no plan for how to deal with any such violence, should it
arise.
MOZENA