Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LUSAKA407
2008-04-09 12:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lusaka
Cable title:  

ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS: ZAMBIA HIDES BEHIND SADC

Tags:  PREL ZA ZI 
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VZCZCXRO7492
PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLS #0407 1001221
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 091221Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
TO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5674
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L LUSAKA 000407 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF C. THOMPSON
STATE ALSO FOR AF/S AND AF/PD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2013
TAGS: PREL ZA ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS: ZAMBIA HIDES BEHIND SADC

REF: A. LUSAKA 0287

B. 07 LUSAKA 0963

Classified By: Ambassador Carmen Martinez for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUSAKA 000407

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF C. THOMPSON
STATE ALSO FOR AF/S AND AF/PD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2013
TAGS: PREL ZA ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS: ZAMBIA HIDES BEHIND SADC

REF: A. LUSAKA 0287

B. 07 LUSAKA 0963

Classified By: Ambassador Carmen Martinez for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) During an April 9 meeting, Zambian Minister of
Information and Government Spokesman Mike Mulongoti told DCM
and PAO that the Zambian government (GRZ) would not be making
public statements on the Zimbabwean election. As SADC
President the Zambian government (GRZ) could neither comment
on the Zimbabwean elections nor call on the Zimbabwean
authorities to release election results because it would be
seen as speaking not for Zambia but for the group. According
to Mulongoti, President Mwanawasa and the rest of the GRZ
will continue to defer to South African President Mbeki whom
SADC has given the "remit and mandate" to monitor and assess
the Zimbabwean election. Furthermore, Mulongoti noted that
any Zambian comments would be correctly interpreted by Harare
as meddling in another sovereign country's internal affairs.


2. (C) Mulongoti shared his personal views candidly. In a
chiding tone, he blamed western powers for creating an
intransigent and emboldened Mugabe by facilitating and paying
for the relocation of displaced Zimbabweans throughout
southern Africa in the late 1990s after the farm invasions.
(Comment: We are unaware of the events to which he was
referring, but perhaps he was alluding to UN resettlement
efforts.) Consistent with his remarks to Deputy AFRICOM
Commander Amb Yates in February (ref A),he indicated that
the UK especially, but also the United States, had put Mugabe
in a corner from which he could not retreat.


3. (C) DCM suggested that Zambia, as a beacon of democracy
and stability in the region which had made its own democratic
transition from one party rule through the ballot box, should
be a responsible champion of democracy. Disappointingly,
Mulongoti responded with a resigned "our hands are tied"
attitude. Refusing even to comment on the election
privately, the Information Minister would only say that "you
can't choose your neighbors." Zambian passivity on Zimbabwe
and Mugabe has been the order of the day since the
contentious (and ultimately embarrassing) discussion at the
August 2007 SADC Summit in Lusaka when President Mwanawasa
attempted to raise the Zimbabwe issue but was shouted down by
SADC colleagues (ref B).


4. (SBU) On a brighter note, at PAO's request, Minister
Mulongoti agreed to an April 11 meeting with visiting
Zimbabwean journalists and civil society representatives
(organized by PAO Harare).

MARTINEZ