ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT ON UPCOMING EXTRAORDINARY SADC

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUSAKA 000421 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR AF/FO, AF/DAS CAROL THOMPSON FOR AF/S/WILLS, JAMES, HILL, SHIELDS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018 TAGS: PREL SADC ZA ZI SUBJECT: ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT ON UPCOMING EXTRAORDINARY SADC SUMMIT REF: 07 LUSAKA 963 Classified By: Ambassador Carmen Martinez, reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: SADC Chairperson and Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa told Ambassador he has not yet heard whether Robert Mugabe will attend the emergency meeting of SADC heads of state called for April 12, but he expects Mugabe will not to want to miss a chance to peform. He confirmed that Morgan Tsvangirai will be allowed to meet with SADC heads of state. SIPDIS Mwanawasa believes that the announcement of Zimbabwe's election results is an urgent concern, and said that if the summit is not successful, his next step would be to deploy respected former presidents from the region such as former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda to prevail upon Mugabe and effect a resolution to the crisis. End summary. ¶2. (C) Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, at the Ambassador's request, called her at 0930 hours on April 11. The Ambassador discussed the points contained in the latest Department press guidance and commended the President on his initiative in convening the emergency Summit. The Ambassador emphasized that the United States government remains concerned about the welfare of the Zimbabwean people and that the Zimbabwean government's continued abuse and intimidation must come to an end. ¶3. (C) The President expressed his deep appreciation for the words of support from the USG. He also was appreciative that the Ambassador had made the approach through discreet channels, as he was in a difficult position especially given "what happened last time" (referring to the SADC Summit in 2007, see reftel). The President said that he was looking forward to a successful summit, however, he had not received confirmation that Mugabe would attend. He said he called Mugabe personally on Thursday, April 10, but Mugabe would not take his call, so he has asked President Mbeki to get in touch with Mugabe. President Mwanawasa said he has not yet heard from Mbeki. President Mwanawasa said, laughing, that he thought Mugabe would come because "I know him - he wants to make a show." President Mwanawasa also confirmed that Tsvangirai will be allowed to meet with the heads of state. SIPDIS ¶4. (C) President Mwanawasa said that his original plan was to try to send a commission of respected former African presidents including the First President of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, to bring their influence to bear to resolve the crisis. Possibly Kaunda would be able to influence Mugabe to accept reality (as Kaunda did, when his decades of one-party rule ended in--what was to him--a surprising election defeat in 1991). Mwanawasa said that if there is no progress at the emergency Summit, he will return to the idea of forming a commission of former presidents to send to Zimbabwe. ¶5. (C) President Mwanawasa concluded by saying that the most urgent matter now is to announce the election result. He said that once the results are announced, if Mugabe wants a recount, then that issue can be dealt with, "but you cannot recount what you have not announced." MARTINEZ