MUGABE "CHICKENS OUT" OF SPECIAL SADC SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUSAKA 000422 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF STATE ALSO AF/S AND AF/PD E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2013 TAGS: PREL ZA ZI SADC SUBJECT: MUGABE "CHICKENS OUT" OF SPECIAL SADC SUMMIT Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Koplovsky for reasons 1. 4 (b) and (d ¶1. (C) On the afternoon of April 11, Zambian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Tens Kapoma updated the Ambassador on the special Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit. Kapoma said Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe "chickened out" and will not be attending the meeting. "He is missing an opportunity." He said "this shows he's not the same man he used to be....he has been humbled and discredited." Kapoma concluded that Mugabe "is living on borrowed time" politically. Kapoma said the presidents of Angola, Malawi, Botswana and the DRC and the King of Swaziland have confirmed their attendance. The PermSec told the Ambassador that Zimbabwean MDC candidate Morgan Tsvangirai still plans to attend. ¶2. (SBU) Kapoma said the Lusaka diplomatic corps will be invited to the opening session of the summit (at 14:00 local time on Saturday). The Ambassador will attend. We understand EU heads of mission also plan to attend. MARTINEZ