SADC SUMMIT: MANAWASA URGES "HUMILITY" AND A "NEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LUSAKA 000423 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/S, AF/PD, AND SES-O E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2013 TAGS: PREL SADC ZA ZI SUBJECT: SADC SUMMIT: MANAWASA URGES "HUMILITY" AND A "NEW LEAF" IN ZIMBABWE REF: A. LUSAKA 412 ¶B. LUSAKA 421 ¶C. LUSAKA 422 Classified By: DCM Michael Koplovsky for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: In his opening speech to an extraordinary Southern African Development Community Summit, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa echoed U.S. points delivered throughout the week in a short but pointed speech. He called for "humility" by Zimbabwean politicians and indicated it was time to turn over a new leaf. Mwanawasa underscored democratic principles and the need for patience and non-violence as SADC reaches a common strategy for helping its neighbor (whose house, he implied, was on fire) find answers that reflect "the will of the people." ¶2. (U) On April 12, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held an Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in Lusaka aimed at addressing the political crisis in Zimbabwe following the March 29 general elections. Heads of State from eight of SADC's 14 Member States attended the meetings, including Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia. Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, who chose not to attend (Ref C),sent his Ministers of Information, Justice, and Foreign Affairs to represent him. ¶3. (SBU) Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai also attended by SADC invitation. Although Tsvangirai remained stoic and tight-lipped in the front row throughout, he was surrounded by the paparazzi like a rock star for several minutes. Despite rumors that he would be present, Zimbabwean presidential candidate Makoni did not appear at the opening session. About 200 people that nearly filled the hall included mainly diplomatic corps (out in force),SADC entourages, and journalists, included BBC, New York Times, and Reuters reporters based in South Africa. The Summit began over two hours late, due to the late arrival of South African President Thabo Mbeki, who made a stop in Harare en route to Lusaka. In a press statement afterwards in Harare, Mbeki reportedly said there was "no crisis" in Zimbabwe. A half dozen demonstrators outside the conference center demonstrated before a banner calling for release of Zimbabwean presidential election results. ¶4. (U) Zambian President and SADC Chair Levy Mwanawasa opened the summit with a speech that urged "calm and patience" but also laid down a clear marker stating the purpose of the summit was for SADC to develop a common approach to help Zimbabwe find an answer to the current situation that "reflects the will of the people." "We want to identify ways to help our Zimbabwean brothers and sisters." He appealed to Zimbabwean government and opposition leaders to "embrace humility" and "turn over a new leaf in the history of Zimbabwe." He said that great men and women must take bold steps and that the time to do this is now. Mwanawasa warned that no leader should condone violence because violence breeds violence. SADC has a responsibility for democratic governance and accountability in the region and leaders must accept the people's verdict. ¶5. (U) The Zambian president said SADC cannot stand by and do nothing when one of its members is in trouble. Quoting a local idiom, Mwanawasa said it would be like turning a blind eye when the neighbor's house is on fire. SADC, he said, must lend a helping hand. However, Mwanawasa praised South African President Mbeki's efforts that resulted in "successful holding of elections in Zimbabwe" and also reiterated the SADC electoral observer team's assessment that the polls were "free and fair." ¶6. (C) Concluding with straight-faced sarcasm, Mwanawasa took pains to reassure the absent Mugabe that he was welcome to share his perspectives through his envoys since "events beyond his control" had kept him from attending. Mwanawasa underscored that this extraordinary summit was not meant to "put Mugabe in the dock." (Note: Local diplomats conjectured Mugabe feared leaving Zimbabwe during this unstable time.) ¶7. (C) Comment: Although he threw Mugabe and his supporters in SADC a few bones, in contrast to past SADC events, Mwanawasa stood tall and delivered the right points, particularly on democracy and violence. UK diplomats tell us HMG recommended Zambia deliver a strong message or no message at all. Mugabe's bitter memories of Mwanawasa's "sinking Titanic" comments in March 2007 regarding Zimbabwe will LUSAKA 00000423 002 OF 002 certainly be eclipsed by images of burning houses and turning leaves. With Mwanawasa drawing lines in the sand, the closed session discussions should be lively. Post will report on any communiques and results of the summit, although we do not expect leaders to emerge until late on April 12. MARTINEZ