LESOTHO: ZIMBABWEAN OPPOSITION LEADER CALLS ON GOL

UNCLAS MASERU 000135 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR AF/S E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM ZI LT SUBJECT: LESOTHO: ZIMBABWEAN OPPOSITION LEADER CALLS ON GOL ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai arrived in Maseru aboard a private plane on May 13 for an afternoon of meetings with senior GOL officials. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement that said the visit "follows the announcement of presidential elections in Zimbabwe... in which there did not emerge a winner with sufficient majority to lead the government." Tsvangirai was scheduled to depart Lesotho immediately following his afternoon meetings, but no further details on his discussions with the GOL were available by COB May 13. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwean presidential candidate and leader of primary opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC),landed at Moshoeshoe International Airport at approximately 3:00 pm on May 13 aboard a private aircraft, accompanied by four MDC officials. Tsvangirai and his delegation, in an official GOL motorcade, proceeded to Maseru's Qhobosheaneng Government complex for a meeting with senior GOL officials. ¶3. (U) After Tsvangirai's arrival, the MFA announced the visit with a brief statement: "The leader of the Zimbabwe Opposition MDC, Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai, is scheduled to arrive at Moshoeshoe I Airport at 2 p.m. today to have a consultative meeting with The Right Honorable the Prime Minister, Mr. Pakalitha B. Mosisili, on 13 May, 2008. The visit follows the announcement of presidential elections in Zimbabwe on Friday 2 May, 2008 in which there did not emerge a winner with sufficient majority to lead the government." According to GOL contacts, however, Deputy Prime Minister Archibald Lehohla stood in for PM Mosisili, who apparently fell ill prior to the meeting. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: MFA contacts told Emboffs that Tsvangirai intended to depart Lesotho immediately following his afternoon meetings with the GOL. Although no details on the discussions were available by COB May 13, we will use imminent opportunities with local participants in the visit to assess the GOL's reaction to MDC's regional campaign to garner support for Zimbabwe's political opposition. End Comment. NOLAN