LESOTHO TO ATTEND UN ZIMBABWE ROUNDTABLE, SEND 31 ELECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L MASERU 000178 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR AF/S, IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/19/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM UN ZI LT SUBJECT: LESOTHO TO ATTEND UN ZIMBABWE ROUNDTABLE, SEND 31 ELECTION OBSERVERS REF: A) STATE 65274; B) MASERU 174 CLASSIFIED BY: Christopher M. Smith, Public Diplomacy, Economic, and Political Officer, P/DEP, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Charge spoke on June 18 with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Tebollo Metsing, who, after conferring with Minister of Foreign Affairs Tsekoa, said that "Lesotho would most certainly participate" in the UN roundtable on Zimbabwe (ref A). Lesotho's election monitoring delegation will be comprised of 28 individuals from Parliament, civil society, and the diplomatic service. One delegation member already on the ground described the situation as "tense." As Lesotho played a constructive role on Zimbabwe during its 2006/2007 SADC chairmanship and senior GOL officials have maintained a public posture that Zimbabwean leaders must respect human rights and the will of their people, there is good reason to hope that Lesotho's monitoring role will be effective. END SUMMARY. -------------- Demarche on June 19 UN Roundtable -------------- ¶2. (U) Charge spoke on June 18 with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Tebollo Metsing and delivered ref A talking points. PS Metsing, who immediately conferred with Minister of Foreign Affairs Tsekoa, said that "Lesotho would most certainly participate in the roundtable." He expressed appreciation for the invitation, asked for clarification about the specific time and location, took particular note of the role of Burkina Faso as co-chair, and committed to sending instructions to Lesotho's PermRep to attend the June 19 event. -------------- -------------- Lesotho's Election Monitoring Delegation in Zimbabwe -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) Through mission contacts at the MFA, Lesotho's High Commission in Pretoria, and local civil society groups, we have learned that Lesotho's election monitoring delegation will total 28, including: - 16 Members of Parliament, including the Deputy Speaker and Head of Delegation Mr. Sephiri Motanyane - 10 civil society representatives - 2 Individuals from Lesotho's High Commission in Pretoria -------------- An Impression from the Front Lines -------------- ¶4. (C) Poloff spoke with Mr. Edmond Motanyane, counselor at Lesotho's High Commission in Pretoria, already in Zimbabwe. [NOTE: This Mr. Motanyane is not the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament and Head of Delegation, but his son.] According to his account, Lesotho observers may move freely, but the situation is tense and "like a cold war." He stated that most violent incidents occur at night when international observers are asleep. -------------- Lesotho Could Play Constructive Role -------------- ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: Lesotho played a constructive role on Zimbabwe during its role as SADC Chair in 2006/2007. According to local sources, however, Lesotho has focused on procedural issues during recent SADC discussions on Zimbabwe, giving some participants the apparent impression of being unhelpful. Senior GOL officials, including FM Tsekoa, have nonetheless maintained a public posture that Zimbabwe leaders must respect human rights and the will of their people. END COMMENT. MURPHY