Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PRETORIA1204
2008-06-05 13:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pretoria
how-toVZCZCXRO2079 RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSA #1204 1571335 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 051335Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4658 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE 3672 RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 5655 RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 9864 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 001204
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2018
TAGS: PREL SF ZI
SUBJECT: MDC LOSING HOPE IN SADC
Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Raymond L. Brown. Reason
s 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 001204
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2018
TAGS: PREL SF ZI
SUBJECT: MDC LOSING HOPE IN SADC
Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Raymond L. Brown. Reason
s 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) On 04 June, MDC Leader Morgan Tsvangirai's foreign
policy and security advisor Stuart Doran told POLOFF that the
MDC is losing hope that SADC as a collective, or even a
majority of SADC countries, will take any public stance
against the current regime in Zimbabwe, the ongoing violence,
or the likely possibility that the run-off election will be
rigged in Mugabe's favor. Doran told POLOFF that Zambian
President Mwanawasa has been extremely helpful to the MDC,
but is frustrated with the lack of support he is receiving
from his fellow SADC counterparts. Doran believes Mwanawasa
will likely call another SADC extraordinary summit before the
27 June run-off to show that he is trying to "do the right
thing," but he suspects he also does not have high hopes.
2. (C) Doran also told POLOFF that Mwanawasa sends down a
former Zambian intelligence officer to regularly brief the
MDC. He said the last time the intelligence officer came
down, he showed him a pessimistic report on the side meeting
of SADC members at the Tokyo International Conference on
African Development 28-30 May. The report noted that
President Mwanawasa tried to talk about the current crisis in
Zimbabwe, but King Mswati of Swaziland stonewalled any
discussion, arguing proper protocol was not followed and that
only SADC's Organ for Peace and Security should discuss
Zimbabwe. Angola, Lesotho, and Namibia followed Swaziland's
lead, he said, while only Malawi and Botswana supported
Zambia's call. (NOTE: POLOFF asked about other SADC
countries, but Doran said no other countries were mentioned
in the intelligence officer's report. END NOTE)
3. (C) According to Doran, the intelligence office told Doran
that Tsvangirai should embark on another tour around SADC
asking leaders for their support. Doran reminded him that
the MDC has already done this, visiting some countries
multiple times, and were already given assurances. The
intelligence officer then suggested that the MDC publicize
these conversations, but Doran again rejected the idea,
saying doing so would effectively close presidential doors to
the MDC around the region. Doran ended the conversation by
saying the MDC is losing hope that SADC will do the right
thing.
BOST
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2018
TAGS: PREL SF ZI
SUBJECT: MDC LOSING HOPE IN SADC
Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Raymond L. Brown. Reason
s 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) On 04 June, MDC Leader Morgan Tsvangirai's foreign
policy and security advisor Stuart Doran told POLOFF that the
MDC is losing hope that SADC as a collective, or even a
majority of SADC countries, will take any public stance
against the current regime in Zimbabwe, the ongoing violence,
or the likely possibility that the run-off election will be
rigged in Mugabe's favor. Doran told POLOFF that Zambian
President Mwanawasa has been extremely helpful to the MDC,
but is frustrated with the lack of support he is receiving
from his fellow SADC counterparts. Doran believes Mwanawasa
will likely call another SADC extraordinary summit before the
27 June run-off to show that he is trying to "do the right
thing," but he suspects he also does not have high hopes.
2. (C) Doran also told POLOFF that Mwanawasa sends down a
former Zambian intelligence officer to regularly brief the
MDC. He said the last time the intelligence officer came
down, he showed him a pessimistic report on the side meeting
of SADC members at the Tokyo International Conference on
African Development 28-30 May. The report noted that
President Mwanawasa tried to talk about the current crisis in
Zimbabwe, but King Mswati of Swaziland stonewalled any
discussion, arguing proper protocol was not followed and that
only SADC's Organ for Peace and Security should discuss
Zimbabwe. Angola, Lesotho, and Namibia followed Swaziland's
lead, he said, while only Malawi and Botswana supported
Zambia's call. (NOTE: POLOFF asked about other SADC
countries, but Doran said no other countries were mentioned
in the intelligence officer's report. END NOTE)
3. (C) According to Doran, the intelligence office told Doran
that Tsvangirai should embark on another tour around SADC
asking leaders for their support. Doran reminded him that
the MDC has already done this, visiting some countries
multiple times, and were already given assurances. The
intelligence officer then suggested that the MDC publicize
these conversations, but Doran again rejected the idea,
saying doing so would effectively close presidential doors to
the MDC around the region. Doran ended the conversation by
saying the MDC is losing hope that SADC will do the right
thing.
BOST