Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PRETORIA1659
2008-07-29 13:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pretoria
how-toVZCZCXRO8810 PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSA #1659 2111347 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 291347Z JUL 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5250 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN PRIORITY 5864 RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN PRIORITY 0037 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 001659
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2018
TAGS: PREL SF ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE MEDIATION REACHES IMPASSE
REF: PRETORIA 1632
Classified By: Ambassador Eric M. Bost. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 001659
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2018
TAGS: PREL SF ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE MEDIATION REACHES IMPASSE
REF: PRETORIA 1632
Classified By: Ambassador Eric M. Bost. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) On 28 July, talks to reach a power-sharing agreement
between President Robert Mugabe and MDC Leader Morgan
Tsvangirai reached a stalemate after both sides presented
drastically different proposals. According to numerous
Embassy contacts, Mugabe's negotiators were under instruction
to offer Tsvangirai the position of third vice-president, and
nothing more. On the other hand, Tsvangirai has refused to
accept the results of the 27 June "election" and said he will
accept nothing less than the role of prime minister with full
executive powers in a two-year transitional authority.
Tsvangirai also apparently proposed that Mugabe could remain
ceremonial president, current Vice-President Joseph Msika
could be deputy president (without executive authority),and
second vice-president Joyce Mujuru could become deputy Prime
Minister (with executive authority). IDASA analyst Sydney
Masamvu told POLOFF he believes this reflects MDC's efforts
to forge an alliance with the Mujuru faction of ZANU-PF to
prevent Mugabe's potential heir apparent Emmerson Mnangagwa
from holding any position of power.
2. (C) Immediately after talks were suspended, Tsvangirai
flew to Pretoria to speak to his negotiating team, which
press reports note have been significantly expanded from two
members to seven, including original negotiators MDC SG
Tendai Biti and Deputy Treasurer Elton Mangoma, but also MDC
Advisor Jameson Timba, Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro,
Lovemore Moyo, Innocent Chagonda, and one other. A French
diplomat with well-placed ANC contacts told POLOFF on 29 July
that ANC heavyweight and Mbeki-rival Cyril Ramaphosa will
also be added to MDC's negotiating team when talks resume,
presumably on 2 August. When asked how Mbeki feels about
Ramaphosa's participation, the diplomat replied that Mbeki is
probably not thrilled but has no say in who negotiates for
either side. (COMMENT: Ramaphosa is known to be a strong
negotiator. He was ANC Secretary General during talks to end
apartheid. His addition to the MDC team is unlikely to have
an impact on Mugabe or ZANU-PF. Rather, Ramaphosa's
participation is better understood as a manifestation of
domestic politics, in the same way that Zuma speaking about
Mugabe is an opportunity to make Mbeki look bad more than it
reflects outrage about the Zimbabwe crisis. END COMMENT)
ZANU-PF's team, which flew back to Harare last night, has
also been expanded by "three unnamed brigadiers" to support
Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche.
3. (C) COMMENT: Despite all the hype surrounding the 21 July
signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Tsvangirai
and Mugabe, the two sides still appear far apart. The
stalemate and obvious lack of progress may yet be a blow to
Mbeki, who has trumpeted promises of significant progress and
raised expectations that a power-sharing deal will be signed
imminently. Mugabe, however, does not appear serious about
sharing power and remains as intransigent as ever. We also
see no evidence that behind the scenes efforts between Mugabe
and Tsvangirai (reftel) have made any headway either, forcing
negotiations back to square one. END COMMENT.
4. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Harare.
BOST
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2018
TAGS: PREL SF ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE MEDIATION REACHES IMPASSE
REF: PRETORIA 1632
Classified By: Ambassador Eric M. Bost. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) On 28 July, talks to reach a power-sharing agreement
between President Robert Mugabe and MDC Leader Morgan
Tsvangirai reached a stalemate after both sides presented
drastically different proposals. According to numerous
Embassy contacts, Mugabe's negotiators were under instruction
to offer Tsvangirai the position of third vice-president, and
nothing more. On the other hand, Tsvangirai has refused to
accept the results of the 27 June "election" and said he will
accept nothing less than the role of prime minister with full
executive powers in a two-year transitional authority.
Tsvangirai also apparently proposed that Mugabe could remain
ceremonial president, current Vice-President Joseph Msika
could be deputy president (without executive authority),and
second vice-president Joyce Mujuru could become deputy Prime
Minister (with executive authority). IDASA analyst Sydney
Masamvu told POLOFF he believes this reflects MDC's efforts
to forge an alliance with the Mujuru faction of ZANU-PF to
prevent Mugabe's potential heir apparent Emmerson Mnangagwa
from holding any position of power.
2. (C) Immediately after talks were suspended, Tsvangirai
flew to Pretoria to speak to his negotiating team, which
press reports note have been significantly expanded from two
members to seven, including original negotiators MDC SG
Tendai Biti and Deputy Treasurer Elton Mangoma, but also MDC
Advisor Jameson Timba, Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro,
Lovemore Moyo, Innocent Chagonda, and one other. A French
diplomat with well-placed ANC contacts told POLOFF on 29 July
that ANC heavyweight and Mbeki-rival Cyril Ramaphosa will
also be added to MDC's negotiating team when talks resume,
presumably on 2 August. When asked how Mbeki feels about
Ramaphosa's participation, the diplomat replied that Mbeki is
probably not thrilled but has no say in who negotiates for
either side. (COMMENT: Ramaphosa is known to be a strong
negotiator. He was ANC Secretary General during talks to end
apartheid. His addition to the MDC team is unlikely to have
an impact on Mugabe or ZANU-PF. Rather, Ramaphosa's
participation is better understood as a manifestation of
domestic politics, in the same way that Zuma speaking about
Mugabe is an opportunity to make Mbeki look bad more than it
reflects outrage about the Zimbabwe crisis. END COMMENT)
ZANU-PF's team, which flew back to Harare last night, has
also been expanded by "three unnamed brigadiers" to support
Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche.
3. (C) COMMENT: Despite all the hype surrounding the 21 July
signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Tsvangirai
and Mugabe, the two sides still appear far apart. The
stalemate and obvious lack of progress may yet be a blow to
Mbeki, who has trumpeted promises of significant progress and
raised expectations that a power-sharing deal will be signed
imminently. Mugabe, however, does not appear serious about
sharing power and remains as intransigent as ever. We also
see no evidence that behind the scenes efforts between Mugabe
and Tsvangirai (reftel) have made any headway either, forcing
negotiations back to square one. END COMMENT.
4. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Harare.
BOST