SAG SENDS TEAM TO INVESTIGATE VIOLENCE IN ZIMBABWE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 000951

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2018
TAGS: PREL SF ZI
SUBJECT: SAG SENDS TEAM TO INVESTIGATE VIOLENCE IN ZIMBABWE


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Perry Ball. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) PolOff received identical readouts from Swedish and
Irish diplomats who visited DFA Director: Malawi, Zambia,
Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Tanzania Edward Xolisa Makaya
separately on 06 May regarding the SAG's current position on
Zimbabwe. Both diplomats said that they were told that the
SAG has sent a team of retired military officers to Zimbabwe
to investigate widespread reports of violence, and that the
investigation, which will be carried out throughout the
country, will take a few weeks. (NOTE: Australian Deputy
High Commissioner Jane Lambert (protect) called PolOff on 5
May to inform her that Lambert's counterpart in Harare had
run into a group of eight high-ranking South African military
officers (General and Brigadier level) at the Miekles Hotel
earlier that morning. According to Lambert, she was told it
was obvious that they were not normal visitors to either
Zimbabwe or the hotel. END NOTE)


2. (C) Both diplomats also said that Makaya tried to sell
the idea of a government of national unity (GNU),though one
diplomat pointed out that Makaya acknowledged that getting
buy-in from ZANU-PF will be a hurdle. According to the Irish
Ambassador (protect),Makaya acknowledged that ZANU-PF
members who support Mugabe are not receptive to talk of a
GNU. Makaya also told him in a roundabout way that these
hardliners knew that President Mugabe was the only one who
would keep them on and that they would likely not be included
in a GNU.


3. (C) According to diplomats, Makaya had the following to
say about international involvement in the Zimbabwean crisis:

-- MBEKI: When asked about Mbeki's current role, Makaya
told the the Irish Ambassador that Mbeki is "respected by all
sides" and is currently in contact with MDC representatives
in Harare. (NOTE: MDC and diplomats have told PolOff over
the past week that MDC has refused President Mbeki's calls.
The Irish Ambassador was told by MDC that they actually sent
a cell phone text message to President Mbeki not to call them
anymore. END NOTE)

-- USG: Only the Irish Ambassador admitted that Makaya
took the opportunity to lambast both the United States and
United Kingdom, saying we were "particularly unhelpful."
Makaya repeated themes that have appeared in the South
African press over the past several days, namely that the
U.S. is giving instructions to the MDC, but also that the
"U.S. held up the demise of apartheid."

-- SADC: Makaya told both diplomats that SADC will send
as many election observers as possible, but he also
complained that financing for the SADC observer missions will
be the greatest hurdle.

-- AU: Makaya confirmed press reports that Chairperson
of the Commission of the African Union Jean Ping visited
President Mbeki over the weekend in Pretoria. However,
unlike the media reports which speculated that Ping was in
town to discuss a possible African-wide initiative, Makaya
told the Irish Ambassador that Ping expressed concern about
the current situation, but told the SAG that the AU's only
initiative will be to support SADC.


4. COMMENT: The fact that the SAG has sent an investigation
team is good news, but it also implies that the SAG is
reluctant to believe what are now widespread, documented
reports of violence from news agencies, NGOs, and other
diplomatic missions. It is also discouraging to know that
Qdiplomatic missions. It is also discouraging to know that
the team will conduct its investigation over the course of
several weeks, at which time a runoff may be over. END
COMMENT.
BALL