TANZANIA MILDLY POSITIVE ON ZIMBABWE

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000134 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR EEB BRAD BROOKS-RUBIN, AF/S BRIAN WALCH, AF/EPS MOHAMMED ZIKRY, AF/E JAMES LIDDLE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EFIN PHUM EAID ETRD ZI TZ SUBJECT: TANZANIA MILDLY POSITIVE ON ZIMBABWE REF: A. STATE 18601 ¶B. STATE 18545 ¶1. (SBU) MFA Africa Division Deputy Director Zuhura Bandala told Poloff Mar. 3 that Tanzania was trying its best to ensure that the situation in Zimbabwe was resolved. She emphasized the GOT's policy of working through SADC (per AU directive) to be supportive as Zimbabwe returned to peace and economic normalization. Bandala cited the medicine Tanzania provided to help with Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic as an example of direct support. She expressed satisfaction with the initial steps to implement the decisions of the January SADC meeting, which she said might not be formally reviewed until the next SADC summit in August. She was appreciative of the update on the U.S. position on the new government (ref A). ¶2. (SBU) Bandala had not heard previously that illicit Zimbabwean diamonds were passing through Tanzania (ref B), but promised to look into the matter. ANDRE