Tsvangirai Seeks More Active SADC Involvement in

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000968 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM CG ZI SUBJECT: Tsvangirai Seeks More Active SADC Involvement in Zimbabwean Impasse REF: Kinshasa 826 ¶1. (SBU) Following Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan's Tsvangirai's October 22 meeting with DRC President Joseph Kabila, Seraphin Ngwej, Ambassador-at-large in the presidency, said that Tsvangirai had briefed the DRC President on the current situation in Zimbabwe, including his decision to freeze relations with the Mugabe camp. Ngwej added that Tsvangirai pressed SADC (and by extension the SADC Chairman) to take a more active involvement in finding a political resolution to the internal Zimbabwean crisis. Kabila, according to Ngwej, would travel with Mozambican President Guebuza, who chairs SADC's Organ on Politics, Defense, and Security, to Harare in the coming days to evaluate the situation. ¶2. (SBU) Tsvangirai pointed to the DRC's experience with political transition as something from which Zimbabwe could learn. He added that as "guarantors of Zimbabwe's transitional inclusive government, SADC must live up to its responsibility by ensuring that all parties to the agreement abide by the letter and spirit of that agreement." A Tsvangirai aide said that Kabila promised to "actively resolve the crisis." ¶3. (SBU) Kinshasa press speculated that Tsvangirai was concerned because Kabila, as SADC Chairman, had not taken the initiative to engage on the Zimbabwean crisis. Robert Mugabe, according to one press report, had always fashioned himself as Joseph Kabila's godfather, pointing to the Zimbabwean president's political and military support for Laurent Kabila. Pro-government press hailed Tsvangirai's visit as an indication that the DRC's experience with political transition could serve as a model for Zimbabwe. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: It is not clear how active the GDRC will want to be on the Zimbabwe issue given contradictory influences playing on its Zimbabwean policy (reftel). There are many who remember the support Mugabe gave Laurent Kabila in his time of need and there are still commercial contacts stemming from this period. However, the GDRC appears to clearly understand that Mugabe has become an embarrassment for SADC. The GDRC will continue to take its lead from the South African Government, which appears to moving towards a more noticeable SADC involvement in resolving the crisis. End comment. GARVELINK