Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai told United States embassy officials that he recognised the importance of the MDC presenting a united front so his goal was to present a unified slate of candidates at all levels in the 2008 elections, from president to Member of Parliament.
He said he did not want a coalition, but a unified party leading up to the elections.
Tsvangirai was planning to talk to his counterpart Arthur Mutambara and others to bring them back in the fold.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 07PRETORIA4109, TSVANGIRAI FRUSTRATED BY LACK OF PROGRESS IN SADC
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO2963
RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSA #4109/01 3381009
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 041009Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2873
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 004109
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF C. THOMPSON, AF/S S. HILL
NSC FOR B. LEO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2017
SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI FRUSTRATED BY LACK OF PROGRESS IN SADC
TALKS
REF: HARARE 1028
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Don Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(b)
and (d).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is
increasingly frustrated by the slow pace of the
SADC-sponsored Zimbabwe talks, MDC President Morgan
Tsvangirai told visiting U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe. The
SIPDIS
MDC has made significant concessions, but received nothing in
return from ZANU-PF. Tsvangirai wrote to South African
President Mbeki threatening to pull out of the SADC talks
unless ZANU-PF takes “concrete” steps to demonstrate their
goodwill, such as ending the political violence and allowing
the MDC to hold rallies around the country. Tsvangirai also
said he understood the importance of MDC unity, and would be
reaching out to the other MDC faction in the coming week with
the goal of reuniting the party. The MDC threat to pull out
of the SADC process puts the South Africans in an awkward
spot, since they need the opposition to participate in the
2008 elections to legitimize the SADC facilitation process.
END SUMMARY.
¶2. (C) At a December 01 lunch in Johannesburg, Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) President Morgan Tsvangirai discussed
recent political developments with newly-accredited U.S.
Ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee. MDC Treasurer Roy
Bennett and U.S.-based MDC advisor Melinda Farris joined the
lunch, as well as PolCounselor and PolOff (notetaker).
Tsvangirai warmly greeted Ambassador McGee and said he looked
SIPDIS
forward to close and frequent communication. This was the
first meeting between Ambassador and Tsvangirai, who was in
Johannesburg for a week-long MDC strategic retreat.
—————————
Disillusioned by SADC Talks
—————————
¶3. (C) Striking a much more pessimistic tone since his last
meeting with U.S. officials on November 15 (ref A),
Tsvangirai expressed his growing frustration with the South
SIPDIS
African-led SADC facilitation talks. The MDC has
consistently shown its good faith, including agreeing to
controversial Amendment 18, but ZANU-PF has not made any
“reciprocal” concessions. Most recently, the two parties
presented the South Africans with their respective written
outlines for a political agreement (copies given to
Ambassador). According to Tsvangirai, the ZANU-PF paper was
not serious. It read like an ideological rant, with no
effort to address the core negotiating issues.
¶4. (C) Following receipt of the ZANU-PF paper, Tsvangirai
wrote to President Mbeki to say that the MDC would be forced
to suspend their participation in the SADC talks unless
ZANU-PF provided some “concrete sign” of their commitment to
the facilitation process. Tsvangirai asked for a response by
December 4, prior to the December 5 MDC executive meeting in
Harare. Asked by Ambassador what the MDC would consider a
positive sign from ZANU-PF, Tsvangirai mentioned as examples:
— ending the state-sponsored violence against MDC officials;
— allowing the MDC to hold rallies in all parts of the
country;
— permitting truly independent newspapers to be printed; and
— agreeing to the distribution of food based on need, not
political affiliation.
Tsvangirai also noted the MDC’s concerns with the ongoing
SIPDIS
voter registration (which is only taking place in ZANU-PF
strongholds) and the lack of transparency and fairness in the
delimitation process.
¶5. (C) Tsvangirai met directly with President Mbeki two weeks
ago to outline his concerns about the SADC process, and again
Qago to outline his concerns about the SADC process, and again
with South African lead negotiator Minister for Local and
Provincial Government Sydney Mufamadi on December 1st.
Mufamadi agreed with many of Tsvangirai’s complaints, and
assured Tsvangirai that President Mbeki raised these same
points during his meeting with President Mugabe in Harare on
November 22 (although Mufamadi provided no details of
Mugabe’s response). Mufamadi also agreed with Tsvangirai
that it would be difficult to hold free and fair elections in
March 2008, given the number of reforms that had to be
implemented before then.
—————————————
Understand Challenge of Party Financing
PRETORIA 00004109 002 OF 002
—————————————
¶6. (C) Despite the MDC’s ongoing concerns about the prospects
for free and fair elections, Treasurer Bennett said the party
has put together a comprehensive plan for contesting and
financing the elections. Without specifying a specific
dollar amount (Note: Bennett has previously floated a figure
of USD 10 million (ref B)), Bennett and Tsvangirai suggested
several general areas that required financial support: the
presidential campaign, party activities (including voter
education and mobilization), logistics, and fraud detection
and prevention programs. Bennett suggested that the
Institute for a Democratic Alternative for Zimbabwe (IDAZIM),
a new South Africa-based non-governmental organization
(septel), may be useful vehicle for funding MDC-coordinated
electoral programs.
———————————
Recognize Importance of MDC Unity
———————————
¶7. (C) On the internal MDC divisions, Tsvangirai said he
recognized the importance of the MDC presenting a unified
front. Tsvangirai’s goal is for the MDC to present a unified
slate of candidates at all levels, from President to Member
of Parliament. He does not want a coalition, but rather a
unified party leading up to the elections. Over the next
week, Tsvangirai plans to reach out to MDC faction leader
Arthur Mutambara and others to bring them back in the fold.
——-
Comment
——-
¶8. (C) The MDC’s threat to pull out of the SADC facilitation
puts the South Africans in an awkward spot. Mbeki needs the
MDC to participate in the 2008 elections — even if the SAG
wants/expects them to lose — to pursue their agenda of
“normalizing” the political and economic situation in
Zimbabwe. The South Africans continue to believe that
legitimizing a ZANU-PF government through elections where the
results are “uncontested” will accelerate Mugabe’s retirement
and put in place a “reformed” ZANU-PF regime — which Post
believes has always been Mbeki’s ultimate endgame in Zimbabwe.
¶9. (C) Mbeki also wants to show progress in Zimbabwe prior to
the December 8-9 EU summit in Lisbon, and perhaps even more
importantly, before the December 16-20 ANC presidential
elections. A Zimbabwe “victory” might have some limited
positive political benefit for Mbeki, but a breakdown of the
SADC facilitation would provide ammunition to rival Jacob
Zuma in a very tight race. As we suggested when the SADC
process began some eight months ago (ref C), Mugabe has
skillfully outplayed Mbeki over the years. With Mbeki in
trouble politically at home, Mugabe may be waiting to see how
the ANC elections play out before making his next move.
¶10. (U) This cable has been cleared by Ambassador McGee.
BOST
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