Zimbabwe was expected to be at the top of the agenda of the Southern African Development Community extraordinary summit in Tanzania but it was not clear whether President Robert Mugabe would attend.
Local press reports had indicated that President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia, President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique, and Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili of Lesotho would attend.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 07DARESSALAAM456, SADC EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT: ZIMBABWE, DRC AND
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Reference ID |
Created |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO7905
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHDR #0456 0871444
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 281444Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5832
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA IMMEDIATE 3166
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE 1373
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0299
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 0202
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0411
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE
RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 2515
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 2972
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY 0937
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0595
UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000456
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT AF/E FOR BYODER, AF/RSA FOR MBITTRICK
ALSO AF/S FOR DMOZENA
ADDIS ABABA FOR AU MISSION
LONDON, BRUSSELS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
SUBJECT: SADC EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT: ZIMBABWE, DRC AND
LESOTHO TO BE DISCUSSED
REF: A. STATE 038986
¶B. MASERU 00192
¶C. DAR ES SALAAM 0375
¶1. (SBU) Ambassador Charles Sanga, Deputy Permanent Secretary
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), confirmed to
PolCouns on March 28 that Zimbabwe will be at the top of the
agenda of the March 28 to 29 Extraordinary Summit of the SADC
Heads of State. The security situation in the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) and the ongoing impasse in Lesotho
between opposition parties and the Government of the Kingdom
of Lesotho will also be discussed. Sanga appreciated the
reftel points and said that the SADC heads of state or their
representatives will hold pre-summit consultations hosted by
President Kikwete, most likely at the State House, beginning
the early evening of March 28. The summit meeting itself
will convene the morning of March 29 and conclude later that
day with a communiqu or press statement.
¶2. (SBU) According to John Katuki, personal assistant to the
Minster of Foreign Affairs Bernard Membe, all 14 member SADC
member states are planning to send a representative to the
Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State. Katuki said the
Government of Tanzania has been notified that the Government
of Zimbabwe is sending a delegation, but could not confirm if
President Robert Mugabe would be heading up the GOZ
delegation.
¶3. (U) Local press reports have noted the following heads of
state would arrive in Dar es Salaam before 5 p.m. on
Wednesday, March 28: President Mbeki of South Africa,
President Mwanawasa of Zambia, President Pohamba of Namibia,
President Guebuza of Mozambique, and Prime Minister Mosisili
of Lesotho.
¶4. (SBU) Comment: Post will closely monitor the March 29
summit proceedings. Katuki, Minister Membe’s personal
assistant, told PolCouns that as soon as possible after the
conclusion of the summit, MFA would brief the same heads of
mission (i.e. United States, Canada and select EU envoys)
whom Minister Membe met with to discuss President Kikwete’s
March 15 meeting with Mugabe (Ref C).
DELLY
(20 VIEWS)
