Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, in his 30 May 2008 State of the Nation address to MDC MPs, outlined his “Restore Hope Campaign” and reminded his MPs that they now controlled the House of Assembly.
He said they were no longer the opposition party and urged them to embark on numerous initiatives aimed at restoring Zimbabwe and reversing the economic and social deterioration of the country.
Tsvangirai declared that “Zimbabweans should not ask what their government will do for them, but what they will also do for government”.
He described the five necessary components to fulfil his “Restore Hope Campaign”:
- Promote national healing,
- Restore people’s freedom,
- Restore people’s dignity,
- Restore basic services, and
- Restore Zimbabwe to the community of nations.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08HARARE482, TSVANGIRAI OUTLINES GOALS FOR MDC-LED PARLIAMENT
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Reference ID |
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VZCZCXRO0171
RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0482/01 1551702
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 031702Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2980
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2020
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2141
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0683
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1418
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1776
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2197
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4628
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1283
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000482
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM KDEM ZI
SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI OUTLINES GOALS FOR MDC-LED PARLIAMENT
Classified By: Charge d’affaires, a.i. Glenn Warren for reasons 1.4(b)
and (d).
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On May 30, Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) Presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai addressed MDC
Members of Parliament (MPs), outlining his initiatives for
parliament. Describing his goals as the “Restore Hope
Campaign,” he laid out a number of ambitious initiatives
intended to put Zimbabwe on the right track. However, even
as Tsvangirai described his vision for the first MDC-led
parliament in Zimbabwe’s history, MDC leaders continue to
fear arrest. The ability of the MDC to successfully organize
and plan for the runoff remains in question. END SUMMARY.
—————————
MDC: Unified and in Control
—————————
¶2. (U) In his May 30 State of the Nation address to MDC MPs,
President Morgan Tsvangirai outlined his “Restore Hope
Campaign” and reminded his MPs that they now control the
House of Assembly. No longer the opposition party, he urged
his MPs to embark on numerous initiatives aimed at restoring
Zimbabwe and reversing the economic and social deterioration
of the country. The speech contained such Americanisms as “a
government of the people by the people” and declared that
“Zimbabweans should not ask what their government will do for
them, but what they will also do for government.” Tsvangirai
spoke of creating a “New Zimbabwe” or a “Third Republic” that
would follow the “First Republic” of Colonialism and the
“Second Republic” of Liberation.
¶3. (SBU) Significantly, Tsvangirai welcomed the presence of
MDC members from the MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara and
declared both factions were committed to working together.
(COMMENT: Despite the note of unity candidates from both
factions filed notices last week to contest three
by-elections on June 27. Since all three constituencies are
heavily MDC, it is doubtful split votes will result in
ZANU-PF victories. END COMMENT.) Before his speech,
Tsvangirai led a moment of silence to remember “all
Zimbabweans killed in the struggle for democracy”, an
apparent reference not only to victims of the current
violence but also the liberation movement.
——————————————— ————
Zim: “Unmitigated Embarrassment to the African Continent”
——————————————— ————
¶4. (U) Tsvangirai congratulated his MPs for winning their
constituencies, but declared that it was time to get to work.
Describing Zimbabwe as an “unmitigated embarrassment to the
African continent”, Tsvangirai went on to describe the five
necessary components to fulfill his “Restore Hope Campaign”:
(1) Promote national healing, (2) Restore people’s freedom,
(3) Restore people’s dignity, (4) Restore basic services, and
(5) Restore Zimbabwe to the community of nations.
————————
Promote National Healing
————————
¶5. (U) To promote national healing, Tsvangirai declared that
MDC would not replace old oppressors for new ones, and
explained his intention to restore even ZANU-PF, as it is the
party of Zimbabwe’s history. He went on to acknowledge that
members of ZANU-PF have been victimized, and he called on the
MDC to seek out those ZANU-PF members whose “eyes are open”
and invite them where they have agreements. He further
called for the establishment of a Truth and Justice
Commission to investigate human rights violations and
corruption. However, he said, truth is not enough to
HARARE 00000482 002 OF 003
compensate for Operation Gukurahundi, massacres in the early
1980s in Matabeleland directed against the minority Ndebele
population that left an estimated 20,000 dead, and Operation
Murambatsvina, a 2005 government campaign to destroy
opposition strongholds that left some 700,000 displaced.
Tsvangirai called for reparations for victims of those two
operations, as well as victims of the current post-election
violence. (NOTE: Before Tsvangirai arrived, MDC’s National
Chairman Lovemore Moyo called on parliamentarians
“experiencing problems” to speak with an MDC member
coordinating housing in Harare. As several MDC MPs have been
harassed and are staying in safe houses in Harare, they have
not been immune to this post-election violence. END NOTE.)
————————
Restore People’s Freedom
————————
¶6. (U) Tsvangirai called on parliament to create a
people-driven constitution within the next 18 months. He was
met with applause when he declared this constitution should
be parliament’s first task and should ensure that no person
or institution is above the law. Tsvangirai also reached out
to current civil servants working for the GOZ. Saying he
understood that civil servants had been fearful of
retribution, and losing their jobs, Tsvangirai pledged to
de-politicize the work of the GOZ’s civil service. He
further called on parliament to repeal acts that limit
freedoms, specifically AIPPA and POSA.
—————
Restore Dignity
—————
¶7. (U) Tsvangirai declared that an MDC-led government would
be small – a jab at the bloated structure of the current
government – and would work to restore the dignity of
Zimbabweans. In particular, he outlined measures to improve
the economy through increased accountability, a
business-friendly environment, and resolution to the land
issue. He called on Parliament to establish an Economic
Development Council to reverse the shrinking economy,
rehabilitate national industry, restore international
credibility, and address the humanitarian crisis – food
shortages in particular.
¶8. (U) On the controversial subject of land, he described
land ownership as a constitutional issue, and called on
parliament to consult with “everyone” and establish a land
commission. The commission would identify measures to
compensate or reincorporate land that was lost to ZANU-PF,
based on the commission’s findings. He optimistically
declared he expected the land commission to “depoliticize”
the land issue. (NOTE: The next day, The Herald, the
government mouthpiece newspaper, seized on this to reinforce
their claim that Tsvangirai intends to return land to the
“Rhodesians.” END NOTE.)
———————-
Restore Basic Services
———————-
¶9. (U) Tsvangirai briefly outlined his key priorities to
restore services to Zimbabweans: (1) provision of free
anti-retroviral drugs to HIV/AIDS patients, (2) provision of
affordable education, (3) rehabilitation of hospitals, (4)
de-politicization of food distribution, and (5) reforms in
the transportation sector.
——————————————–
Restore Zimbabwe to the Community of Nations
——————————————–
HARARE 00000482 003 OF 003
¶10. (U) Referring to the current president of Zimbabwe as
“Mr. Mugabe”, Tsvangirai appeared to belittle the legitimacy
of Robert Mugabe’s hold on the presidency. In contrast, he
portrayed himself as a statesman as he described his travels
throughout Africa since the March 29 presidential election.
He described other African leaders as “outraged” that the
will of the Zimbabwean people had been betrayed by the
government’s broken promises for a free and fair election.
He completed his speech, with a prediction of his own victory
in the upcoming presidential runoff on June 27: “People will
reconfirm on the 27th their vote of the 29th.”
——-
COMMENT
——-
¶11. (C) With less than a month remaining to the Presidential
runoff election, the MDC has to act fast to organize its
efforts and build up morale among voters. In calling the
“parliament” together, Tsvangirai sought to demonstrate his
leadership and to stand up to the current government.
However, these reminders to the MDC that they are now the
majority party ring hollow, as the MPs themselves flee
violence inflicted by ZANU-PF militias and are arrested on
drummed-up charges. While Tsvangirai is right to call upon
his allies to implement the changes for which they have
campaigned, they are unable to do so until they are sworn in
by the President. MDC still appears to be playing catch-up,
and it is unclear if they will be able to organize themselves
in the weeks before the runoff. Tsvangirai’s State of the
Nation address was announced to diplomats and the press less
than 24 hours before the event. Aside from the approximately
100 MDC members of parliament and a few dozen others, the
event was poorly attended. Just before it began, organizers
asked diplomats and journalists to fill in empty seats to
making the event appear better-attended. END COMMENT.
Warren
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