Botswana told Western diplomats that it would only recognise a Zimbabwean government in which the Movement for Democratic Change was given a fair share of power.
Speaking before an extra-ordinary summit of the Southern African Development Community, Defence Minister Ndelu Seretse, who was acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, said Botswana would call for new elections under meaningful international supervision if Zimbabwe’s people were not freed from their current misery.
He told the diplomas that that Botswana would regard any Zimbabwean government that did not meet these basic conditions as “illegitimate” and continue to withhold recognition. .
Full cable:
Viewing cable 09GABORONE70, BOTSWANA ON THE EVE OF THE JANUARY 26 SADC SUMMIT
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VZCZCXRO5684
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHOR #0070/01 0270827
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 270827Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY GABORONE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5517
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0381
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0210
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0103
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0193
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 GABORONE 000070
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/S, AF/RSA
ADDIS FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2019
SUBJECT: BOTSWANA ON THE EVE OF THE JANUARY 26 SADC SUMMIT
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen J. Nolan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs
convoked the US, UK, French, German and EU Chiefs of Mission
for an urgent meeting on Sunday January 25 to discuss the
SADC Extraordinary Summit on Zimbabwe. Minister Seretse said
that Botswana will only recognize a Zimbabwean government in
which the MDC is given a fair share of power. If a genuine
unity government is not formed, Botswana will renew its call
for internationally supervised elections. Seretse was
somewhat optimistic that Botswana would gain supporters for
its position at the January 26 summit in Pretoria and that
South Africa would not be able to simply impose a one-sided
solution. He also recommended that the international
community, especially the United States and Europeans, should
bring “direct pressure” to bear for a resolution of the
crisis in Zimbabwe. END SUMMARY.
¶2. (C) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Saturday
January 24 to convoke Ambassador Nolan, along with his
counterparts from the French, German, British and European
Union diplomatic missions in Gaborone, to a special meeting
Sunday January 25 regarding the SADC Extraordinary Summit on
Zimbabwe January 26. Minister of Defense, Justice and
Security (and acting-Foreign Minister) Ndelu Seretse led the
meeting, accompanied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
Deputy Permanent Secretary, MFA Director for Africa and Asia,
and the Secretary of Defense, Justice and Security (one of
Seretse’s top assistants).
——————-
Botswana’s Position
——————-
¶3. (C) Minister Seretse opened the meeting by saying that
Botswana’s position on Zimbabwe has not changed and that the
country’s objectives remain the same. If Mugabe honors the
September 15 agreement by giving Morgan Tsvangirai and the
MDC their rightful place in government and a fair share of
power, Botswana will recognize the resulting government. But
if Zimbabwe’s people are not “freed from their current
misery” and no agreement is reached at the January 26 SADC
summit in South Africa, Botswana will again call for new
elections under meaningful international supervision.
Moreover, Seretse told the assembled diplomats that the GOB
will regard any Zimbabwean government that does not meet
these basic conditions as “illegitimate” and continue to
withhold recognition.
———————-
Outlook for the Summit
———————-
¶4. (C) When asked about concerns that South Africa may try
to use the summit to force a resolution favorable to Robert
Mugabe, Seretse noted that there has been a helpful shift of
atmosphere in South Africa, with civil society as well as
COSATU coming out in support of Tsvangirai and the MDC.
Statements by Archbishop Tutu and Graca Machel have helped
focus attention on the injustice and suffering in Zimbabwe,
increasing pressure on both the South African government and
SADC to produce a fair result. Mugabe himself seems to have
realized that blocking a visit by the Elders last year was a
mistake and has sought to “apologize” for the snub. While
Botswana was outvoted by eight to four at the last SADC
summit on Zimbabwe, Seretse indicated that Botswana would not
be so isolated this time and that South Africa would not be
able to impose a one-sided solution. A lot has happened in
recent months, and he felt confident other SADC members would
be more willing to speak up this time around.
¶5. (C) One of the problems, according to Seretse, has been
that SADC has been looking at the September 2008 agreement
from an “overly technical” point of view rather than as an
ongoing political process. While Zimbabweans themselves must
craft an enduring solution, continuing support from SADC and
the broader international community will be needed to begin
to rebuild Zimbabwe. Without the confidence and trust of
both Zimbabweans and the international community, effective
government in Zimbabwe will be impossible and the crisis will
continue.
¶6. (C) According to Minister Seretse, the GOB believes that
GABORONE 00000070 002 OF 002
Mugabe and ZANU-PF have said they will not look at new
proposals at the summit. Mugabe has announced that the unity
government offer is now “take it or leave it.” Seretse also
noted that Mugabe has stated that he is open to new
elections, however, per Seretse the kind of elections Mugabe
would allow (i.e. unsupervised, controlled by ZANU-PF) would
be a waste of time. Minister Seretse also commented on the
precedent set by the inclusion of ZAPU’s Joshua Nkomo into
the government of Zimbabwe in the 1980s. The Minister noted
how marginalized Nkomo became once he entered into government
and warned that this precedent is instructive. According to
Seretse Tsvangirai has the Nkomo precedent in mind and
therefore he wants power sharing issues to be resolved before
he will enter government.
————————————
Role of the International Community
————————————
¶7. (C) Seretse said the international community, especially
the United States and Europeans, should bring “direct
pressure” to bear for a resolution of the situation in
Zimbabwe. While cognizant of US and European sanctions, he
also said “we must see something more from the leaders of the
international community to bring about change.” According to
Seretse, renewed and outspoken support for a fair resolution
of the crisis in Zimbabwe is vital at this time.
——-
Comment
——-
¶8. (C) COMMENT: Botswana remains steadfast in its support
for either genuine powersharing or new, credible elections as
the only acceptable resolution to the impasse in Zimbabwe.
It remains to be seen whether the GOB gains any additional
support from its SADC neighbors at the January 26 summit.
Seretse’s optimism may be premature, as SADC has shown
repeatedly a preference to sweep Zimbabwe’s problems under
the rug rather than confront Robert Mugabe. Post is not sure
what Seretse had in mind when calling for “direct pressure”
from the USG and Europe regarding Zimbabwe. Certainly our
sanctions and our diplomatic efforts have brought significant
pressure on the Mugabe regime. We are, however, open to new
concrete suggestions from the GOB or any other like-minded
friends of Zimbabwe about next steps or new pressure points.
END COMMENT.
NOLAN
(25 VIEWS)
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