Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai left Harare for Gaborone in April before the announcement of the results of the 2008 presidential elections fearing that he might be arrested as part of a military coup against President Robert Mugabe.
The United States embassy, however, said Tsvangirai’s fears were unfounded because the embassy had found nothing to corroborate it.
The MDC had taken the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to court to compel it to release the results of the presidential elections which were understood to be out but had not been released.
A lawyer for the ZEC was quoted as saying it would be dangerous to issue an order that might not be complied with because of “outside exigencies”.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08HARARE307, SITUATION REPORT: STILL WAITING IN ZIMBABWE
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Reference ID |
Created |
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Classification |
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VZCZCXRO7563
OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0307 1001359
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 091359Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2747
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1900
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2023
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0591
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1300
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1657
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2079
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4510
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1155
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000307
SIPDIS
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: 04/09/2018
SUBJECT: SITUATION REPORT: STILL WAITING IN ZIMBABWE
REF: HARARE 295 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d)
¶1. (SBU) A hearing on the MDC’s application in the High
Court to compel the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) to
release presidential poll results continued today as the
judge considered the merits of the case. The attorney for
the MDC, Alec Muchadehama, told us he was confident the
results had been available for several days. He said that
the ZEC, through its attorneys, had no explanation for the
delay in announcing results, but insisted that it should be
allowed to operate independently. The ZEC attorney was
quoted on wire services as saying that it would be dangerous
to issue an order that might not be complied with because of
“outside exigencies.” Muchadehama expected a court decision
on Friday.
¶2. (C) MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai, concerned that he
might be arrested as part of a military coup against
President Robert Mugabe, left Harare Tuesday for Gabarone.
(COMMENT: Embassy believes that Tsvangirai’s concern is
unfounded; we have found nothing to corroborate it. END
COMMENT.) In Gaborone, Tsvangirai was to meet with Botswanan
President Ian Khama and then to proceed to South Africa for
MDC meetings.
¶3. (SBU) Authorities returned the passport of the NDI
employee who was detained April 3-4 and told him he was
authorized to leave the country; he expects to reach a
neighboring country this evening. The NYT reporter who was
granted bail on April 7 will have a court hearing on April 10.
¶4. (SBU) Harare remains quiet, although we have some reports
of assaults on MDC supporters in towns and rural areas. The
excitement surrounding what many thought was an MDC win has
largely dissipated; many people, as they wait for election
results, seem resigned to another ZANU-PF-rigged win.
MCGEE
(33 VIEWS)
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