The government banned a march that was planned by the Movement for Democratic Change to protest against the government’s refusal to implement a new constitution before the 2008 elections and to postpone the election date from March.
MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti said the party would go ahead with the march.
Police had initially approved the march but rescinded their decision saying opposition leaders had violated a pledge to ensure that the march would be peaceful.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08HARARE42, GOZ BANS MDC MARCH; MDC PLANS TO GO AHEAD
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO7823
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0042 0221409
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221409Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2406
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1727
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1853
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0451
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1130
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1487
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1909
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4337
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0980
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS HARARE 000042
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
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: N/A
SUBJECT: GOZ BANS MDC MARCH; MDC PLANS TO GO AHEAD
¶1. (U) After granting written permission on January 18 for
an MDC march on Wendesday, planned to protest the GOZ’s
refusal to implement a new constitution before elections and
to postpone the electiond date, police yesterday rescinded
approval. Police justified their action by claiming
opposition leaders had violated a pledge to ensure the march
remained peaceful. In a press conference later in the day,
MDC (Tsvangirai faction) secretary general Tendai Biti vowed
the march would proceed despite the order banning it.
¶2. (U) Comment. The planned demonstration is part of series
of rallies the MDC hopes to hold over the coming weeks. On
Sunday, a rally in the high-density suburb of Highfield drew
over 10,000 people and the MDC was hoping for much greater
numbers on Wednesday. The government ban and past government
action in violently suppressing MDC rallies is likely to
deter people from participating on Wednesday. Additionally,
police will undoubtedly stop people from traveling from high
density suburbs to the city center where the march is
supposed to begin.
¶3. (SBU) Comment continued. The GOZ’s action defies the
spirit of the SADC negotiations by closing rather than
opening democratic space. If the government uses violence
against marchers, this will be a clear signal it intends to
perpetuate ZANU-PF rule at all costs, and that it considers
SADC irrelevant. On the other side, the number of MDC
members who participate will be a test of MDC organization
and whether the MDC is prepared to defy government
repression. End Comment
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