Malawi Foreign Minister Joyce Banda told United States acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Phil Carter that Malawi would not interfere in Zimbabwe’s affairs because outside interference only created more problems.
She said that at least 50 percent of the Zimbabwe people believed that their problems were the result of “outside forces torturing them”.
Banda, who is now President of Malawi, said she hoped that President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai were mature enough to see that the people had suffered enough.
Banda met Carter less than two weeks before the formation of the inclusive government.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 09ADDISABABA325, AU SUMMIT: AF ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY CARTER
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PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 060527Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3678
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 7715
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEPADJ/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000325
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2019
TAGS: PREL KDEM PGOV KPKO MI ZI
SUBJECT: AU SUMMIT: AF ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY CARTER
MEETS MALAWI FOREIGN MINISTER
Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
¶1. (C/NF) Summary. Malawi Foreign Minister Joyce Banda
told Acting Assistant Secretary for Africa Phil Carter on
January 31 that Malawi would not accept any attempt by the
United States to establish a “parallel election process.”
Carter assured her that the United States’ only goal was to
help strengthen the transparency and credibility of the
Malawian election process. Carter pressed Banda to hold
Zimbabwe President Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai accountable for their actions.
Banda stated that Malawi would support the process, but
would not “interfere” in Zimbabwe politics. Banda also noted
that Malawi was not ready to contribute any peacekeeping
troops to any mission in the near future. End Summary.
Banda: “No Parallel Election Process”
————————————-
¶2. (C/NF) Banda opened by expressing displeasure with her
perception that the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe had not properly
notified her government of their recent activities in support
of the upcoming Malawian elections. She said although the
initial misunderstanding had been cleared up, she remained
adamant that Malawi would not accept a “parallel election
process.” Carter explained that the United States was not
attempting to establish a parallel process, rather the
Embassy was looking to help support the transparency and
credibility of the election to everyone’s benefit by working
with civil society groups. He continued that Washington was
not looking at creating an election center to challenge the
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC). Banda retorted, “what
happens if the MEC tally differs from your count?” She went
on to predict that in such an event, “there would be
bloodshed,” and she wanted to be on record having provided a
clear warning.
¶3. (C/NF) Banda queried that if the United States wanted to
help the election process, then “why don’t you help us build
capacity?” She explained that 75 percent of the polling
centers in Malawi did not have electricity, and she suggested
that Washington could provide solar panels to help with
lighting during the ballot counting. Carter said he would
take her concerns under consideration, but insisted that
parallel vote tabulations are a tool domestic observation
groups can use to bolster the credibility of the process at
the polls, and does not involve recounting ballots or
disputing the polling station results.
Regional Effort on Zimbabwe Needed
———————————-
¶4. (C/NF) Moving to regional issues, Carter observed that
with the recent agreement between Morgan Tsvangirai’s
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and President Robert
Mugabe’s ZANU-PF, a collective regional effort would be
needed to hold the parties accountable. He encouraged the
Malawian government to be proactive on Zimbabwe. Banda
responded that outside interference in Zimbabwe affairs only
created more problems. She explained that her position was
that Malawi would support the process, but that they would
allow Zimbabwe to handle it “as far as possible.” She said
at least 50 percent of the Zimbabwe people believe their
problems are the result of “outside forces torturing them.”
She hoped that Mugabe and Tsvangirai were mature enough to
see that the people have suffered enough. Carter said he
shared her hope, but that the leaders must be held
accountable for their actions, and that continued monitoring
was needed by the international community and the Southern
African Development Community (SADC).
Malawi Not Ready to Dispatch Peacekeeping Troops Anywhere
——————————————— ————
¶5. (C/NF) Banda said President Mutharika had anticipated
that Carter would raise the possibility of Malawi
contributing peacekeeping troops to the DRC or for other UN
missions, and she had instructions to notify Carter that no
troops would be forthcoming. Carter reminded Banda that the
United States had spent a considerable amount of money to
train Malawian troops for peacekeeping operations and he
expressed his hope that the Malawi government would take
ADDIS ABAB 00000325 002 OF 002
advantage of that training to participate in the future.
¶6. (U) Acting Assistant Secretary Carter approved this
message.
YAMAMOTO
(20 VIEWS)
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