Movement for Democratic Change negotiator Elton Mangoma told United States embassy officials that agreement between the MDC and the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front was inevitable but one of the sticking points was the duration of the transitional government.
ZANU-PF wanted a five-year transitional government while the MDC insisted on two years.
The embassy said the two sides were anxious for an agreement that would involve some power-sharing but if the security forces were left in place, then effective control would remain with ZANU-PF.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08HARARE651, NEGOTIATIONS STILL ON TRACK
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO1165
OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0651 2141117
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 011117Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3241
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2189
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2308
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0840
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1585
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1943
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2364
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4795
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1454
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000651
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR G. GARLAND
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: 08/01/2018
SUBJECT: NEGOTIATIONS STILL ON TRACK
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d)
¶1. (C) MDC negotiator Elton Mangoma told us August 1 that
negotiations will resume in Pretoria on August 3. Mangoma
was optimistic that sticking points–balance of power between
Mugabe and Tsvangirai, and duration of the new
government–would be worked out and that a signing ceremony
would take place as early as next week. According to
Mangoma, ZANU-PF wants a five-year transitional government
while the MDC is insisting on two years. We understand from
several sources, including Mangoma, that the most likely
outcome is a power-sharing arrangement with Mugabe retaining
some executive powers as president and Tsvangirai becoming an
executive prime minister.
¶2. (C) COMMENT: Both sides are anxious for an agreement and
we expect, as indicated by Mangoma, a compromise resulting in
both Mugabe and Tsvangirai having executive power in a
transitional government with a division of ministries between
the two parties. Regardless of the precise allocation of
power between the two, if the security chiefs are left in
place, effective control of government will remain with
ZANU-PF.
¶3. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: If an agreement is reached, we
expect Tsvangirai to state that compromises were made to
achieve the best agreement possible under the circumstances,
and that democratic reforms will be undertaken leading to
elections after the transition period. Under this scenario,
he will probably ask that sanctions be lifted and that
international developmental assistance resume. END COMMENT.
MCGEE
(33 VIEWS)
