Categories: Stories

Matibenga wanted to go to US but had no passport

Labour leader Lucia Matibenga planned to join a delegation to the United States led by Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai but she did not have a passport.

United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell promised to facilitate visas for the delegation as well as a travel document for Matibenga.

Tsvangirai planned to lead a delegation which included the leader of the smaller faction of the MDC Arthur Mutambara, National Constitutional Assembly Chairman Lovemore Madhuku, Christian Alliance head Levee Kadenge, student activist Lynnett Mudehwe, and Matabeleland-based ZAPU-Federal Party president Paul Siwela.

 

Full cable:

 

Viewing cable 07HARARE508, TSVANGIRAI UPDATES AMBASSADOR ON SOUTH AFRICA

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Reference ID

Created

Classification

Origin

07HARARE508

2007-06-11 09:46

CONFIDENTIAL

Embassy Harare

VZCZCXRO1247

RR RUEHMR RUEHRN

DE RUEHSB #0508 1620946

ZNY CCCCC ZZH

R 110946Z JUN 07

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1571

INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1624

RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1491

RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1628

RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0287

RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0893

RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1256

RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1684

RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4092

RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1453

RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 2111

RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0751

RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC

RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1845

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000508

 

SIPDIS

 

SIPDIS

 

AF/S FOR S. HILL

NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN

ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU

ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS

 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2017

TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC ZI

SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI UPDATES AMBASSADOR ON SOUTH AFRICA

TALKS, TRIP TO THE US

 

 

Classified By: Ambassador Christopher W. Dell under Section 1.4 b/d

 

1. (C) MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai told the Ambassador

on June 11 that the ZANU-PF position paper submitted to the

South African-moderated talks was nothing more than the usual

rhetoric, confirming prior suspicion that the GOZ was merely

stalling. Unlike the MDC submission that addressed

Zimbabwe’s future, the ZANU-PF paper rehashed old arguments

of colonial oppression and diatribes against the British and

supposed “illegal” sanctions, and called on South African

President Mbeki to bring the MDC’s “British masters” to the

negotiating table. Tsvangirai said that the South Africans

had yet to respond to the ZANU-PF paper, but added that he

was skeptical that Pretoria would be critical or push Robert

Mugabe very hard. Tsvangirai referred to the introduction of

Constitution Amendment 18 into Parliament (septel) as yet

another indication that the GOZ was not serious about the

talks as it moved unilaterally to change facts on the ground

in advance of elections.

 

2. (C) In a welcome display of creativity, Tsvangirai said

he planned to lead a delegation of opposition and civil

society leaders to the United States June 25-27. Joining the

delegation would be Pro-Senate MDC leader Arthur Mutambara,

National Constitutional Assembly Chairman Lovemore Madhuku,

Christian Alliance head Levee Kadenge, student activist

Lynnett Mudehwe, and Matabeleland-based ZAPU-Federal Party

president Paul Siwela. Labor leader Lucia Matibenga hoped

also to join the delegation, but did not have a passport.

The delegation would also visit the AU, EU, and Canada before

and after stopping in Washington and New York. Welcoming the

combined visit, the Ambassador promised to facilitate visas

for the group ) including a travel document for Matibenga )

and meetings with Administration officials.

 

——-

Comment

——-

 

3. (C) The Zimbabwean opposition has found a clever way

around the internal MDC impasse and this broad delegation is

the most hopeful sign from them in some time. We recommend

the Department facilitate the highest level of access

possible for the Save Zimbabwe delegation to reinforce this

new found spirit of cooperation.

DELL

 

(14 VIEWS)

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

Will Mnangagwa go against the trend in the region?

Plans by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front to push President Emmerson Mnangagwa to…

October 22, 2024

The Zimbabwe government and not saboteurs sabotaging ZiG

The Zimbabwe government’s insatiable demand for money to satisfy its own needs, which has exceeded…

October 20, 2024

The Zimbabwe Gold will regain its value if the government does this…

Economist Eddie Cross says the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) will regain its value if the government…

October 16, 2024

Is Harare the least democratic province in Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, which is a metropolitan province, is the least democratic province in the…

October 11, 2024

Zimbabweans against extension of presidential term in office

Nearly 80% of Zimbabweans are against the extension of the president’s term in office, according…

October 11, 2024

Zimbabwe government biggest loser when there is a discrepancy in the exchange rate

The government is the biggest loser when there is a discrepancy between the official exchange…

October 10, 2024