South African President Thabo Mbeki who was the chief negotiator in Zimbabwe was going to push for international observers in the 2008 elections because he was concerned about their credibility.
He also wanted a new constitution before the elections which were scheduled for March.
The United States embassy was concerned about early elections because they did not give the Movement for Democratic Change time to organise.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08HARARE26, MBEKI SEEKS FINAL AGREEMENT ON SADC TALKS
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Reference ID |
Created |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO3821
RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0026 0161418
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 161418Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2379
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1720
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1846
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0446
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1123
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1480
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1902
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4330
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0973
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000026
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: 11/08/2013
SUBJECT: MBEKI SEEKS FINAL AGREEMENT ON SADC TALKS
REF: HARARE 16
Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Glenn Warren. Reason: 1.4 (d)
¶1. (C) MDC sources have told us that South African president
Thabo Mbeki will travel to Harare Thursday to meet with
Robert Mugabe and attempt to conclude an agreement between
ZANU-PF and the MDC. Mbeki reportedly met personally with
ZANU-PF negotiators over the weekend in South Africa. The
most likely outcome, according to our sources, is a March
election and implementation of a new constitution before the
election. We also understand that Mbeki is concerned about
the credibility of the election and will push for
international observers.
¶2. (C) Comment: If in fact the agreement includes a March
election, it’s difficult to see what the MDC gains since
there will be scant time to organize and take advantage of
negotiated reforms. The MDC will still be facing a
manipulated delimitation of parliamentary constituencies and
a corrupt registration process. The MDC’s traditional civil
society allies demand broad consultation on constitutional
reform, so they are likely to scorn an agreement that imposes
a new constitution, whatever its merits. While the MDC may
see no option but to contest elections and may feel that it
will derive certain benefits from an agreement, an agreement
will also (at least partially) legitimize Mugabe in the event
of a ZANU-PF win. End Comment.
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