Zambia’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Tens Kapoma told United States ambassador to Zambia Carmen Martinez that President Robert Mugabe had “chickened out” of the Southern African Development Community extraordinary summit in Lusaka that was to look into the Zimbabwe crisis.
“He is missing an opportunity,” Kapoma said.”This shows he’s not the same man he used to be….he has been humbled and discredited.”
Kapoma concluded that Mugabe “is living on borrowed time” politically.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08LUSAKA422, MUGABE “CHICKENS OUT” OF SPECIAL SADC SUMMIT
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO9979
PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLS #0422 1021302
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 111302Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5690
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L LUSAKA 000422
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF
STATE ALSO AF/S AND AF/PD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2013
SUBJECT: MUGABE “CHICKENS OUT” OF SPECIAL SADC SUMMIT
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Koplovsky for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d
¶1. (C) On the afternoon of April 11, Zambian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Tens Kapoma updated the
Ambassador on the special Southern African Development
Community (SADC) summit. Kapoma said Zimbabwean President
Robert Mugabe “chickened out” and will not be attending the
meeting. “He is missing an opportunity.” He said “this
shows he’s not the same man he used to be….he has been
humbled and discredited.” Kapoma concluded that Mugabe “is
living on borrowed time” politically. Kapoma said the
presidents of Angola, Malawi, Botswana and the DRC and the
King of Swaziland have confirmed their attendance. The
PermSec told the Ambassador that Zimbabwean MDC candidate
Morgan Tsvangirai still plans to attend.
¶2. (SBU) Kapoma said the Lusaka diplomatic corps will be
invited to the opening session of the summit (at 14:00 local
time on Saturday). The Ambassador will attend. We understand
EU heads of mission also plan to attend.
MARTINEZ
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