Mugabe chickens out!

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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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

TAGS: PREL ZA ZI SADC

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

(30 VIEWS)