Mugabe planned to announce himself winner

The United States embassy put its citizens on alert on 30 March 2008 after it had received reports that President Robert Mugabe was planning to announce himself winner of the presidential elections that evening.

Mugabe was expected to make the announcement at 18:30 but the Movement for Democratic Change told the embassy that it was going to pre-empt Mugabe’s announcement by releasing results showing that Morgan Tsvangirai had won the election.

The embassy said it was going to advise all its citizens and embassy staff to return to their homes and remain for the evening.

Although the embassy was advised that Mugabe had decided to delay the announcement the embassy said it was still going to advise its citizens to standfast overnight.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 08HARARE246, MUGABE EXPECTED TO DECLARE VICTORY; EAC ADVISES

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VZCZCXRO8425

OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN

DE RUEHSB #0246 0901718

ZNR UUUUU ZZH

O 301718Z MAR 08

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2648

INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1853

RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1977

RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0550

RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1254

RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1611

RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2033

RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4464

RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

RUAEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE

RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC

RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1104

RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS HARARE 000246

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SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DS FOR IP/AF AND IP/ITA

CA FOR OCS/ACS

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: N/A

TAGS: ASEC CASC PGOV ZI

SUBJECT: MUGABE EXPECTED TO DECLARE VICTORY; EAC ADVISES

STANDFAST OVERNIGHT

REF: HARARE 245 AND PREV

¶1. (SBU) Embassy contacts in both the MDC and ZANU-PF

reported at 17:30 Sunday evening that President Mugabe was

planning to declare himself the winner of Zimbabwe’s

presidential election. MDC sources understood the

announcement was scheduled for 18:30 pm local time; ZANU-PF

sources were less definitive. MDC sources said the MDC would

preempt the Mugabe announcement by releasing results showing

that Morgan Tsvangirai won the election.

¶2. (SBU) Embassy EAC assembled at 18:30 and discussed this

information. Ambassador chaired the meeting which was

attended by DCM, RSO, CONS, RAO, POL, AID, MGT and DAO. The

EAC agreed that Post should activate the warden network and

advise all American citizens and Embassy staff to return to

their homes and remain for the evening. Further information

would be provided early Monday morning concerning whether to

resume normal activities.

¶3. (SBU) Subsequent to the EAC, MDC sources informed Post

they believed the Mugabe announcement would be delayed, so

they were delaying their announcement. The EAC determined to

maintain its decision to advise citizens to standfast

overnight.

MCGEE

(20 VIEWS)