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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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
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
SIPDIS
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
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
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