The Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front negotiating team of Nicholas Goche and Patrick Chinamasa failed to turn up for the South African brokered talks with the Movement for Democratic Change in Pretoria on 7 July 2007.
The secretaries of the MDC factions Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube spent the day discussing the agenda items with the South African facilitation team led by Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi and Presidential legal adviser Mujanku Gumbi.
The parties first met in Pretoria on 17 June.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 07PRETORIA2414, ZANU-PF NO SHOW AT PRETORIA TALKS
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO7046
RR RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSA #2414 1901505
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 091505Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0694
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1233
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1111
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0527
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0083
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0482
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 1172
RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 4587
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 002414
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S S. HILL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2017
SUBJECT: ZANU-PF NO SHOW AT PRETORIA TALKS
REF: PRETORIA 2210 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(
b) and (d).
¶1. (C) The ZANU-PF negotiating team did not show up at the
July 7 South African-sponsored talks in Pretoria, according
to Roy Bennett, Treasurer of the Zimbabwean opposition party
the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). (NOTE: The first
round of the SADC/South African-mediated talks took place
June 17-18, with the two sides agreeing on an agenda
(reftel). END NOTE.) The ZANU-PF team was to be led by
Minister for Labour and Social Welfare Nicholas Goche and
Minister of Justice Patrick Chinamasa. Bennett speculated
that ZANU-PF’s refusal to attend the Pretoria talks may
reflect the growing confusion within the ruling party, in
light of the deteriorating economic situation in Zimbabwe.
¶2. (C) In lieu of formal talks, the two MDC Secretaries
General, Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube, spent the day
discussing the agenda items with the South African
facilitation team, led by Minister Sydney Mufamadi and
Presidential Legal Advisor Mojanku Gumbi. From the MDC
perspective, the discussions went “very well.” Bennett
believes the SAG now has a much better appreciation for the
MDC positions. He understands that the South African team
has gained respect for Biti. (COMMENT: This is in contrast
to the SAG’s generally low regard for Tsvangirai himself.
END COMMENT.) The two MDC Secretaries General are working
well together, Bennett said, with Biti in the lead.
Bost
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