Reunification of the MDC on the cards but……

Leaders of the two factions of the Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, were agreed that reunification of the party was the only way forward but they were facing stiff resistance from hardliners within their factions.

Those against the reunification from Tsvangirai’s faction were Lucia Matibenga, the women’s caucus leader, and Elias Mudzuri, the party’s organising secretary.

From the Mutambara faction, the secretary general Welshman Ncube, who led the split, and his deputy Priscilla Misihairabwi- Mushonga, were against.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 06HARARE1398, MDC REUNIFICATION: THE WAY FORWARD

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 001398

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STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B.PITTMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2016

TAGS: PGOV PREL ZI

SUBJECT: MDC REUNIFICATION: THE WAY FORWARD

REF: HARARE 1360

Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell under Section 1.4 b/d

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SUMMARY

——-

¶1. (C) A little more than a year after its acrimonious split

in October 2005, the MDC may be heading for reunification.

Despite financial and organizational challenges, the

opposition made inroads into ruling party strongholds in

recent local elections reinforcing with leaders in both

factions that they could have done even better working as a

united party. Reunification has the apparent support of

faction leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, but

hardliners in both camps fear that reintegration would cost

them power and influence and they could yet derail efforts to

patch up differences. End Summary.

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REUNIFICATION: THE WAY FORWARD?

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¶2. (C) In spite of the financial and organizational

challenges resulting from a split MDC, the opposition made

some encouraging inroads into ruling party strongholds during

the latest Rural District Council (RDC) elections (reftel).

Senior leaders from both factions told us that a united party

could have picked up even more seats, and that a reunited

front is essential in mounting the strongest challenge to

ZANU-PF in the presidential election in 2008 and the

parliamentary elections in 2010. Their initial instinct is

to use the lesson as a catalyst for renewing talks about

reunification. To this end, the two factions held separate

executive retreats on Saturday, November 4 to discuss, among

other issues, the consequences of the split and the best way

forward.

¶3. (C) Reunification is gaining support at the highest levels

in each camp. Morgan Tsvangirai, president of the

anti-Senate faction, and Arthur Mutambara, president of the

pro-Senate faction, are reportedly in agreement that merging

the factions is the only way forward. Tendai Biti, secretary

general of the anti-Senate faction, recently told Ambassador

Dell that many of the senior leaders in the Tsvangirai camp,

including himself and Elton Mangoma, the deputy treasurer,

strongly support the move. For his part, Mutambara has met

several times with anti-Senate leadership within the past

months, including a one-on-one meeting with Tsvangirai.

¶4. (C) Both camps, however, have hardliners that passionately

resist the idea. On the anti-Senate side, these reportedly

include Lucia Matibenga, the women’s caucus leader in the

party, and Elias Mudzuri, the national organizing secretary;

notable on the pro-Senate side are Secretary General Welshman

Ncube, a driving force behind the initial split, and his

deputy, Pricilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga.

——————————–

COMMENT: THE CHANCES FOR SUCCESS

——————————–

¶5. (C) What gives reunification a chance for success is the

support of the top leaders on both sides, who have appointed

negotiating teams, and the increasing realization of many in

both factions that a united opposition is a stronger

opposition. A reunited MDC, according to even some of our

HARARE 00001398 002 OF 002

ZANU-PF interlocutors (reftel), would have a strong chance of

winning a free and fair election.

¶6. (C) Reconciliation leading to reunification, however, may

yet prove difficult. Deep personal differences between

senior leadership on both sides led to the split in the first

place and things have become even more rancorous over the

last year as the two sides have waged a public battle against

one another. Furthermore, significant intra-faction dissent

in both camps may yet be enough to scuttle the move. With

presidential elections now scheduled for 2008, the next

several months will be crucial if the MDC is to reunify and

put the opposition back on the path toward reinvigorating the

base, attracting new supporters, and ultimately getting out

the vote.

DELL

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