Tsvangirai insisted Mugabe could only be ceremonial president

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai insisted that Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic leader Robert Mugabe would not retain an executive role in the new government but would be a ceremonial president.

He said it was therefore essential that he be allowed to talk with Mugabe directly because their negotiators did not have enough authority.

ZANU-PF was represented by Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche but it had dispatched Sydney Sekeremayi and Emmerson Mnangagwa to help.

Mugabe was said to be ready to compromise to achieve an honourable exit but those around him, principally Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono, were resistant as they tried to maintain their corrupt emoluments and business interests.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 08HARARE669, STRIVE MASIYIWA’S TAKE ON ZANU-PF-MDC NEGOTIATIONS

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VZCZCXRO6090

OO RUEHC

DE RUEHSB #0669/01 2201528

ZNY CCCCC ZZH

O 071528Z AUG 08 ZDS PER SVC RUEHC NO.2928 RUEHDS NO.1702

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3264

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000669

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR G. GARLAND

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: DECL: 08/07/2018

TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM ZI

SUBJECT: STRIVE MASIYIWA’S TAKE ON ZANU-PF-MDC NEGOTIATIONS

REF: HARARE 661

Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d)

SUMMARY

——-

.1. (C) Strive Masiyiwa briefed Pretoria PolCounselor and

Harare PolEcon chief August 7 on ZANU-PF-MDC negotiations.

According to Masiyiwa, there is as of now no draft agreement

between the two sides. Press reports suggesting the

existence of a draft agreement are premature. Zimbabwean

president Robert Mugabe and MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai

are planning to meet within the next few days one-on-one to

attempt to resolve outstanding issues, chief of which is the

allocation of executive authority. Mugabe may be ready to

compromise to achieve an honorable exit, but those around

him, principally Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon

Gono, are resistant as they try to maintain their corrupt

emoluments and business interests. Masiyiwa believes

international pressure is critical to impress upon all

parties that international reengagement is dependent upon an

agreement that divests Mugabe of executive authority and

places the balance of power with Tsvangirai and the MDC.

Ambassador to South Africa Bost joined the meeting to

emphasize that the U.S. would not accept a flawed agreement

that involves Mugabe retaining executive authority. END

SUMMARY.

———————-

Status of Negotiations

———————-

.2. (C) Negotiations between ZANU-PF and the MDC are ongoing

in Cape Town, according to Masiyiwa, but are not dealing with

fundamental issues, particularly the allocation of executive

authority. Masiyiwa said Tsvangirai told South African

president and SADC mediator Thabo Mbeki that some progress

had been made but Mugabe’s negotiators (Patrick Chinamasa and

Nicholas Goche) lacked sufficient authority to resolve

fundamental issues. Tsvangirai suggested a parallel process

with direct negotiations between him and Mugabe to be

facilitated by Mbeki. (NOTE: As an indication that ZANU-PF

is serious about the negotiations, ZANU-PF and Mugabe last

week dispatched defense minister Sidney Sekeremayi and

Emmerson Mnangagwa to South Africa to join Chinamasa and

Goche. END NOTE.) Mbeki agreed and said he would identify

the issues to be resolved by the two principals. Masiyiwa

understood from intermediaries that Mugabe was also

receptive. Tsvangirai and Mugabe were to begin discussions

on August 6 or August 7; Mbeki was scheduled to fly to Harare

on August 7. (NOTE: Subsequent to the meeting with

Masiyiwa, we learned that Mbeki will come to Harare on August

.9 with a meeting between Mugabe and Tsvangirai to take place

on August 10. END NOTE.)

——————

Outstanding Issues

——————

.3. (C) Masiyiwa amplified on the Ambassador’s discussion

with Tsvangirai on August 5 (Reftel) in discussing

outstanding issues:

–Roles of Mugabe and Tsvangirai: This is the fundamental

issue. Tsvangirai and the MDC, according to Masiyiwa, are

firm that Mugabe should not retain executive power, but

should serve in a ceremonial role until his retirement.

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