Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai told United States ambassador Tom McDonald that it was healthy for the country that the MDC did not win an outright victory in the June 2000 elections because this would have been destabilising.
He said that the party had known all along that it was going into an imperfect election but it was gratified that it had obtained a foothold in democratic development.
McDonald had congratulated the party for the excellent showing in the election where it won 57 out of the 120 elected seats.
Tsvangirai said the party was going to challenge the results in 20 to 25 constituencies including his own. If the MDC won the challenge to obtain a majority the country would have had time to absorb the consequences of an MDC success.
McDonald, however, warned Tsvangirai that it was difficult to overturn elections results not just in Zimbabwe but even in the United States and throughout the world.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 00HARARE3779, AMBASSADOR’S CALL ON MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI
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CONFIDENTIAL PTQ3068
PAGE 01 HARARE 03779 01 OF 04 121802Z
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——————6D57BC 121802Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6582
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 003779
SIPDIS
AF FOR P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS AND A/AFR MCCALL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/10
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR’S CALL ON MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 HARARE 03779 01 OF 04 121802Z
REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: IN A JULY 10 MEETING WITH THE
AMBASSADOR, MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) LEADER
MORGAN TSVANGIRAI AND MDC PARLIAMENTARY LEADER GIBSON
SIBANDA OUTLINED THE PARTY’S PARLIAMENTARY AGENDA, WHICH
INCLUDES LAND REFORM, THE ECONOMY, AND THE CREATION OF
MECHANISMS FOR HOLDING THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE. THE
PARTY WILL ALSO PUSH FOR THE REMOVAL OF WAR VETS FROM
FARMS, A WITHDRAWAL FROM THE DRC, AND A COMMISSION OF
INQUIRY INTO THE VIOLENCE SURROUNDING THE JUNE 24-25
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, AND WILL ADVOCATE
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM AIMED AT LIMITING EXECUTIVE
POWERS. TSVANGIRAI TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT IT IS JUST
AS WELL THAT HIS PARTY DID NOT WIN A MAJORITY OF
PARLIAMENTARY SEATS, SINCE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN
DESTABILIZING. THE MDC WILL CHALLENGE THE RESULTS OF A
NUMBER OF CONTESTS, INCLUDING TSVANGIRAI’S OWN. THE
PARTY LEADERS SAID THEY PLAN TO WORK HARD ON
TRANSFORMING THE MDC FROM A UNION-BASED OPPOSITION FRONT
TO A GENUINE POLITICAL PARTY. THE MDC’S AMBITIOUS
AGENDA IS TEMPERED BY REALISM ABOUT WHAT IT CAN ACHIEVE,
AND THE PARTY APPEARS WELL-POSITIONED TO DEAL WITH THE
TOUGH PROBLEMS THAT LIE AHEAD. END COMMENT.
¶2. (U) AMBASSADOR, ACCOMPANIED BY POLOFF, CALLED ON
MDC LEADER MORGAN TSVANGIRAI JULY 10. TSVANGIRAI WAS
ACCOMPANIED BY MDC VICE PRESIDENT GIBSON SIBANDA, WHO
WILL SERVE AS THE LEADER OF THE PARLIAMENTARY
OPPOSITION.
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PAGE 03 HARARE 03779 01 OF 04 121802Z
“A FOOTHOLD IN DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT”
¶3. (C) THE AMBASSADOR CONGRATULATED THE MDC LEADERS
FOR THE PARTY’S STRONG PERFORMANCE IN THE JUNE 24-25
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, AND APPLAUDED THE CONCILIATORY
STANCE THE PARTY HAS ADOPTED SINCE THE ELECTION DESPITE
ITS VALID CONCERNS ABOUT POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND
ELECTORAL IRREGULARITIES. HE NOTED THAT THE PARTY’S
RAPID SUCCESS — OBTAINING ALMOST HALF OF THE CONTESTED
PARLIAMENTARY SEATS ONLY NINE MONTHS AFTER ITS FOUNDING
WAS INDEED MOST IMPRESSIVE. THE AMBASSADOR ALSO
APPLAUDED THEIR COURAGE IN THE FACE OF SERIOUS THREATS
TO THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY.
¶4. (C) TSVANGIRAI RESPONDED THAT THE MDC KNEW ALL
ALONG THAT IT WAS GOING INTO AN IMPERFECT ELECTION
PROCESS AND IS GRATIFIED TO HAVE OBTAINED A “FOOTHOLD IN
DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT.” HE SAID THAT IT IS HEALTHY FOR
THE COUNTRY THAT MDC DID NOT SCORE AN OUTRIGHT ELECTION
VICTORY, SINCE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTABILIZING. THE
PARTY WILL LIKELY CHALLENGE THE RESULTS IN 20 TO 25
CONSTITUENCIES WHERE IT KNOWS THAT RIGGING TOOK PLACE,
BUT IS STILL ASSESSING THE SITUATION. IF THE MDC IS
SUCCESSFUL IN ENOUGH OF THE CHALLENGES TO OBTAIN A
MAJORITY, THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE HAD TIME TO ABSORB THE
CONSEQUENCES OF AN MDC SUCCESS. (NOTE: ZANU-PF WON 62
SEATS TO THE MDC’S 57; PRESIDENT MUGABE IS ENTITLED TO
APPOINT 30 ADDITIONAL PARLIAMENTARIANS. END NOTE.) THE
AMBASSADOR NOTED THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO OVERTURN
ELECTION RESULTS NOT ONLY IN ZIMBABWE BUT IN THE UNITED
STATES AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD; TSVANGIRAI ACKNOWLEDGED
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PAGE 04 HARARE 03779 01 OF 04 121802Z
THAT THIS IS TRUE. TSVANGIRAI ALSO NOTED THAT EVEN WITH
AN MDC PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY ZANU-PF WOULD STILL
CONTROL THE PRESIDENCY, AND THUS THE GOVERNMENT.
¶5. (C) ASKED WHETHER HE WILL CONTEST HIS OWN LOST
RACE, TSVANGIRAI RESPONDED THAT HE PLANS TO DO SO, MORE
FOR THE SAKE OF SHOWING THE COUNTRY THAT ZANU-PF
COMMITTED ELECTORAL FRAUD THERE THAN TO OBTAIN A SEAT IN
PARLIAMENT. WITHOUT A SEAT, HE SAID, HE WILL HAVE MORE
TIME TO FOCUS ON PARTY MATTERS. HE ADDED THAT HE DID
NOT REGRET HAVING CONTESTED IN A RURAL AREA RATHER THAN
IN AN URBAN AREA WHERE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SHOO-IN,
SINCE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE MDC’S
SUPPORT IS NOT SIMPLY AN URBAN OR LABOR PHENOMENON.
DESPITE HIS OWN LOSS, THE NATIONWIDE RESULTS HAVE BORNE
THIS OUT; THE MDC, FOR EXAMPLE, WON A MAJORITY OF THE
VOTE IN BOTH MATABELELAND NORTH AND SOUTH PROVINCES AND
ABOUT HALF THE VOTE IN THE RURAL PROVINCE OF MANICALAND.
THE TWO AREAS WHERE THE MDC PERFORMED MOST POORLY, HE
CONTINUED, WERE MASHONALAND EAST AND MASHONALAND
CENTRAL, WHERE THE LEVELS OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION
WERE HIGHEST. THE MDC ARGUES, THEREFORE, THAT IT IS THE
“ONLY NATIONAL PARTY,” CUTTING ACROSS TRIBE AND REGION.
¶6. (C) WITH THE MDC’S SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE,
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P 121809Z JUL 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6583
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 003779
SIPDIS
AF FOR P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS AND A/AFR MCCALL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/10
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR’S CALL ON MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI
TSVANGIRAI SAID, POWER HAS SHIFTED FROM THE EXECUTIVE TO
SIPDIS
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PAGE 02 HARARE 03779 02 OF 04 121802Z
PARLIAMENT. HE TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT THE MDC HAS NO
PLANS TO JOIN A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY, SINCE
DOING SO WOULD “DESTROY THIS WHOLE EMBRYONIC
DEVELOPMENT” OF ZIMBABWEAN MULTIPARTYISM. “WE THINK
IT’S IMPORTANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS THE GOVERNMENT AND
THE OPPOSITION IS THE OPPOSITION.” TSVANGIRAI CONTINUED
THAT PEOPLE (I.E. ZANU-PF) ARE TRYING TO COOPT MDC
MEMBERS TO DESTROY THEIR CREDIBILITY, BUT THEY HAVE NOT
BEEN SUCCESSFUL. THE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT, IN SPITE OF
THIS, HE ASSUMED THAT THE MDC WOULD WORK WITH ZANU-PF IN
PARLIAMENT. “OF COURSE,” TSVANGIRAI REPLIED.
MDC PRIORITIES: ACCOUNTABILITY, THE ECONOMY, AND LAND
¶7. (C) TSVANGIRAI TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT THE MDC
PLANS TO FOCUS ON TWO BROAD OBJECTIVES AFTER PARLIAMENT
BEGINS. THE PARTY’S FIRST GOAL IS TO GET ZANU-PF TO
“OPEN THE BOOKS” IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY NOT ONLY FINANCIALLY BUT IN ALL AREAS OF
GOVERNANCE. THE SECOND OBJECTIVE IS TO WORK TO
DEMOCRATIZE THE PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT.
¶8. (C) THE TWO SPECIFIC ISSUES THE MDC WILL ADDRESS
FIRST, TSVANGIRAI TOLD THE AMBASSADOR, ARE THE ECONOMY
AND LAND. ZIMBABWE HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT CAN ACCESS
THE LAND REFORM FUNDS THAT THE DONORS HAVE PROMISED.
THE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT REESTABLISHING THE RULE OF LAW
AND ENSURING A TRANSPARENT PROCESS WILL BE THE KEY TO
THIS. DONORS WANT TO BE HELPFUL, BUT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE
IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE. THE AMBASSADOR AND TSVANGIRAI
AGREED THAT REMOVING THE WAR VETS FROM THE FARMS WOULD
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PAGE 03 HARARE 03779 02 OF 04 121802Z
BE THE FIRST STEP TOWARD REESTABLISHING A CLIMATE WHERE
– MEANINGFUL LAND REFORM CAN BE DISCUSSED. TSVANGIRAI
SAID THAT, IF ANYTHING, THE SITUATION ON THE FARMS SEEMS
TO BE GETTING WORSE. WHEREAS BEFORE FARMERS WERE
ALLOWED TO WORK THEIR LAND WHILE IT WAS OCCUPIED, NOW
THEY ARE BEING DRIVEN OFF. THE FARM OCCUPATIONS,
TSAVANGIRAI CONTINUED, ARE MUGABE’S “OBSESSION,” BUT
THERE IS NO CONSENSUS IN THE CABINET SUPPORTING THIS
POLICY. WHETHER THE MDC CAN EFFECTIVELY PRESS FOR A
RESOLUTION OF THIS ISSUE IN PARLIAMENT, HE ACKNOWLEDGED,
HAS YET TO BE TESTED.
¶9. (C) THE ECONOMY, TSVANGIRAI CONTINUED, CANNOT
CONTINUE IN ITS CURRENT STATE OF “MELTDOWN.” HE NOTED
THAT A MAJOR PAPER PRODUCTS FACTORY IN BULAWAYO HAD
CLOSED ON JULY 7 DUE TO A LACK OF FOREIGN CURRENCY.
TSVANGIRAI AND SIBANDA POINTED TO A NUMBER OF STEPS THAT
MUST BE TAKEN BEFORE THE ECONOMY CAN BE REINVIGORATED,
INCLUDING ENDING THE FARM OCCUPATIONS, GETTING
CORRUPTION UNDER CONTROL, AND WITHDRAWING ZIMBABWEAN
TROOPS FROM THE DRC (SEE PARA 18). THE MDC WILL TRY TO
CREATE MORE TRANSPARENCY SURROUNDING PUBLIC ACCOUNTS,
PRIVATIZATION, AND LAND.
¶10. (C) EARLY IN THE PARLIAMENTARY SESSION, SIBANDA
SAID, THE MDC WILL CALL FOR A FULL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY
INTO THE PRE- AND POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE. ZANU-PF WILL
TRY TO RESIST THIS, BUT THIS IS ONE AREA WHERE THE MDC
IS LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT THE
MDC IS TRYING TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF HOW TO ASSIST
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF THE VIOLENCE. THE PARTY
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PAGE 04 HARARE 03779 02 OF 04 121802Z
IS SEEKING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THIS EFFORT.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE WILL BE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM,
WITH A FOCUS ON SHIFTING SOME PRESIDENTIAL POWERS TO
PARLIAMENT.
¶11. (C) THE AMBASSADOR INFORMED THE MDC LEADERS THAT
THE USG IS CURRENTLY FUNDING A PROGRAM FOR PARLIAMENTARY
CAPACITY BUILDING CONDUCTED BY THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF
NEW YORK AT ALBANY, WHICH HAS BEEN OPERATIONAL SINCE
SEPTEMBER 1999. HE URGED THE PARTY’S PARLIAMENTARIANS
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM. EVEN BEFORE THE MDC’S
STRONG PERFORMANCE BROUGHT MULTIPARTYISM TO PARLIAMENT,
THE AMBASSADOR NOTED, THE USG HAD IDENTIFIED PARLIAMENT
AS A PROMISING VEHICLE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE.
CONTINUING VIOLENCE
¶12. (C) ASKED BY THE AMBASSADOR FOR HIS ASSESSMENT OF
THE CURRENT LEVEL OF VIOLENCE, TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT
VIOLENCE ON FARMS BY WAR VETERANS IS CONTINUING. IN A
NUMBER OF FARMS IN THE MARONDERA AND MACHEKE AREAS OF
MASHONALAND EAST PROVINCE, SUPERVISORY FARM WORKERS HAVE
BEEN ROUNDED UP AND BEATEN. THE PERPETRATORS ARE
LOYALISTS OF WAR VET LEADER HITLER HUNZVI. IN MASVINGO
PROVINCE, PEOPLE ARE RANDOMLY INVADING FARMS, ACCORDING
CONFIDENTIAL
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P 121809Z JUL 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6584
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 003779
SIPDIS
AF FOR P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS AND A/AFR MCCALL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/10
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR’S CALL ON MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI
TO TSVANGIRAI. HE ALSO NOTED THAT SOLDIERS HAVE GONE TO
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PAGE 02 HARARE 03779 03 OF 04 121803Z
HARARE AREAS PERCEIVED AS MDC STRONGHOLDS AND BEATEN UP
LOCAL RESIDENTS. “THE VIOLENCE,” TSVANGIRAI SUMMARIZED,
“IS NOT EBBING.” (NOTE: OTHER SOURCES CONFIRM THESE
CONTINUED FARM OCCUPATIONS AND BEATINGS OF MDC
SUPPORTERS. END NOTE.) THE AMBASSADOR RESPONDED BY
INDICATING THAT THE EMBASSY CONTINUES TO BE VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION AND IS
FOLLOWING THE ISSUE CLOSELY. “WE WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK
OUT ABOUT THE MATTER,” HE SAID.
FOCUS TURNS TO PARTY-BUILDING AND LOCAL ELECTIONS
¶13. (C) TSVANGIRAI ACKNOWLEDGED TO THE AMBASSADOR THAT
THE MDC FACES A CHALLENGING TASK IN TRANSFORMING THE MDC
FROM A LABOR-BASED OPPOSITION MOVEMENT TO A GENUINE
POLITICAL PARTY. SINCE ITS CREATION, THE MDC HAS BEEN
OPERATING WITH INTERIM STRUCTURES, SUCH AS LOCAL
BRANCHES AND PROVINCIAL COMMITTEES, THAT ARE MOSTLY
BASED ON ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNION (ZCTU)
STRUCTURES. GIVEN THE PARTY’S BROAD BASE, THERE WILL
INEVITABLY BE TENSIONS BETWEEN DIFFERENT PARTY ELEMENTS.
THE WAY TO RESOLVE THIS IS TO HAVE DIALOGUE WITHIN THE
PARTY, WITH WIDE PARTICIPATION, ABOUT WHAT THE MDC IS TO
STAND FOR AND HOW COMPETING INTERESTS CAN BE ADDRESSED.
ASKED BY THE AMBASSADOR HOW THE MDC WILL ATTEMPT TO
DELIVER TO ITS CONSTITUENTS GIVEN ITS LACK OF ACCESS TO
GOVERNMENT COFFERS, TSVANGIRAI REPLIED THAT HE DOES NOT
BELIEVE THAT MDC SUPPORTERS EXPECT DELIVERY OF TANGIBLES
SUCH AS ROADS. RATHER, THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT HOW WELL
THE PARTY IS ADVOCATING THEIR INTERESTS. ONCE THE MDC
WINS SOME MAYORAL POSITIONS, IT WILL BE ABLE TO START
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PAGE 03 HARARE 03779 03 OF 04 121803Z
DELIVERING. (NOTE: THREE KEY MAYORAL POSITIONS ARE TO
BE FILLED IN HARARE, BULAWAYO, AND MASVINGO IN THE NEAR
FUTURE. THE MDC PLANS TO ACTIVELY CONTEST ALL OF THEM.
END NOTE.)
¶14. (C) WHEN PEOPLE VOTED FOR THE MDC, TSVANGIRAI
SAID, THEY VOTED FOR CHANGE, WHICH IS “NOT AN EVENT BUT
A PROCESS.” THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WERE JUST THE
FIRST PHASE. THE MDC HAS ALREADY BEGUN FOCUSING ON THE
NEXT PHASE, THE AS YET UNSCHEDULED LOCAL ELECTIONS. THE
PARTY PLANS TO CONTEST A LARGE NUMBER OF MAYORAL POSTS
AND OTHER LOCAL POSITIONS. TSVANGIRAI STATED THAT HE
PLANS TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY IN 2002
(ASSUMING, HE TOOK CARE TO ADD, THAT HE IS SELECTED BY
PARTY STRUCTURES).
¶15. (C) CLAIMS THAT THE MDC HAS RECEIVED MASSIVE
FOREIGN FUNDING ARE FALSE, TSVANGIRAI SAID. WITH ALMOST
FIFTY PERCENT OF THE VOTE, THE MDC IS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR
PUBLIC FUNDING UNDER THE POLITICAL PARTIES FINANCE ACT.
HOWEVER, IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THESE FUNDS WILL ACTUALLY
BE AVAILABLE. ASKED BY THE AMBASSADOR WHETHER THE MDC
PLANS TO ESTABLISH LINKS WITH OTHER SMALL PARTIES THAT
DID NOT FARE WELL IN THE ELECTIONS, TSVANGIRAI REPLIED
THAT THE ELECTIONS HAD MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE MDC IS THE
ONLY SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITION FORCE IN ZIMBABWE. MEMBERS
OF OTHER PARTIES ARE, HOWEVER, WELCOME TO COME INTO THE
MDC. TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT PEOPLE WISHING TO COME TO THE
MDC FROM OTHER PARTIES WILL BE EDUCATED ABOUT THE MDC’S
PRINCIPLES TO ENSURE THAT THEY SHARE THE PARTY’S VALUES.
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PAGE 04 HARARE 03779 03 OF 04 121803Z
MDC’S VIEWS OF CURRENT STATE OF ZANU-PF
¶16. (C) TSVANGIRAI TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT IT APPEARS
THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF POWER STRUGGLES CURRENTLY
UNDERWAY IN ZANU-PF. ONCE THEY HAVE PLAYED THEMSELVES
OUT, IT WILL BE EASIER TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT OF ZANU-
PF’S FUTURE. HE SAID THAT THE NEW CABINET, AS YET
UNNAMED, IS LIKELY TO BE “A MIXTURE OF OLD GUARD
RESISTANCE AND SO-CALLED NEW BLOOD FRUSTRATION.” ASKED
WHO HE BELIEVED WOULD BE NAMED TO THE NEW CABINET,
TSVANGIRAI AND SIBANDA CITED HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER
SIPDIS
DUMISO DABENGWA, JUSTICE MINISTER EMMERSON MNANGAGWA,
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR GENDER AFFAIRS OPPAH MUCHINGURI,
SIPDIS
AND MINISTER OF MINES, ENVIRONMENT, AND TOURISM SIMON
KHAYA MOYO AS PEOPLE TO BE ACCOMMODATED IN SOME
MINISTERIAL OR OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT POSITIONS.
FORMER MASHONALAND CENTRAL GOVERNOR BORDER GEZI,
TSVANGIRAI BELIEVES, WILL BE NAMED MINISTER OF LOCAL
SIPDIS
GOVERNMENT.
¶17. (C) ASKED BY THE AMBASSADOR WHETHER HE BELIEVED IT
WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO WORK WITH RELATIVELY REFORMIST
ELEMENTS WITHIN ZANU-PF IN PARLIAMENT, TSVANGIRAI
RESPONDED THAT “THE ‘NEW BLOOD’ ELEMENT IS UNFORTUNATELY
NOT NEW IN PRACTICES IN ETHICS.” RATHER, THE YOUNGER
ZANU-PF MEMBERS ARE SIMPLY “MORE OF THE SAME.”
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——————6D57DC 121803Z /38
P 121809Z JUL 00
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6585
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 003779
SIPDIS
AF FOR P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS AND A/AFR MCCALL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/10
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR’S CALL ON MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI
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FOREIGN RELATIONS
¶18. (C) THE AMBASSADOR ASKED WHAT APPROACH THE MDC
PLANS TO TAKE ON ZIMBABWE’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CONGO.
TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT THE PARTY WILL MAKE A STRONG CALL
SIPDIS
FOR A WITHDRAWAL, EMPHASIZING THE EXPENSE OF THE
OPERATION. A RETURN TO MACROECONOMIC STABILITY IS NOT
POSSIBLE WITHOUT A WITHDRAWAL. SIBANDA ADDED THAT THE
FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE IS THAT “THERE IS NO REASON TO HAVE
OUR YOUNG BOYS DYING THERE.”
¶19. (C) ASKED WHAT THE MDC PLANS TO DO TO STRENGTHEN
TIES WITH OTHER SADC COUNTRIES, TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT,
DURING THE WORST OF THE PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE, THE MDC
EXPRESSED INTEREST IN SENDING GROUPS OF EMINENT PERSONS
TO MOZAMBIQUE, BOTSWANA, ZAMBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA. THE
MDC’S FIRST PRIORITY IS NOW A VISIT TO MOZAMBIQUE, SINCE
THE MOZAMBICAN GOVERNMENT RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO THE
MDC’S OVERTURE. THE MDC THEN PLANS TO REACH OUT TO THE
OTHER SADC COUNTRIES.
COMMENT
¶20. (C) IN HIS MEETING WITH THE: AMBASSADOR AS IN HIS
PUBLIC STATEMENTS, TSVANGIRAI WAS UPBEAT, FOCUSING ON
THE MDC’S SUCCESS RATHER THAN DWELLING ON ITS
(LEGITIMATE) FRUSTRATIONS. THE PARTY HAS SET AN
AMBITIOUS AGENDA IN PARLIAMENT, BUT SEEMS TO BE
REALISTIC ABOUT HOW MUCH CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.
TSVANGIRAI AND SIBANDA ALSO HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF THE
SIPDIS
IMPORTANCE, AND DIFFICULTY,-OF PARTY-BUILDING. THE MDC
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PAGE 03 HARARE 03779 04 OF 04 121803Z
IS INDEED A PARTY OF DIVERSE INTERESTS WHO ALL OPPOSED
THE CONTINUED BAD GOVERNANCE OF ZANU-PF. THE CHALLENGE
WILL NOW BE TO TURN THAT DISSATISFACTION INTO
CONSTRUCTIVE, UNIFIED PROGRAMS AND POLICIES. END
COMMENT.
MCDONALD
CONFIDENTIAL
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