Tsvangirai said war veterans were no match for MDC youth

Tsvangirai Briefs G8 Representatives

SIPDIS

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¶2. (C) On May 27 MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai briefed G8

mission representatives on the MDC's position vis-a-vis

various current issues should discussions about Zimbabwe

arise during the June 1-3 G8 summit in Evian, France. In a

prepared statement, Tsvangirai discussed the state of the

crisis and Zimbabweans' desperation, the stalled mediation

effort by Mbeki and Muluzi, legitimacy and a dignified exit,

succession, and what the MDC sees as the way forward. Also

present were MDC Secretary General Welshman Ncube, MDC

National Chairman Isaac Matongo, MDC Secretary for

International Affairs Sekai Holland, and MDC Special

Presidential Advisor Gandi Mudzingwa. All G8 countries were

represented except the U.K.

Mass Action

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¶3. (C) On mass action, Tsvangirai said they were damned if

they do and damned if they don't, i.e. MDC supporters were

demanding action and leadership, but security forces might

respond with violence. Tsvangirai said that the start date

and form of mass action might be decided on May 29; he

discounted the press reported June 2 start date, and other

reported details as speculative. He said the press had

misinterpreted "final push" to mean the object was to oust

Mugabe from power, when in fact the MDC meant "final push" to

force Mugabe to the negotiating table to initiate a process

leading to fresh elections. Tsvangirai suggested that there

might be peaceful protests, or "democracy marches" in a

managed effort to pressure Mugabe to come to the table, but

the MDC does not plan a massive march on State House to oust

him from power.

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