G8 Representatives Caution Against Marches
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¶4. (C) Other G8 representatives objected to the use of mass
action in any form except a stayaway at this juncture on the
grounds that marches could get violently out of control and
ruin what hope there is for dialogue, and the Mbeki/Muluzi
mediation effort. Welshman Ncube responded that continually
trying to restart dialogue and doing nothing else was not an
option; it would bolster the GOZ's confidence and essentially
had achieved nothing since talks failed in May 2002.
¶5. (C) Tsvangirai and other officials have spoken at MDC
rallies in all of Zimbabwe's major cities in the past three
weeks exhorting Zimbabweans to heed the call to mass action.
Sub-national MDC structures have announced several smaller
community meetings, and prayer vigils over the next several
days. Though it is sometimes difficult to determine exactly
what the MDC plans to do and when, it appears the plan is to
start with smaller scale meetings and transition into a
general mass action of some type next week.
Mediation Efforts Stalled
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¶6. (C) Tsvangirai reported that the Mbeki/Muluzi initiative
was stalled. In separate conversations MDC Presidential
Advisor, Gandi Mudzingwa, said that a planned visit to Harare
by the two presidents had been delayed indefinitely by GOZ
machinations. Mudzingwa also reported that Bishops from
Manicaland were joining forces with the Capetown Anglican
Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, due to visit Harare again in
the end of May, to facilitate a mediation effort. In a
meeting with several Bishops on May 22, ZANU-PF Spokesman
Nathan Shamuyarira said the GOZ would prefer an internal
mediation effort over the Mbeki/Muluzi one. Mudzingwa said
the MDC leadership felt Mugabe was trying to play one
initiative off of the other and Mugabe has not yet approached
either one sincerely.
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