Tsvangirai shocked by Mbeki’s remarks

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai was shocked when South African President Thabo Mbeki announced on 5 February 2006 that Zimbabwe’s political parties had completed negotiations and had provided him a copy of the constitution “initialled by everybody”.

Both factions of the MDC denied Mbeki’s claim with Tsvangirai saying he was “in shock”.

Welshman Ncube, however, admitted that the MDC held informal talks with ZANU-PF legal secretary Patrick Chinamasa but the talks “never bore fruit”.

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Viewing cable 06PRETORIA582, MBEKI PUBLICLY DETAILS SAG EFFORTS TO FORGE NEW

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DEPT FOR AF/S M. TABLER-STONE, B. NEULING

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TAGS: PREL ZI SF

SUBJECT: MBEKI PUBLICLY DETAILS SAG EFFORTS TO FORGE NEW

ZIMBABWE CONSTITUTION

¶1. (U) President Mbeki publicly described South Africa’s past

role in “informal talks” about a new Zimbabwean Constitution,

during a February 5 South African Broadcasting Corporation

television interview. Mbeki said the Zimbabwean parties had

completed negotiations and provided him with a copy of the

constitution “initialed by everybody.” Following the

completion of talks, the South Africans expected the process

to move forward, but Mbeki said that “new problems arose

among themselves.” Until now, Mbeki said that the Zimbabwean

parties did not want South Africa to discuss its role in

these talks.

¶2. (U) Both factions of the opposition Movement for

Democratic Change denied Mbeki’s claim that their party and

President Mugabe’s ZANU-PF had agreed on a new constitution.

SAPA reported February 9 that Morgan Tsvangirai said he was

“in shock” at Mbeki’s remarks, and rival Welshman Ncube

admitted only that the MDC held informal talks with ZANU-PF

legal secretary Patrick Chinamasa. Ncube said the talks

“never bore fruit.”

¶3. (SBU) Comment: This marks the first time Mbeki has

publicly discussed South Africa’s behind-the-scenes role in

assisting ZANU-PF and MDC to negotiate a new, “compromise”

Zimbabwean constitution. Mbeki’s remarks came up at the end

of a lengthy interview on a range of foreign and domestic

topics. His comments may signal that he believes the

prospects for reviving the Zimbabwean “compromise

constitution” are slim (or nonexistent). Mbeki may also wish

to answer critics who claim that South Africa has done little

to try to solve the political crisis in Zimbabwe. End

Comment.

TEITELBAUM

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