Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai told United States ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee that he intended to request the Southern African Development Community to replace South African President Thabo Mbeki with another chief negotiator.
He was going to raise this with Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa who was chair of SADC. He was also going to raise the issue of violence and the impossibility of holding credible elections with Mwanawasa.
Tsvangirai said he was going to tell Mwanawasa that the government-controlled judicial system was incapable of making necessary rulings on the 29 March elections.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08HARARE330, TSVANGIRAI TO RETURN TO HARARE; ANNOUNCE ELECTION
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO9541
OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0330 1071108
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 161108Z APR 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2782
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1925
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2048
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0611
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1325
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1682
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2104
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4535
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1180
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000330
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S. HILL
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: 04/16/2018
SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI TO RETURN TO HARARE; ANNOUNCE ELECTION
BOYCOTT
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d)
¶1. (C) MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai called the Ambassador
on April 16 and said he was traveling to Lusaka today to meet
with Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa. He planned to request
that SADC replace South African President Thabo Mbeki with
another chief mediator. He also intended to raise the issue
of violence and the impossibility of holding a credible
election with Mwanawasa. Finally, he intended to tell
Mwanawasa that the government-controlled judicial system was
incapable of making necessary rulings on the March 29
election.
¶2. (C) Tsvangirai said he intended to return to Harare this
evening. He planned to make a detailed statement after
returning on MDC intentions to boycott a runoff election
because of the climate of violence. He did indicate to the
Ambassador that he was willing to reconsider participation if
the atmosphere significantly improved.
MCGEE
(35 VIEWS)
