Tsvangirai wanted Mbeki replaced as mediator

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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E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2018

TAGS: PGOV PREL ZI

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

(34 VIEWS)