Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told diplomats that he was under no illusion that the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front’s intention was to maintain control so the burden of moving the Global Political Agreement forward rested with his Movement for Democratic Change.
He said the two most significant unresolved issues were responsibility for governance of the country and the division of ministerial portfolios.
Though no ministerial allocations had been made yet, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Justice and Local Government were “still in play”.
He said that while it was not specified in the written document, the deal was verbally intended to last two and a half years.
The negotiators’ rationale for leaving this out was concern that such a timetable would lead to immediate campaigning and destabilisation of the government.
During the life of the deal, there would be annual performance reviews that gave either party the ability to declare the agreement ineffective, dissolve government, and call for new elections.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08HARARE855, TSVANGIRAI BRIEFS DIPLOMATS ON NEGOTIATION
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO6766
OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0855 2631203
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 191203Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3461
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2309
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2428
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0943
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1705
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 2061
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2482
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4914
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1577
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000855
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR G. GARLAND
DRL FOR N. WILETT
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: 09/19/2018
SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI BRIEFS DIPLOMATS ON NEGOTIATION
CHALLENGES
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d)
¶1. (SBU) Ambassador attended a diplomatic corps briefing by
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on September 19, in which
Tsvangirai discussed the status of the power-sharing
agreement and intended next steps. Tsvangirai made clear
that the two most significant unresolved issues were
responsibility for governance of the country and the division
of ministerial portfolios.
¶2. (C) Tsvangirai explained that President Mugabe’s planned
departure to the UN General Assembly on September 19 made it
unlikely that any progress will be made in settling these
contentious issues until Mugabe’s return late next week.
Tsvangirai also said that no ministerial allocations have yet
been made. Despite the assertion that ministries have not
been allocated, Tsvangirai specified that Finance, Foreign
Affairs, Home Affairs (police), Justice, and Local Government
were “still in play.” (Comment: His exclusion of Defense and
National Security most likely indicates that it is a foregone
conclusion they will go to ZANU-PF. End comment.) Tsvangirai
told the group that it is clear that the burden to move the
agreement forward rests on the MDC and that ZANU-PF’s
intention was to maintain control. Tsvangirai also described
the spirit of the negotiations as “still positive.”
¶3. (SBU) Tsvangirai then began a discussion of the
agreement. He said that while it was not specified in the
written document, the deal was verbally intended to last two
and a half years. The negotiators’ rationale for leaving
this out was concern that such a timetable would lead to
immediate campaigning and destabilization of government.
During the life of the deal, there are annual performance
reviews that give either party the ability to declare the
agreement ineffective, dissolve government, and call for new
elections.
¶4. (SBU) Tsvangirai reported that next week he intended to
meet with NGOs and tour rural areas to see firsthand how aid
distribution efforts were progressing. He also explicitly
asked for the immediate assistance of the international
community in providing agricultural inputs in time for this
year’s planting season. Additionally, he planned to meet
soon with donor groups and members of the business community.
¶5. (SBU) During the question and answer period, Tsvangirai
shared that he has contacted South Africa to inform them of
the difficulties in fairly resolving the ministerial
allocation question. Should ZANU-PF continue to frustrate
his efforts, he would also appeal to SADC to play the role of
arbitrator. Asked about coup rumors, Tsvangirai confidently
dismissed the prospect. He said he had met with service
chiefs; while they were not necessarily happy, there was
communication.
——-
COMMENT
——-
¶6. (C) Until now, Tsvangirai was clearly hoping that ZANU-PF
would negotiate in good faith. His comments today indicate
that he is coming to grips with the reality that ZANU-PF is
desperate to maintain control and he may again have to look
for external assistance. END COMMENT
MCGEE
(19 VIEWS)
