Tsvangirai was aware ZANU-PF’s intention was to maintain control

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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STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2018

TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM ZI

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

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