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Viewing cable 03HARARE1171, TSVANGIRAI FACES NEW TREASON CHARGES, AWAITS BAIL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 001171
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR J FRAZER
LONDON FOR C. GURNEY
PARIS FOR C. NEARY
BANGKOK FOR WIN DAYTON
DS/OP/AF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2008
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR ASEC ZI MDC
SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI FACES NEW TREASON CHARGES, AWAITS BAIL
HEARING: MUGABE DERIDES MDC, CONDEMNS OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE
Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER PEGGY BLACKFORD FOR REASONS 1.5B/D
SUMMARY
——–
¶1. (C) AFTER A WEEK OF MASS ACTION WHICH PRODUCED LESS THAN
THE OPPOSITION WOULD HAVE LIKED, MDC LEADER, MORGAN
TSVANGIRAI FOUND HIMSELF UNDER ARREST FOR TREASON ONCE AGAIN.
SIPDIS
HE SPENT THE WEEKEND IN JAIL AND IS CURRENTLY AWAITING A
RULING IN A BAIL HEARING. PRESIDENT MUGABE SOUNDED
TRIUMPHANT IN SPEECHES OVER THE WEEKEND GLOATING OVER HIS
GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO PREVENT DEMONSTRATIONS AND PLACING
THE BLAME FOR "ILLEGAL" ACTIONS ON THE MDC AND ITS
SUPPORTERS, THE BRITISH AND US EMBASSIES. NEGOTIATIONS MAY
BE MORE DIFFICULT IF THE GOZ BELIEVES IT NOW HAS THE UPPER
HAND.
MDC LEADER PUTS POSITIVE SPIN ON WEEK'S EVENTS
——————————————— –
¶2. (U) AT A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD EARLY ON THE AFTERNOON OF
JUNE 6 AT THE HOME OF THE MDC LEADER, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI TOLD
JOURNALISTS AND DIPLOMATS THAT HE VIEWED THE WEEK'S MASS
ACTION AS A SUCCESS. THE STAYAWAY HAD BEEN WIDELY SUPPORTED
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE HAD ONLY PREVENTED MASS
DEMONSTRATIONS BY MASSIVE AND WIDESPREAD USE OF THE POLICE
AND MILITARY. HE PROMISED THAT ROLLING MASS ACTIONS WOULD
CONTINUE WITHOUT NOTICE.
TSVANGIRAI ARRESTED ANEW ON FRESH TREASON CHARGES
SIPDIS
——————————————— —–
¶3. (C) SHORTLY AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE,
TSVANGIRAI WAS PICKED UP BY POLICE AND CHARGED WITH TREASON
SIPDIS
FOR ALLEGEDLY CALLING ON ZIMBABWEANS TO OUST MUGABE FROM
POWER IN A NUMBER OF PUBLIC GATHERINGS OVER THE LAST FEW
MONTHS. HE WAS INCARCERATED AT THE BORROWDALE POLICE STATION
OVER THE WEEKEND. ACCORDING TO SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR,
GANDI MUDZINGWA, SEVERAL HIGH RANKING GOZ OFFICIALS INCLUDING
THE MINISTER FOR STATE SECURITY AND THE HEAD OF THE CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION SOUGHT TO TALK TO TSVANGIRAI BUT HE
WAS ALLOWED NO VISITORS EXCEPT FOR HIS WIFE. FATHER FIDELIS
MUKONORI, WHO HAS BEEN TRYING TO FACILITATE DIALOGUE BETWEEN
TSVANGIRAI AND MUGABE, ALSO SOUGHT TO SEE THE MDC LEADER AND
SIPDIS
TOLD MUDZINGWA THAT HE WAS TRYING TO ARRANGE A MEETING
BETWEEN TSVANGIRAI AND MUGABE FOR THURSDAY. MUDZINGWA WAS
SKEPTICAL THAT SUCH A MEETING WOULD TAKE PLACE. WELSHMAN
NCUBE, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE MDC, WAS ALSO BEING SOUGHT
AND, AFTER STAYING OUT OF SIGHT FOR THE WEEKEND, HE PRESENTED
HIMSELF FOR QUESTIONING BY THE POLICE MONDAY MORNING IN THE
COMPANY OF HIS ATTORNEY.
Continued next page
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