US tried to use Tanzania to get Mugabe to step down

United States ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee met Tanzania’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Adadi Rajabu, 10 days after the 2008 elections, to ask if Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete could talk top President Robert Mugabe, including an exit strategy.

He had been told by former army commander Solomon Mujuru and other that Kikwete could be helpful.

Rajabu said he was in regular contact with Kikwete who was in India and would pass on the ambassador’s message.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 08HARARE316, AMBASSADOR’S MEETING WITH TANZANIAN AMBASSADOR TO

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2018

TAGS: PGOV PREL ZI

SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR’S MEETING WITH TANZANIAN AMBASSADOR TO

ZIMBABWE

REF: HARARE 310

Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d)

(C) Following up on the comments of Solomon Mujuru (Reftel)

and others that Tanzania and President Kikwete could be

helpful in facilitating a dialogue–including possibly an

exit strategy–with President Robert Mugabe, the Ambassador

on April 10 called on Tanzanian ambassador to Zimbabwe Adadi

Rajabu. The Ambassador noted the potential influence of

SADC, and in particular Kikwete. Rajabu, who lamented the

uncertainty caused by the delay in announcement of election

results, as well as the fact that SADC observers had left

before the announcement of results, said he was in regular

contact with Kikwete who was now in India. He promised to

pass on the Ambassador’s suggestion to Kikwete and let him

know of any response.

MCGEE

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