Who crossed to elect Moyo Speaker?

Movement for Democratic Change chairman Lovemore Moyo was elected Speaker of Parliament by 110 votes to 98 to beat Paul Themba Nyathi of the smaller faction of the MDC, raising questions as to who had voted for him because his party had 98 members and the smaller faction 10.

The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front did not field a candidate and backed Nyathi.

Though the Tsvangirai faction had 100 seats in the lower house, two of its MPs Eliah Zembere and Sure Mudzingwa were arrested before the parliamentary session began.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 08HARARE730, TSVANGIRAI CANDIDATE ELECTED HOUSE SPEAKER

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

VZCZCXRO7938

OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN

DE RUEHSB #0730 2381342

ZNY CCCCC ZZH

O 251342Z AUG 08

FM AMEMBASSY HARARE

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3331

INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2228

RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2349

RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0879

RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1626

RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1982

RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2403

RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4835

RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE

RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC

RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1498

RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000730

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: 04/02/2018

TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PHUM ZI

SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI CANDIDATE ELECTED HOUSE SPEAKER

REF: HARARE 711

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

¶1. (U) Lovemore Moyo of MDC Tsvangirai (MDC-T) was elected

speaker of the House of Assembly in a secret ballot today.

He defeated Paul Themba Nyathi, nominated by MDC Mutambara

(MDC-T), by a vote of 110-98. Nyathi was supported by

ZANU-PF, which did not field a candidate.

¶2. (U) MDC-T has 100 parliamentarians. Two members (Eliah

Zembere and Sure Mudzingwa) were arrested before the

parliamentary session began. Zembere was wanted on an arrest

warrant alleging rape. There were apparently no outstanding

charges agains Mudzingwa and he was released, but not before

the vote. Except for Zembere and Mudzingwa, all

parliamentarians elected on March 27 and in three subsequent

by-elections were present.

¶3. (C) To achieve its 110 majority, MDC-T apparently whipped

its 98 parliamentarians present to maintain unity and vote

for Moyo. The additional 12 votes probably came mostly from

MDC-M with several votes from ZANU-PF necessary as well.

MDC-M members had told us they expected 6-8 MDC-M

parliamentarians to break ranks and vote for Moyo (Ref).

¶4. (C) COMMENT. The House speaker is charged with

regulating debate and coordinating the business of the House

of Assembly. The position has no intrinsic power outside of

Parliament. The significance of the election is that it

demonstrates MDC-T’s ability to maintain party unity and to

form a majority in the House of Assembly. It may also give

MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangarai added leverage in

negotiations with ZANU-PF. END COMMENT.

MCGEE

(23 VIEWS)