ZANU-PF fails to turn up for talks

The Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front negotiating team of Nicholas Goche and Patrick Chinamasa failed to turn up for the South African brokered talks with the Movement for Democratic Change in Pretoria on 7 July 2007.

The secretaries of the MDC factions Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube spent the day discussing the agenda items with the South African facilitation team led by Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi and Presidential legal adviser Mujanku Gumbi.

The parties first met in Pretoria on 17 June.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 07PRETORIA2414, ZANU-PF NO SHOW AT PRETORIA TALKS

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VZCZCXRO7046

RR RUEHMR RUEHRN

DE RUEHSA #2414 1901505

ZNY CCCCC ZZH

R 091505Z JUL 07

FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0694

INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1233

RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1111

RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0527

RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0083

RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0482

RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 1172

RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 4587

RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC

RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 002414

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/S S. HILL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2017

TAGS: PREL ZI SF

SUBJECT: ZANU-PF NO SHOW AT PRETORIA TALKS

REF: PRETORIA 2210 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(

b) and (d).

¶1. (C) The ZANU-PF negotiating team did not show up at the

July 7 South African-sponsored talks in Pretoria, according

to Roy Bennett, Treasurer of the Zimbabwean opposition party

the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). (NOTE: The first

round of the SADC/South African-mediated talks took place

June 17-18, with the two sides agreeing on an agenda

(reftel). END NOTE.) The ZANU-PF team was to be led by

Minister for Labour and Social Welfare Nicholas Goche and

Minister of Justice Patrick Chinamasa. Bennett speculated

that ZANU-PF’s refusal to attend the Pretoria talks may

reflect the growing confusion within the ruling party, in

light of the deteriorating economic situation in Zimbabwe.

¶2. (C) In lieu of formal talks, the two MDC Secretaries

General, Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube, spent the day

discussing the agenda items with the South African

facilitation team, led by Minister Sydney Mufamadi and

Presidential Legal Advisor Mojanku Gumbi. From the MDC

perspective, the discussions went “very well.” Bennett

believes the SAG now has a much better appreciation for the

MDC positions. He understands that the South African team

has gained respect for Biti. (COMMENT: This is in contrast

to the SAG’s generally low regard for Tsvangirai himself.

END COMMENT.) The two MDC Secretaries General are working

well together, Bennett said, with Biti in the lead.

Bost

(27 VIEWS)