This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.



                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ3068

PAGE 01        HARARE  03779  01 OF 04  121802Z 
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FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6582
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 HARARE 003779 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF FOR P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN 
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS AND A/AFR MCCALL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/10 
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM ZI MDC
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR TOM MCDONALD. 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03779  01 OF 04  121802Z 
REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
¶1.  (C)  SUMMARY: IN A JULY 10 MEETING WITH THE 
AMBASSADOR, MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) LEADER 
MORGAN TSVANGIRAI AND MDC PARLIAMENTARY LEADER GIBSON 
SIBANDA OUTLINED THE PARTY'S PARLIAMENTARY AGENDA, WHICH 
INCLUDES LAND REFORM, THE ECONOMY, AND THE CREATION OF 
MECHANISMS FOR HOLDING THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE.  THE 
PARTY WILL ALSO PUSH FOR THE REMOVAL OF WAR VETS FROM 
FARMS, A WITHDRAWAL FROM THE DRC, AND A COMMISSION OF 
INQUIRY INTO THE VIOLENCE SURROUNDING THE JUNE 24-25 
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, AND WILL ADVOCATE 
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM AIMED AT LIMITING EXECUTIVE 
POWERS.  TSVANGIRAI TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT IT IS JUST 
AS WELL THAT HIS PARTY DID NOT WIN A MAJORITY OF 
PARLIAMENTARY SEATS, SINCE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN 
DESTABILIZING.  THE MDC WILL CHALLENGE THE RESULTS OF A 
NUMBER OF CONTESTS, INCLUDING TSVANGIRAI'S OWN.  THE 
PARTY LEADERS SAID THEY PLAN TO WORK HARD ON 
TRANSFORMING THE MDC FROM A UNION-BASED OPPOSITION FRONT 
TO A GENUINE POLITICAL PARTY.  THE MDC'S AMBITIOUS 
AGENDA IS TEMPERED BY REALISM ABOUT WHAT IT CAN ACHIEVE, 
AND THE PARTY APPEARS WELL-POSITIONED TO DEAL WITH THE 
TOUGH PROBLEMS THAT LIE AHEAD.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶2.  (U)  AMBASSADOR, ACCOMPANIED BY POLOFF, CALLED ON 
MDC LEADER MORGAN TSVANGIRAI JULY 10.  TSVANGIRAI WAS 
ACCOMPANIED BY MDC VICE PRESIDENT GIBSON SIBANDA, WHO 
WILL SERVE AS THE LEADER OF THE PARLIAMENTARY 
OPPOSITION. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03779  01 OF 04  121802Z 
"A FOOTHOLD IN DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT" 
 
¶3.  (C)  THE AMBASSADOR CONGRATULATED THE MDC LEADERS 
FOR THE PARTY'S STRONG PERFORMANCE IN THE JUNE 24-25 
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, AND APPLAUDED THE CONCILIATORY 
STANCE THE PARTY HAS ADOPTED SINCE THE ELECTION DESPITE 
ITS VALID CONCERNS ABOUT POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND 
ELECTORAL IRREGULARITIES.  HE NOTED THAT THE PARTY'S 
RAPID SUCCESS -- OBTAINING ALMOST HALF OF THE CONTESTED 
PARLIAMENTARY SEATS ONLY NINE MONTHS AFTER ITS FOUNDING 
   WAS INDEED MOST IMPRESSIVE.  THE AMBASSADOR ALSO 
APPLAUDED THEIR COURAGE IN THE FACE OF SERIOUS THREATS 
TO THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY. 
 
¶4.  (C)  TSVANGIRAI RESPONDED THAT THE MDC KNEW ALL 
ALONG THAT IT WAS GOING INTO AN IMPERFECT ELECTION 
PROCESS AND IS GRATIFIED TO HAVE OBTAINED A "FOOTHOLD IN 
DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT."  HE SAID THAT IT IS HEALTHY FOR 
THE COUNTRY THAT MDC DID NOT SCORE AN OUTRIGHT ELECTION 
VICTORY, SINCE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTABILIZING.  THE 
PARTY WILL LIKELY CHALLENGE THE RESULTS IN 20 TO 25 
CONSTITUENCIES WHERE IT KNOWS THAT RIGGING TOOK PLACE, 
BUT IS STILL ASSESSING THE SITUATION.  IF THE MDC IS 
SUCCESSFUL IN ENOUGH OF THE CHALLENGES TO OBTAIN A 
MAJORITY, THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE HAD TIME TO ABSORB THE 
CONSEQUENCES OF AN MDC SUCCESS.  (NOTE:  ZANU-PF WON 62 
SEATS TO THE MDC'S 57; PRESIDENT MUGABE IS ENTITLED TO 
APPOINT 30 ADDITIONAL PARLIAMENTARIANS.  END NOTE.)  THE 
AMBASSADOR NOTED THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO OVERTURN 
ELECTION RESULTS NOT ONLY IN ZIMBABWE BUT IN THE UNITED 
STATES AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD; TSVANGIRAI ACKNOWLEDGED 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03779  01 OF 04  121802Z 
THAT THIS IS TRUE.  TSVANGIRAI ALSO NOTED THAT EVEN WITH 
AN MDC PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY ZANU-PF WOULD STILL 
CONTROL THE PRESIDENCY, AND THUS THE GOVERNMENT. 
 
¶5. (C) ASKED WHETHER HE WILL CONTEST HIS OWN LOST 
RACE, TSVANGIRAI RESPONDED THAT HE PLANS TO DO SO, MORE 
FOR THE SAKE OF SHOWING THE COUNTRY THAT ZANU-PF 
COMMITTED ELECTORAL FRAUD THERE THAN TO OBTAIN A SEAT IN 
PARLIAMENT.  WITHOUT A SEAT, HE SAID, HE WILL HAVE MORE 
TIME TO FOCUS ON PARTY MATTERS.  HE ADDED THAT HE DID 
NOT REGRET HAVING CONTESTED IN A RURAL AREA RATHER THAN 
IN AN URBAN AREA WHERE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SHOO-IN, 
SINCE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE MDC'S 
SUPPORT IS NOT SIMPLY AN URBAN OR LABOR PHENOMENON. 
DESPITE HIS OWN LOSS, THE NATIONWIDE RESULTS HAVE BORNE 
THIS OUT; THE MDC, FOR EXAMPLE, WON A MAJORITY OF THE 
VOTE IN BOTH MATABELELAND NORTH AND SOUTH PROVINCES AND 
ABOUT HALF THE VOTE IN THE RURAL PROVINCE OF MANICALAND. 
THE TWO AREAS WHERE THE MDC PERFORMED MOST POORLY, HE 
CONTINUED, WERE MASHONALAND EAST AND MASHONALAND 
CENTRAL, WHERE THE LEVELS OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION 
WERE HIGHEST.  THE MDC ARGUES, THEREFORE, THAT IT IS THE 
"ONLY NATIONAL PARTY," CUTTING ACROSS TRIBE AND REGION. 
 
¶6.  (C)  WITH THE MDC'S SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE, 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ3070 
 
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P 121809Z JUL 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6583 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 04 HARARE 003779 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF FOR P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN 
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS AND A/AFR MCCALL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/10 
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM ZI MDC
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI 
 
TSVANGIRAI SAID, POWER HAS SHIFTED FROM THE EXECUTIVE TO 
 
SIPDIS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03779  02 OF 04  121802Z 
PARLIAMENT.  HE TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT THE MDC HAS NO 
PLANS TO JOIN A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY, SINCE 
DOING SO WOULD "DESTROY THIS WHOLE EMBRYONIC 
DEVELOPMENT" OF ZIMBABWEAN MULTIPARTYISM.  "WE THINK 
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS THE GOVERNMENT AND 
THE OPPOSITION IS THE OPPOSITION."  TSVANGIRAI CONTINUED 
THAT PEOPLE (I.E. ZANU-PF) ARE TRYING TO COOPT MDC 
MEMBERS TO DESTROY THEIR CREDIBILITY, BUT THEY HAVE NOT 
BEEN SUCCESSFUL.  THE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT, IN SPITE OF 
THIS, HE ASSUMED THAT THE MDC WOULD WORK WITH ZANU-PF IN 
PARLIAMENT.  "OF COURSE," TSVANGIRAI REPLIED. 
 
MDC PRIORITIES: ACCOUNTABILITY, THE ECONOMY, AND LAND 
 
¶7.  (C)  TSVANGIRAI TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT THE MDC 
PLANS TO FOCUS ON TWO BROAD OBJECTIVES AFTER PARLIAMENT 
BEGINS.  THE PARTY'S FIRST GOAL IS TO GET ZANU-PF TO 
"OPEN THE BOOKS" IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH GOVERNMENT 
ACCOUNTABILITY NOT ONLY FINANCIALLY BUT IN ALL AREAS OF 
GOVERNANCE.  THE SECOND OBJECTIVE IS TO WORK TO 
DEMOCRATIZE THE PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT. 
 
¶8. (C) THE TWO SPECIFIC ISSUES THE MDC WILL ADDRESS 
  FIRST, TSVANGIRAI TOLD THE AMBASSADOR, ARE THE ECONOMY 
  AND LAND.  ZIMBABWE HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT CAN ACCESS 
  THE LAND REFORM FUNDS THAT THE DONORS HAVE PROMISED. 
  THE AMBASSADOR SAID THAT REESTABLISHING THE RULE OF LAW 
  AND ENSURING A TRANSPARENT PROCESS WILL BE THE KEY TO 
  THIS.  DONORS WANT TO BE HELPFUL, BUT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE 
  IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE.  THE AMBASSADOR AND TSVANGIRAI 
  AGREED THAT REMOVING THE WAR VETS FROM THE FARMS WOULD 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03779  02 OF 04  121802Z 
  BE THE FIRST STEP TOWARD REESTABLISHING A CLIMATE WHERE 
- MEANINGFUL LAND REFORM CAN BE DISCUSSED.  TSVANGIRAI 
  SAID THAT, IF ANYTHING, THE SITUATION ON THE FARMS SEEMS 
  TO BE GETTING WORSE.  WHEREAS BEFORE FARMERS WERE 
  ALLOWED TO WORK THEIR LAND WHILE IT WAS OCCUPIED, NOW 
  THEY ARE BEING DRIVEN OFF.  THE FARM OCCUPATIONS, 
  TSAVANGIRAI CONTINUED, ARE MUGABE'S "OBSESSION," BUT 
  THERE IS NO CONSENSUS IN THE CABINET SUPPORTING THIS 
  POLICY.  WHETHER THE MDC CAN EFFECTIVELY PRESS FOR A 
  RESOLUTION OF THIS ISSUE IN PARLIAMENT, HE ACKNOWLEDGED, 
  HAS YET TO BE TESTED. 
 
  ¶9.  (C)  THE ECONOMY, TSVANGIRAI CONTINUED, CANNOT 
  CONTINUE IN ITS CURRENT STATE OF "MELTDOWN."  HE NOTED 
  THAT A MAJOR PAPER PRODUCTS FACTORY IN BULAWAYO HAD 
  CLOSED ON JULY 7 DUE TO A LACK OF FOREIGN CURRENCY. 
  TSVANGIRAI AND SIBANDA POINTED TO A NUMBER OF STEPS THAT 
  MUST BE TAKEN BEFORE THE ECONOMY CAN BE REINVIGORATED, 
  INCLUDING ENDING THE FARM OCCUPATIONS, GETTING 
  CORRUPTION UNDER CONTROL, AND WITHDRAWING ZIMBABWEAN 
  TROOPS FROM THE DRC (SEE PARA 18).  THE MDC WILL TRY TO 
  CREATE MORE TRANSPARENCY SURROUNDING PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, 
  PRIVATIZATION, AND LAND. 
 
  ¶10.  (C)  EARLY IN THE PARLIAMENTARY SESSION, SIBANDA 
  SAID, THE MDC WILL CALL FOR A FULL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY 
  INTO THE PRE- AND POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE.  ZANU-PF WILL 
  TRY TO RESIST THIS, BUT THIS IS ONE AREA WHERE THE MDC 
  IS LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.  TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT THE 
  MDC IS TRYING TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF HOW TO ASSIST 
  THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF THE VIOLENCE.  THE PARTY 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03779  02 OF 04  121802Z 
  IS SEEKING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THIS EFFORT. 
  ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE WILL BE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM, 
  WITH A FOCUS ON SHIFTING SOME PRESIDENTIAL POWERS TO 
  PARLIAMENT. 
 
¶11. (C) THE AMBASSADOR INFORMED THE MDC LEADERS THAT 
THE USG IS CURRENTLY FUNDING A PROGRAM FOR PARLIAMENTARY 
CAPACITY BUILDING CONDUCTED BY THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF 
NEW YORK AT ALBANY, WHICH HAS BEEN OPERATIONAL SINCE 
SEPTEMBER 1999.   HE URGED THE PARTY'S PARLIAMENTARIANS 
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM.  EVEN BEFORE THE MDC'S 
STRONG PERFORMANCE BROUGHT MULTIPARTYISM TO PARLIAMENT, 
THE AMBASSADOR NOTED, THE USG HAD IDENTIFIED PARLIAMENT 
AS A PROMISING VEHICLE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. 
 
CONTINUING VIOLENCE 
 
¶12.  (C)  ASKED BY THE AMBASSADOR FOR HIS ASSESSMENT OF 
THE CURRENT LEVEL OF VIOLENCE, TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT 
VIOLENCE ON FARMS BY WAR VETERANS IS CONTINUING.  IN A 
NUMBER OF FARMS IN THE MARONDERA AND MACHEKE AREAS OF 
MASHONALAND EAST PROVINCE, SUPERVISORY FARM WORKERS HAVE 
BEEN ROUNDED UP AND BEATEN.  THE PERPETRATORS ARE 
LOYALISTS OF WAR VET LEADER HITLER HUNZVI.  IN MASVINGO 
PROVINCE, PEOPLE ARE RANDOMLY INVADING FARMS, ACCORDING 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ3071 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  03779  03 OF 04  121803Z 
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                  ------------------6D57D4  121803Z /38 
P 121809Z JUL 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6584 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 HARARE 003779 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF FOR P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN 
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS AND A/AFR MCCALL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/10 
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM ZI MDC
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI 
 
TO TSVANGIRAI.  HE ALSO NOTED THAT SOLDIERS HAVE GONE TO 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03779  03 OF 04  121803Z 
HARARE AREAS PERCEIVED AS MDC STRONGHOLDS AND BEATEN UP 
LOCAL RESIDENTS.  "THE VIOLENCE," TSVANGIRAI SUMMARIZED, 
"IS NOT EBBING."  (NOTE: OTHER SOURCES CONFIRM THESE 
CONTINUED FARM OCCUPATIONS AND BEATINGS OF MDC 
SUPPORTERS.  END NOTE.)  THE AMBASSADOR RESPONDED BY 
INDICATING THAT THE EMBASSY CONTINUES TO BE VERY 
CONCERNED ABOUT THE VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION AND IS 
FOLLOWING THE ISSUE CLOSELY.  "WE WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK 
OUT ABOUT THE MATTER," HE SAID. 
 
FOCUS TURNS TO PARTY-BUILDING AND LOCAL ELECTIONS 
 
¶13.  (C)  TSVANGIRAI ACKNOWLEDGED TO THE AMBASSADOR THAT 
THE MDC FACES A CHALLENGING TASK IN TRANSFORMING THE MDC 
FROM A LABOR-BASED OPPOSITION MOVEMENT TO A GENUINE 
POLITICAL PARTY.  SINCE ITS CREATION, THE MDC HAS BEEN 
OPERATING WITH INTERIM STRUCTURES, SUCH AS LOCAL 
BRANCHES AND PROVINCIAL COMMITTEES, THAT ARE MOSTLY 
BASED ON ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNION (ZCTU) 
STRUCTURES.  GIVEN THE PARTY'S BROAD BASE, THERE WILL 
INEVITABLY BE TENSIONS BETWEEN DIFFERENT PARTY ELEMENTS. 
THE WAY TO RESOLVE THIS IS TO HAVE DIALOGUE WITHIN THE 
PARTY, WITH WIDE PARTICIPATION, ABOUT WHAT THE MDC IS TO 
STAND FOR AND HOW COMPETING INTERESTS CAN BE ADDRESSED. 
ASKED BY THE AMBASSADOR HOW THE MDC WILL ATTEMPT TO 
DELIVER TO ITS CONSTITUENTS GIVEN ITS LACK OF ACCESS TO 
GOVERNMENT COFFERS, TSVANGIRAI REPLIED THAT HE DOES NOT 
BELIEVE THAT MDC SUPPORTERS EXPECT DELIVERY OF TANGIBLES 
SUCH AS ROADS.  RATHER, THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT HOW WELL 
THE PARTY IS ADVOCATING THEIR INTERESTS.  ONCE THE MDC 
WINS SOME MAYORAL POSITIONS, IT WILL BE ABLE TO START 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03779  03 OF 04  121803Z 
DELIVERING.  (NOTE: THREE KEY MAYORAL POSITIONS ARE TO 
BE FILLED IN HARARE, BULAWAYO, AND MASVINGO IN THE NEAR 
FUTURE.  THE MDC PLANS TO ACTIVELY CONTEST ALL OF THEM. 
END NOTE.) 
 
¶14.  (C)  WHEN PEOPLE VOTED FOR THE MDC, TSVANGIRAI 
SAID, THEY VOTED FOR CHANGE, WHICH IS "NOT AN EVENT BUT 
A PROCESS."  THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WERE JUST THE 
FIRST PHASE.  THE MDC HAS ALREADY BEGUN FOCUSING ON THE 
NEXT PHASE, THE AS YET UNSCHEDULED LOCAL ELECTIONS.  THE 
PARTY PLANS TO CONTEST A LARGE NUMBER OF MAYORAL POSTS 
AND OTHER LOCAL POSITIONS.  TSVANGIRAI STATED THAT HE 
PLANS TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY IN 2002 
(ASSUMING, HE TOOK CARE TO ADD, THAT HE IS SELECTED BY 
PARTY STRUCTURES). 
 
¶15.  (C)  CLAIMS THAT THE MDC HAS RECEIVED MASSIVE 
FOREIGN FUNDING ARE FALSE, TSVANGIRAI SAID.  WITH ALMOST 
FIFTY PERCENT OF THE VOTE, THE MDC IS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR 
PUBLIC FUNDING UNDER THE POLITICAL PARTIES FINANCE ACT. 
HOWEVER, IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THESE FUNDS WILL ACTUALLY 
BE AVAILABLE.  ASKED BY THE AMBASSADOR WHETHER THE MDC 
PLANS TO ESTABLISH LINKS WITH OTHER SMALL PARTIES THAT 
DID NOT FARE WELL IN THE ELECTIONS, TSVANGIRAI REPLIED 
THAT THE ELECTIONS HAD MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE MDC IS THE 
ONLY SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITION FORCE IN ZIMBABWE.  MEMBERS 
OF OTHER PARTIES ARE, HOWEVER, WELCOME TO COME INTO THE 
MDC.  TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT PEOPLE WISHING TO COME TO THE 
MDC FROM OTHER PARTIES WILL BE EDUCATED ABOUT THE MDC'S 
PRINCIPLES TO ENSURE THAT THEY SHARE THE PARTY'S VALUES. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        HARARE  03779  03 OF 04  121803Z 
MDC'S VIEWS OF CURRENT STATE OF ZANU-PF 
¶16.  (C)  TSVANGIRAI TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT IT APPEARS 
THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF POWER STRUGGLES CURRENTLY 
UNDERWAY IN ZANU-PF.  ONCE THEY HAVE PLAYED THEMSELVES 
OUT, IT WILL BE EASIER TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT OF ZANU- 
PF'S FUTURE.  HE SAID THAT THE NEW CABINET, AS YET 
UNNAMED, IS LIKELY TO BE "A MIXTURE OF OLD GUARD 
RESISTANCE AND SO-CALLED NEW BLOOD FRUSTRATION." ASKED 
WHO HE BELIEVED WOULD BE NAMED TO THE NEW CABINET, 
TSVANGIRAI AND SIBANDA CITED HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER 
 
SIPDIS 
DUMISO DABENGWA, JUSTICE MINISTER EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, 
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR GENDER AFFAIRS OPPAH MUCHINGURI, 
 
SIPDIS 
AND MINISTER OF MINES, ENVIRONMENT, AND TOURISM SIMON 
KHAYA MOYO AS PEOPLE TO BE ACCOMMODATED IN SOME 
MINISTERIAL OR OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT POSITIONS. 
FORMER MASHONALAND CENTRAL GOVERNOR BORDER GEZI, 
TSVANGIRAI BELIEVES, WILL BE NAMED MINISTER OF LOCAL 
 
SIPDIS 
GOVERNMENT. 
 
¶17.  (C)  ASKED BY THE AMBASSADOR WHETHER HE BELIEVED IT 
WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO WORK WITH RELATIVELY REFORMIST 
ELEMENTS WITHIN ZANU-PF IN PARLIAMENT, TSVANGIRAI 
RESPONDED THAT "THE 'NEW BLOOD' ELEMENT IS UNFORTUNATELY 
NOT NEW IN PRACTICES IN ETHICS."  RATHER, THE YOUNGER 
ZANU-PF MEMBERS ARE SIMPLY "MORE OF THE SAME." 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ3072 
 
PAGE 01        HARARE  03779  04 OF 04  121803Z 
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                  ------------------6D57DC  121803Z /38 
P 121809Z JUL 00 
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6585 
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 04 HARARE 003779 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF FOR P/DAS POWELL AND DAS SCHNEIDMAN 
AF/S FOR A. RENDER, D. BOOTH, AND T. FAULK 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR GAYLE SMITH 
PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA WJEFFERS AND A/AFR MCCALL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/10 
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM ZI MDC
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON MDC LEADER TSVANGIRAI 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        HARARE  03779  04 OF 04  121803Z 
FOREIGN RELATIONS 
 
¶18.  (C)  THE AMBASSADOR ASKED WHAT APPROACH THE MDC 
PLANS TO TAKE ON ZIMBABWE'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CONGO. 
TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT THE PARTY WILL MAKE A STRONG CALL 
 
SIPDIS 
FOR A WITHDRAWAL, EMPHASIZING THE EXPENSE OF THE 
OPERATION.  A RETURN TO MACROECONOMIC STABILITY IS NOT 
POSSIBLE WITHOUT A WITHDRAWAL.  SIBANDA ADDED THAT THE 
FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE IS THAT "THERE IS NO REASON TO HAVE 
OUR YOUNG BOYS DYING THERE." 
 
¶19.  (C)  ASKED WHAT THE MDC PLANS TO DO TO STRENGTHEN 
TIES WITH OTHER SADC COUNTRIES, TSVANGIRAI SAID THAT, 
DURING THE WORST OF THE PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE, THE MDC 
EXPRESSED INTEREST IN SENDING GROUPS OF EMINENT PERSONS 
TO MOZAMBIQUE, BOTSWANA, ZAMBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA.  THE 
MDC'S FIRST PRIORITY IS NOW A VISIT TO MOZAMBIQUE, SINCE 
THE MOZAMBICAN GOVERNMENT RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO THE 
MDC'S OVERTURE.  THE MDC THEN PLANS TO REACH OUT TO THE 
OTHER SADC COUNTRIES. 
 
COMMENT 
 
¶20.  (C)  IN HIS MEETING WITH THE: AMBASSADOR AS IN HIS 
PUBLIC STATEMENTS, TSVANGIRAI WAS UPBEAT, FOCUSING ON 
THE MDC'S SUCCESS RATHER THAN DWELLING ON ITS 
(LEGITIMATE) FRUSTRATIONS.  THE PARTY HAS SET AN 
AMBITIOUS AGENDA IN PARLIAMENT, BUT SEEMS TO BE 
REALISTIC ABOUT HOW MUCH CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. 
TSVANGIRAI AND SIBANDA ALSO HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF THE 
 
SIPDIS 
IMPORTANCE, AND DIFFICULTY,-OF PARTY-BUILDING.  THE MDC 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        HARARE  03779  04 OF 04  121803Z 
IS INDEED A PARTY OF DIVERSE INTERESTS WHO ALL OPPOSED 
THE CONTINUED BAD GOVERNANCE OF ZANU-PF.  THE CHALLENGE 
WILL NOW BE TO TURN THAT DISSATISFACTION INTO 
CONSTRUCTIVE, UNIFIED PROGRAMS AND POLICIES.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
MCDONALD 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
>