VZCZCXRO2982
RR RUEHMR
DE RUEHLU #0324/01 0951146
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 051146Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2677
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LUANDA 000324 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR AO
SUBJECT: ANGOLA: UNITA OPTIMISTIC ON RESOLVING 
PARLIAMENTARIAN ISSUE 
 
REF: A. LUANDA 00160 
     ¶B. LUANDA 00150 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR CYNTHIA EFIRD FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D 
 
¶1. (C)  In a March 8, 2006 meeting with Ambassador Efird and 
AF/S Director Dan Mozena, UNITA President Isaias Samakuva, 
was optimistic that a solution regarding the substitution of 
sixteen UNITA National Assembly Deputies had been reached. 
Samakuva assured the Ambassador and AF/S Director Mozena that 
a number of prominent parliamentarians, including members of 
the MPLA, serving on the Constitutional Commission were 
rethinking their original positions and would likely support 
UNITA's decision to change the composition of its 
parliamentary group. A March 8-10 meeting of UNITA's 
Political Commission ended in the expulsion of four party 
members - three of the sixteen who challenged UNITA's 
leadership and Jorge Valentim, the former UNITA Minister of 
Tourism, who supported the sixteen in the National Assembly. 
UNITA's optimism and internal disciplinary measures are a 
positive sign that the debate over the sixteen 
parliamentarians is coming to end. However, it is clear that 
this controversy has forced UNITA and Samakuva off-message. 
Instead of showcasing its ability to manage affairs of state, 
UNITA has been forced to focus its attention on party 
stability and internal management.  End Summary. 
 
An Optimistic Samakuva 
---------------------- 
 
¶2. (C)  Since February 15, 2006, when National Union for the 
Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) President Isaias 
Samakuva threatened to pull out of the Angolan Government of 
Unity and National Reconciliation and the National Assembly, 
UNITA officials have visited the Embassy on multiple 
occasions to share their thoughts on the situation (Ref A). 
In the most recent meeting, UNITA President Samakuva and Vice 
President Ernesto Mulato left UNITA's March 8-10 Political 
Commission meeting to call on Ambassador Efird, AF/S Director 
Dan Mozena, and the Pol/Econ Chief.  Samakuva confidently 
stated that a solution had had been reached regarding the 
sixteen UNITA parliamentarians.  Careful not to imply that a 
deal had been struck, Samakuva noted that a number of 
prominent parliamentarians, including some members of the 
MPLA serving on the Constitutional Commission had 
reconsidered the legal standing of their original decision 
(Ref B).  The Constitutional Commission had ruled in favor of 
the sixteen deputies during the January 31, 2006 debate in 
the National Assembly.  He indicated that these officials had 
reviewed the position of the Ethics Commission, which had 
originally sided with UNITA, and were beginning to "feel 
uneasy" about the commission's position.  For Samakuva, 
change in the Constitutional Commission's stance would break 
the impasse and allow UNITA to move forward with its plans to 
substitute the sixteen parliamentarians. 
 
¶3. (C)  During the meeting Samakuva foresaw the upcoming 
UNITA Political Commission's decisions by dividing the 
sixteen deputies into three groups - those that were misled 
by others, those that were more "intentional" in their 
choices, and those who were the self-proclaimed leaders of 
the group.  Samakuva noted that the leaders of the sixteen 
had high-level support within UNITA and the MPLA, but did not 
mention the names of the alleged accomplices.  He said that 
all of the sixteen were undergoing disciplinary hearings. 
However, only the leaders of the group and those that 
supported the sixteen in parliament would face strong 
disciplinary sanctions from UNITA's Political Commission. 
Samakuva also said the key members of MPLA leadership, such 
as President of the National Assembly Roberto de Almeida, 
were concerned about the ramifications of UNITA's current 
position, but didn,t feel comfortable sharing their thoughts 
in a public forum. 
 
Four UNITA Members Expelled 
--------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) On March 10, UNITA's Political Commission announced 
the expulsion of Jose Kativa, Malheiro Elavoco, Mwanza wa 
Mwanza Simao, and Jorge Valentim from the party.  The first 
three were the self-proclaimed leaders of the sixteen 
National Assembly Deputies.  National Assembly Deputy Jorge 
Valentim had previously served as the Minister of Tourism, 
but recently has been an outspoken critic of UNITA's 
policies.  His public confrontations with President Samakuva 
earned him a short-lived suspension from the party, but his 
support to the sixteen deputies caused his expulsion. 
Eugenio Manuvakola, former Secretary General of UNITA and 
ally of the sixteen, was suspended from all party activities 
for a year, but will continue to serve as a UNITA National 
Assembly Deputy.  Valentim and the three other 
parliamentarians have publicly denied UNITA's power to remove 
 
LUANDA 00000324  002 OF 002 
 
 
them from the party and plan to continue serving as Deputies 
in the National Assembly regardless of their support within 
UNITA. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶5. (C) Samakuva's comments to the Ambassador and Mozena are a 
dramatic change from his February 15 position.  By staying 
out of the public spotlight, it appears that Samakuva allowed 
the MPLA enough political space to work out a feasible 
solution without appearing to back down.  While Samakuva's 
optimism could be overstated, especially since it seems to be 
based on sources within the MPLA, it is unlikely that the 
MPLA's leadership is interested in losing its democratic 
credentials by seeming to bring down the main opposition 
party.  Nonetheless, damage to UNITA has been done. While the 
expulsion of the four leaders shows a higher degree of 
internal unity, UNITA will now enter the upcoming electoral 
cycle off-message.  Instead of discussing its ability to 
manage the affairs of state, they will be forced to answer 
repeated questions on internal stability and Samakuva's 
leadership.  End Comment. 
 
¶6. (C) Biographical Note:  This was Mozena,s first meeting 
with Samakuva.  Mozena found the UNITA leader professorial, 
almost pedantic, in responding to questions during the 
lengthy meeting.  Samakuva, who was immaculately attiredin a 
suit that obviously had not been tailored in Africa, was 
quite articulatein English.  Nonetheless, Samakuva lacked the 
fire and inspiration that were the trademarks of Savimbi, 
whom Mozena had heard speak in Washington nearly 15 years 
ago.  Samakuva did not come across as a natural leader 
inspiring popular support. 
 
¶7.  AF/S Director Mozena has cleared this cable. 
 
EFIRD