VZCZCXRO0978
OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLS #0477/01 1201559
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 291559Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5755
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LUSAKA 000477 
 
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DEPT FOR AF/S AND AF/FO 
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN 
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/27/2018 
TAGS: PREL SADC PHUM KDEM ZA ZI
SUBJECT: KAUNDA SHARES VIEWS ON ZIMBABWE'S PROBLEMS 
 
REF: LUSAKA 463 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary.  In a meeting with AF A/S Frazer and NSC 
Senior Director Pittman, former Zambian President Kenneth 
Kaunda suggested that a national unity government might be 
the best solution to the Zimbabwe crisis.  Kaunda, who may be 
sent as part of a delegation of senior statesmen to entreat 
Mugabe, was reluctant to criticize his fellow liberator. 
Emphasizing historical context, he blamed the problems in 
Zimbabwe primarily on the UK's failure to support Zimbabwe's 
land reform.  Although he considered Kenya's government of 
national unity as a possible model for Zimbabwe, he added few 
ideas to the discussion.  A/S Frazer and Pittman underscored 
the importance of responding urgently to reports of gross 
human rights abuse in Zimbabwe.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) On April 27, A/S Frazer, NSC Senior Director Pittman, 
and Ambassador Martinez discussed the Zimbabwe crisis with 
former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.  Although Kaunda 
began by referring to the situation in Zimbabwe as "mission 
impossible," he quickly reverted to familiar anti-colonial 
rhetoric, describing at length the history of Zimbabwe's 
freedom struggle.  Kaunda pointed to the UK's failure to 
support Zimbabwe's land reform as the root of the problem, 
and said that the current crisis would not exist if UK's 
Labor-led government had honored its commitments.  He 
ascribed some blame to the United States for backing the UK, 
and urged the international community--heads of state, in 
particular--to refrain from publicly criticizing Mugabe, 
something he said that would worsen the problem. 
 
¶3. (C) Kaunda then asked several rhetorical questions:  "Just 
where are we going?  What should we do?  It is an 
explosion--how will it open up?  What will follow?"  In 
response he admitted, "Nobody can give you advice.  I have no 
answers."  Kaunda, however, suggested that Kenya's government 
of national unity could be a possible model for a Zimbabwe 
solution.  A/S Frazer noted that Zimbabwe's situation differs 
from events in Kenya inasmuch as the Government of Zimbabwe, 
rather than the opposition, is perpetrating the violence. 
Pittman laid out the USG's concern for human rights 
violations and the urgent need for the international 
community to respond.  Kaunda said, "We are working on it," 
but once more emphasized the importance of "lessening talks 
about Mugabe at high-levels." 
 
¶4. (C) The Ambassador inquired into the possibility of a 
delegation of senior statesmen (Reftel), including Kaunda, to 
negotiate with Mugabe.  Kaunda indicated that he would be 
prepared to participate, as he had done recently in Kenya, 
although he was still waiting for instructions from President 
Mwanawasa.  He seemed unsure about its likelihood to succeed. 
 He emphasized the difficulty of the situation, and referred 
to the stance of Mugabe's senior military and police 
commanders who publicly state that they will not recognize 
Tsvangirai, if elected.  A/S Frazer remarked on how 
 
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extraordinary it is that Zimbabwe's security apparatus, which 
is empowered to enforce respect for the rule of law and the 
constitution, seeks only to participate in partisan politics 
and prop up individual leaders and colleagues. 
 
¶5. (C) Comment:  Despite his age (Kaunda celebrated his 84th 
birthday on April 28) and deteriorating health, Kaunda has 
retained his charm and life-long commitment to African 
solidarity.  Although conversant in the region's history, he 
seemed less clear on current events and possible ways 
forward.  He admitted to having few ideas on whether Mugabe 
is in control, whether a delegation of senior leaders could 
succeed, or how the crisis could be solved.  It was 
particularly telling that Kaunda could not remember 
Tsvangirai's name.  His lack of ideas may be proportional to 
 
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his allegiance to his former peer, and part of a ruse to stay 
uninvolved.  Kaunda, who stepped down from office peacefully 
following an electoral defeat after 27 years in office, and 
who belongs to the first generation of African liberation 
leaders, may have the credentials to appeal to Mugabe. 
 
LUSAKA 00000477  002 OF 002 
 
 
Whether or not he has the will or capacity to do so is 
another question.  End Comment. 
 
¶6. (U) A/S Frazer cleared this cable. 
MARTINEZ