VZCZCXRO0343
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0344 3311415
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261415Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3920
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 4340

UNCLAS MASERU 000344 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/S MATTHEW SHIELDS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PHUM LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: PRIME MINISTER MOSISILI CHALLENGES MUGABE 
 
¶1. Summary:  Lesotho's Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili, 
called for President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe to conclude a 
power-sharing deal with the opposition.  Mosisili confronted 
Mugabe with the fact that he does not have a majority in 
Parliament.  At a press conference held in Maseru on November 
14, 2008, Mosisili expressed regret that there is still no 
government in place, months after the people of Zimbabwe went to 
the polls.  On November 9, 2008, the Prime Minister had attended 
an Extra-Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development 
Community (SADC) in South Africa.  The Summit met to "review the 
latest Political and Security situation in the Region with 
particular reference to the current developments in the 
Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Zimbabwe."  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2. Speaking at a press conference in Maseru on Friday November 
14, following the SADC meeting, Lesotho's Prime Minister stated 
that he felt sorry for the people of Zimbabwe, citing the 
failure of the ruling ZANU - PF and the opposition Movement for 
Democratic Change (MDC) to resolve the deadlock over which party 
will control the Ministry of Home Affairs.  Mosisili stated 
that:  "I personally told President Robert Mugabe that you don't 
have a majority and he said I do.  And I said you don't."  He 
further added that, "as a person, I feel very sorry that there 
is still no agreement acceptable to all parties in Zimbabwe.  We 
are all aware of the severe problems of poverty, unemployment 
and a host of other maladies that have engulfed that country and 
it is unfortunate that the will of the people continues to be 
disregarded." 
 
¶3. Mosisili also expressed a wish that African leaders follow 
the example of the United States, in accepting defeat after 
losing elections.  He was impressed by John McCain's gracious 
concession speech at the conclusion of the November 4 elections. 
 "He congratulated the President-Elect, Barack Obama before the 
final results were announced."  Mosisili also mentioned that 
McCain not only congratulated Obama, but committed that he would 
work with him.  To this he said:  "African leaders tend to put 
their personal interests above that of their citizens and do not 
accept defeat."  Local commentators picked up on this and one 
column wrote:  "Can you imagine McCain who lost the election in 
the US refusing to concede defeat and instead demanding that 
Obama should equitably share political power with him?" 
 
¶4. Mosisili however, stressed that SADC is not a "super 
government" but just an association of sovereign countries and 
as such, cannot impose directives on Zimbabwe because each 
member country's sovereignty must be respected. 
 
¶5. Comments:  Mosisili's latest statement illustrates a change 
in his tone and his point of view regarding the political 
impasse in Zimbabwe.  He now joins the ranks of foreign leaders 
who have openly challenged Mugabe's legitimacy.  Embassy Maseru 
is encouraged by Mosisili's new attitude toward Mugabe and will 
encourage further interventions of this kind in the hopes that 
continued intra-African pressure from the region may help to 
speed a solution to the Zimbabwean standoff.  End comment. 
 
NOLAN