US embassy cable - 04HARARE1587

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 001587 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF/S FOR NUELING 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, ZI, MDC, Zimbabwe South African Relations 
SUBJECT: MDC READOUT OF MBEKI MEETING 
 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR CHRISTOPHER DELL FOR REASONS 1.5(B) 
AND 1.5 (D) 
 
 1. (C) Summary: DCM met September 21 with Gandhi 
Mudzingwa, Director of Presidential Affairs for the 
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).  Mudzingwa 
confirmed that the MDC had met over the weekend with 
President Mbeki, who had asked what, short of pressure, 
he could do to help manage Zimbabwe,s political crisis. 
The MDC leaders told Mbeki that the next best thing 
would be to convince President Mugabe to resume 
negotiations on constitutional changes that would level 
the playing field.  Mbeki promised to raise the issue 
with Mugabe when the two meet in New York at the UNGA. 
End Summary. 
 
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MDC,s Mbeki Briefing 
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2. (C) Mudzingwa said the MDC,s Vice President, Secretary 
General and Deputy Secretary General traveled to Pretoria 
September 18-19 to meet with South African President Mbeki 
at the latter,s request (N.B. Party leader Tsvangirai is 
prohibited from traveling as a result of his on-going 
treason trial.)  Mudzingwa said Mbeki had requested a 
briefing from the MDC on the political situation in 
Zimbabwe. These requests from Mbeki for briefings had 
lately become quite regular, practically monthly.  The 
MDC assumed that President Mugabe and the GOZ were aware 
of the visits but had yet to make any attempt to interfere 
with them. 
 
3. (C) The MDC leaders told Mbeki that President Mugabe 
was making cosmetic changes designed to entice the MDC 
into the parliamentary elections but without making the 
fundamental changes needed to allow for a free and fair 
election.  They argued that the key to fundamental 
reforms was to keep the pressure on Mugabe, both 
internally and externally.  Mudzingwa added that the 
MDC continued to hope for public statements from the 
U.S. and others that under the current rules, the 
elections could not be free and fair. 
 
4. (C) Mudzingwa said the party leaders were especially 
critical with Mbeki of the ruling ZANU-PF party,s 
decision to suspend negotiations over constitutional 
reform in July. The government had withdrawn the reform 
bill and replaced it the Electoral Commission Bill 
currently being discussed in Parliament.  The MDC 
leaders told Mbeki that the two parties were at 
loggerheads over the Electoral Commission Bill, with 
ZANU-PF proposing that Parliament nominate seven names 
from which Mugabe would choose four members of the 
electoral commission and that the President would have 
the sole voice in choosing the fifth member, the Chairman. 
The MDC,s counter-proposal had been that each party 
choose two members and that the Chairman be nominated 
by the President and approved by Parliament or vice-versa. 
In any event the key was to establish a check on executive 
authority.  In addition, the MDC team voiced its opposition 
to a provision in the bill that MPs had to be at least 
35 years old, which would hamstring the youthful MDC leaders. 
 
 
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Mbeki/Mugabe in NY 
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5. (C) Mbeki asked what, short of pressuring Mugabe, he 
could do to help.  The MDC leaders responded that Mbeki 
should focus on convincing Mugabe to drop the electoral 
bill and resume negotiations on constitutional reform, 
including eliminating the 30 positions (out of 150) 
appointed by the President, and establishing an upper 
house based on proportional voting.  Mbeki had said he 
would meet with Mugabe in New York at the UNGA and 
would raise this issue.  Mudzingwa said he expected Mbeki 
to ask the MDC leaders to visit Pretoria again and be 
briefed on the results of the meeting in two-three weeks. 
 
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Comment 
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6. (C) The MDC continues to believe pressure on the 
Mugabe regime, especially external pressure from South 
Africa and the West, is the key to a breakthrough that 
will allow free and fair elections.  Time is running 
out for that breakthrough to occur.  Fundamental change 
will have to happen by the end of the year to give time 
for the MDC to campaign effectively.  While heartened 
that Mbeki is meeting regularly with the MDC, we see no 
sign that he or any other regional leader is prepared to 
act soon, if at all, in pressuring Mugabe to take the 
necessary steps.  Moreover, constitutional reform was an 
odd choice for the MDC.  The electoral reform bill is the 
centerpiece of Mugabe,s SADC charm offensive and he is 
unlikely to abandon it nor is Mbeki likely to press him 
to do so. 
Dell