Cablegate: Media Reaction: Election Aftermath: Zanu Pf - Mdc

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

UNCLAS HARARE 000932

SIPDIS

AF/PD FOR COX AND ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT AND SCHLACHTER,
AF/RA FOR SWANN, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: ELECTION AFTERMATH: ZANU PF - MDC
TALKS; HARARE

1. Under headline "ZANU PF is not sincere in pursuing
party
talks," the independent "Daily News" dedicated its April
15 editorial to urging the negotiating teams in the
recently opened talks between the opposition MDC and the
ruling ZANU PF to come up with "a time frame" to
determine the range of the talks. Excerpts:

2. ". . .If the talks between ZANU PF and the opposition
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), are expected to
make any meaningful and significant progress, there must
be a time frame within which some agreement must be
reached. Without this stipulation, ZANU PF will
continue to string the MDC along, because it is in its
interests to be seen to be talking. The idea, as far as
ZANU PF is concerned, is to seek to prolong its grip on
power, while staving off implementation of international
measures, such as smart sanctions, against this
country's ruling elite. As long as the talks appear to
be in progress, the international community will be duty-
bound to stay any action until an outcome. It is
imperative, therefore, that President Thabo Mbeki of
South Africa and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria demand a
conclusion to the talks between ZANU PF and the MDC
within a certain period, in order to inject some sense
of purpose. As far as ZANU PF is concerned, it would be
happy to continue engaging the MDC in talks for the next
six years. . . ."

WHITEHEAD

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