Cablegate: Mwanawasa On Zimbabwe: Children Behaving Badly

VZCZCXRO5297
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLS #0535 1361448
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151448Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5812
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS LUSAKA 000535

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SADC ZA ZI
SUBJECT: MWANAWASA ON ZIMBABWE: CHILDREN BEHAVING BADLY

According to May 15 reports in Zambia's state-owned
newspapers, President Mwanawasa announced that the Southern
African Development Community (SADC) will not expel Zimbabwe
from the regional economic community or solve the problems in
Zimbabwe with force, which he said would only hurt the
Zimbabwean people. Mwanawasa reportedly stated that
Zimbabwe's expulsion from the Commonwealth prevented
Commonwealth members from "effectively participating" in
Zimbabwe's affairs. "We are not going to fall into the same
trap. Zimbabwe will continue to be a member and a child of
SADC. When a child makes a mistake, you cannot disown him."
Mwanawasa added that SADC had undertaken "a critical
initiative" by holding the emergency summit on April 12,
calling for the immediate release of election results, and
defining, through the summit communique, how Zimbabwe should
conduct the run-off elections. He said that SADC leaders are
seeking to persuade Tsvangirai to participate in the
run-offs.
MARTINEZ

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