Bulawayo legislator David Coltart who represented the Arthur Mutambara faction said negotiations had gone on quite well since November 2006 with agreement in principle being reached on the following:
Morgan Tsvangirai would be the one candidate for president;
- if elected, Tsvangirai would select Arthur Mutambara as vice-president;
- there would be a sharing of portfolios, with the anti-Senate side having a balance of three but with equal distribution of portfolios in key ministries;
- each side would run unopposed by the other faction in currently-held constituencies;
- and equity in selecting candidates to run in constituencies now held by ZANU-PF.
When the two factions met in South Africa in May 2007 the Tsvangirai faction called for two vice-presidents, presumably one from each faction and an electoral college to select candidates.
It, however, backed down on the issue of two vice-presidents, but insisted on an electoral college which was an absolute non-starter to the other faction.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 07HARARE474, MDC TALKS BREAK DOWN
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|
Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO0011
RR RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0474 1501335
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 301335Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1539
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1613
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1480
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1617
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0276
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0882
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1245
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1673
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4079
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1442
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 2100
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0740
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1834
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000474
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR S.HILL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E.LOKEN
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B.PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2012
SUBJECT: MDC TALKS BREAK DOWN
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell under Section 1.4 b/d
¶1. (C) MDC Pro-Senate MP David Coltart, who has represented
his faction in unity negotiations with the Anti-Senate
faction since August, told the Ambassador May 24 that
negotiations had ground to a halt. Coltart said that as of
last November he became convinced that unity was impossible
but that there was a good chance of achieving a coalition.
Discussions between the two sides continued fitfully until
Easter when the two sides had a "fantastic" session.
Agreement in principle was reached on the following: 1)
Morgan Tsvangirai would be the one candidate for president;
2) if elected, Tsvangirai would select Arthur Mutambara as
vice-president; and 3) there would be a sharing of
portfolios, with the anti-Senate side having a balance of
three but with equal distribution of portfolios in key
ministries; 4) each side would run unopposed by the other
faction in currently-held constituencies; and 5) equity in
selecting candidates to run in constituencies now held by
ZANU-PF.
¶2. (C) After delays in signing a coalition accord, the
factions met last week in South Africa. According to
Coltart, the anti-Senate faction presented a new agreement
calling for two vice-presidents*presumably one from each
faction*and an electoral college to select candidates. He
said the anti-Senate faction backed down on the issue of two
vice-presidents, but was insisting on an electoral college.
According to Coltart, this was an absolute non-starter. An
electoral college would be unwieldy and subject to CIO
infiltration. While his side was willing to continue
negotiations, Coltart was not optimistic.
DELL
