Tsvangirai Briefs G8 Representatives
SIPDIS
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¶2. (C) On May 27 MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai briefed G8
mission representatives on the MDC's position vis-a-vis
various current issues should discussions about Zimbabwe
arise during the June 1-3 G8 summit in Evian, France. In a
prepared statement, Tsvangirai discussed the state of the
crisis and Zimbabweans' desperation, the stalled mediation
effort by Mbeki and Muluzi, legitimacy and a dignified exit,
succession, and what the MDC sees as the way forward. Also
present were MDC Secretary General Welshman Ncube, MDC
National Chairman Isaac Matongo, MDC Secretary for
International Affairs Sekai Holland, and MDC Special
Presidential Advisor Gandi Mudzingwa. All G8 countries were
represented except the U.K.
Mass Action
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¶3. (C) On mass action, Tsvangirai said they were damned if
they do and damned if they don't, i.e. MDC supporters were
demanding action and leadership, but security forces might
respond with violence. Tsvangirai said that the start date
and form of mass action might be decided on May 29; he
discounted the press reported June 2 start date, and other
reported details as speculative. He said the press had
misinterpreted "final push" to mean the object was to oust
Mugabe from power, when in fact the MDC meant "final push" to
force Mugabe to the negotiating table to initiate a process
leading to fresh elections. Tsvangirai suggested that there
might be peaceful protests, or "democracy marches" in a
managed effort to pressure Mugabe to come to the table, but
the MDC does not plan a massive march on State House to oust
him from power.
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