Talks between the two factions of the Movement for Democratic Change broke down after the Morgan Tsvangirai faction insisted that the party should have two vice-presidents instead of one as previously agreed.
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
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