Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12453 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AORC AMGT APER AU AF AS ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN AFIN AR AE AJ ADANA AEMR AG ATRN ADPM APECO AGAO AMED AX AM AL ADCO AA AECL AADP ABUD AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ASCH AY APEC AID AORG ASEAN AFSI AFSN AINF AGR AROC AO AMBASSADOR AFFAIRS ASIG ABLD ASUP AND ARM ARF AQ ATFN AC ACOA AORL ADM AUC AGMT ACABQ ASEX AFU ALOW AZ APCS AVERY ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AER AN AIT AMG AGRICULTURE AMCHAMS ACS
BR BA BD BL BO BF BU BILAT BEXP BRUSSELS BK BN BM BT BY BX BTIO BIDEN BG BE BP BBSR BC BTIU BWC BB BH BMGT
CH CY CA CU CS CO CVIS CPAS CMGT CE COUNTER CASC COUNTRY CJAN COUNTERTERRORISM CG CI CD CIDA CJUS CDG CBSA CEUDA CR CM CLMT CAC CBW CODEL COPUOS CWC CIC CW CBE CHR CFED CT CONS CIA CTM CDC CVR CF CLINTON CITEL CLEARANCE COE CN CACS CAN CONDOLEEZZA CB CSW CITT CARSON CNARC CACM CDB CARICOM COM CROS CAPC CTR CV CKGR CBC CL CICTE CIS
DR DHS DA DJ DEA DPRK DEPT DOMESTIC DEAX DOE DS DAO DCM DO DE DK DEFENSE DTRA DISENGAGEMENT DOD
ECON EFIN ELAB ETRD EIND EC EINV EAGR ENRG ETTC EAID EPET ELTN EWWT EAIR EFIS EMIN EG EU ER EUN EPA ENVI EXTERNAL ECPS ENGR ETRC ECIN EN EI ELN ET EINT ETRDEINVTINTCS ES ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EZ ETRO EDU ETRN EFTA EAIG EK EUREM EURN ECONCS ECONOMICS ENVR ELECTIONS EAP ENIV ECONOMY ESA EINN ECONOMIC EIAR EXBS ECA ECUN EINDETRD EUR EREL EUC ESENV ECONEFIN ECIP ENERG ENNP EFINECONCS EFIM ENGY EAIDS EINVEFIN EINVETC EUMEM ETRA ETC ERNG ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH ECINECONCS EINVECONSENVCSJA EXIM ERD EEPET
FR FREEDOM FTA FJ FARC FI FTAA FAC FBI FOREIGN FOI FDA FM FAO FAS FINR FOR FINANCE FMLN FO FISO
GM GV GOI GOV GL GAERC GH GT GG GA GY GR GF GCC GE GZ GTIP GERARD GLOBAL GANGS GAZA GTMO
HA HR HUMAN HO HK HU HILLARY HUMOR HI HSTC HURI HYMPSK HEBRON
IR IS IZ IAEA IO IAHRC ID IC IT IRAQI IWC IN IL ISLAMISTS IV ICAO INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IPR ICRC INTERPOL IQ IBET IMO INR ITRA INTERNAL ICJ ICTY IRS ILO INRA INRO ISRAELI IEA INRB ITALY ITU IBRD IIP ILC INTELSAT IZPREL IMF INMARSAT IRAJ IDA ICTR IA IGAD IF IDP ITF ISRAEL IEFIN IRC IACI
JA JUS JO JP JOSEPH JM JAMES JOHNNIE JOHN
KN KCRM KOMC KNNPMNUC KIPR KPAL KWBG KSCA KFRD KNNP KUNR KTIP KWMN KSTC KFLU KOLY KISL KPAO KMDR KJUS KSTH KDEM KCOR KIRF KAWC KU KTFN KWAC KNPP KERG KSEO KACT KHLS KZ KGHG KTIA KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCRCM KE KPKO KCIP KDRG KVPR KV KIDE KICC KPRP KBIO KSUM KGIT KCFE KG KBTS KFLO KMPI KS KGIC KPAI KHSA KTLA KSEP KTEX KFSC KOCI KHDP KPLS KTDB KHIV KCSY KSAC KTRD KID KMRS KOM KSAF KRVC KR KMOC KNAR KIRC KBCT KSPR KFIN KBTR KJUST KNEI KAWK KGCC KMCA KREL KMFO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KVRP KCOM KO KLIG KAID KVIR KNSD KHUM KSEC KRAD KPRV KCMR KPWR KCHG KIFR KCFC KICA KPIN KSCI KESS KDEV KTBT KCRS KCGC KOMS KRIM KTER KREC KPOA KWWMN KRGY KPAK KWNM KMIG KDDG KRFD KWMM KWMNCS KX KRCM KPAONZ KNUC KDEMAF KNUP
LY LE LO LG LH LI LTTE LAB LOG LA LT LU LABOR
MARR MOPS MASS MCAP MTCRE MNUC MIL MX MEDIA MO MPOS MU ML MA MP MY MERCOSUR MG MD MW MK MAS MEETINGS MR MT MI MOPPS MASC MTS MLS MILI MAR MTRE MEPN MAPP MTCR MEPI MQADHAFI MAPS MARAD MASSMNUC MEPP MCC MZ MILITARY MDC MRCRE MC MV MIK MUCN
NATO NL NZ NPT NI NAFTA NU NDP NIPP NP NPA NG NRR NO NSC NEW NE NH NR NA NS NSF NZUS NATIONAL NSG NC NT NAR NK NGO NV NSFO NSSP NASA NW NPG NORAD NATOPREL
OTRA OAS OPRC OIIP OVIP OREP OPDC OEXC OSCE OFFICIALS OMIG ODIP OFDP OECD OPIC OBSP OPCW OFDA OTR OSAC OSCI ON OCII OES OVP OIC OPAD OIE OHUM OCS
PREL PGOV PK PHUM PINS PARM PA PTER PINR PREF PHSA PBTS PBIO PO POL PE PARMS PM PROG PL PAK POLITICS PORG PTBS PNAT PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PROP PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PP PS PAO PG PY PTERE PGOF PALESTINIAN PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PSEPC PREFA PGOVE PINF PHUMPGOV PNG PMIL PGOC PFOR PCUL PLN PSA PGIV POLINT PAS POGOV PHUMPREL PHUMBA PEL PGGV PNR PHALANAGE PARTY PGOVLO PRAM PHUS PDEM PECON PF POV PROV PRL PREO PAHO PHUH PSI PINL PU PRGOV PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS
QA
RS RU REACTION REPORT REGION RIGHTS RO RW RCMP RF RM RFE RSP RP RICE ROBERT ROOD RELATIONS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL RSO
SU SNAR SO SOCI SW SENV SMIG SCUL SP SZ SENVKGHG SR SY SA SYRIA SF SI SC SWE SARS STEINBERG SN SG SIPRS ST SEVN SL SPCE SNARIZ SSA SNARCS SYR SK SPCVIS SHUM SIPDIS SHI SH SOFA SEN SNARN SAARC SAN SANC SCRS
TRGY TBIO TU TF TERRORISM TI TSPL TPHY TH TIP TSPA TC TO TW TX TZ TNGD TT TL TV TFIN TS TRSY TINT TN TURKEY TBID TD TK TR THPY TP TAGS
UNGA UN UK US UNC UNSC USUN UG UP UY USEU UNESCO USPS USTR UZ UNHRC UNO UNMIK UNAUS UNHCR UNCHR USAID UNVIE UAE USOAS UNFICYP UV UNEP UNODC UNCHS UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNDC UNCHC UNDP UNCND USNC UNPUOS UNICEF UNCSD UE
VT VE VTPREL VM VZ VI VTIZ VAT VN VC VTEG
WS WTO WTRO WTRQ WI WZ WHO WFP WBG WITH WWARD WHA WB WIPO WA WMO WMD WHTI WEU
XA XF XM XL XW XV XR XB XU XY XH XG XE XK XX XD XI XS XT XTAG XQ XZ XC
YE YM YI YMCS
ZI ZO ZU ZEALAND ZK ZR ZF ZP ZN ZA ZB ZOELLICK ZL ZJ ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 09HARARE1004, TSVANGIRAI ASKS THE WEST FOR HELP ON CHANGING THE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09HARARE1004.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09HARARE1004 | 2009-12-24 08:08 | 2010-12-08 21:09 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Harare

`

    VZCZCXRO4931
    OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
    DE RUEHSB #1004/01 3580826
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O 240826Z DEC 09
    FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5262
    INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
    RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 3230
    RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 3341
    RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1765
    RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2599
    RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 2968
    RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 0029
    RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0031
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
    RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
    RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
    RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2502
    RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

` `

    Thursday, 24 December 2009, 08:26
    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 001004
    SIPDIS
    DEPT FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY CARSON, DAS PAGE, AND AF/S
    NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN
    EO 12958 DECL: 12/24/2019
    TAGS PREL, PGOV, PHUM, ASEC, ZI
    SUBJECT: TSVANGIRAI ASKS THE WEST FOR HELP ON CHANGING THE
    STATUS QUO
    REF: HARARE 987
    Classified By: AMBASSADOR CHARLES A. RAY FOR REASONS 1.4 B,D
    ¶1. (SBU) This cable includes an ACTION REQUEST, please see paragraph 8.
    ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said that while there was tremendous progress in 2009 as compared to 2008, Zimbabwe and its coalition government still faces challenges. Reforms must be implemented quickly, and there has been some progress, though none that affects the ZANU-PF power structure. Implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) has been slow and Mugabe has been using delay to maintain control. In 2010 there must be some progress to show the people, but it will require actions by all parties, including the Western powers, to change the status quo. He expects the recently announced commissions to be installed in early 2010, and is satisfied with their makeup. ZANU-PF has implemented a strategy of reciprocity in the negotiations, using Western sanctions as a cudgel against MDC. He would like to see some quiet moves, provided there are acceptable benchmarks, to ‘give’ some modest reward for modest progress.
    ¶3. (C) Ambassadors of the U.S., UK, French, and the Netherlands, and a representative of the EU were called to PM Tsvangirai’s residence at 0730 on December 24 for an update briefing on the current discussions among the principals in the coalition government and a request from him for some flexibility on the part of the West on the issue of sanctions. He said that there has been tremendous progress in restoring confidence of the people in government in 2009 as compared to 2008. The people generally endorse the government, but the future holds both opportunities and challenges. The principal challenge is how to quickly embark on reforms. There has been a little progress on that front, but not what was expected. Implementation of the GPA has been too slow, and he is not satisfied with it. ZANU-PF has been using delay on the GPA to maintain control. The negotiators have held 11 meetings up until the end of the year. On the issues of media, land, and corruption, there has been some progress, but none of it touches on the power structure. On the three stickiest issues, Gono, Tomana, and Bennett, there has been no progress. He is hopeful, however, that if some progress can be made on other issues, these too will be settled.
    ¶4. (C) ZANU-PF seems to have introduced a new tactic in its agenda - reciprocity. What this means, he said, is that Mugabe is asking, “What’s in this for us?” If MDC gets governorships, Mugabe asks, why can’t the sanctions against ZANU-PF be lifted? Tsvangirai said that it seems that Mugabe plans to use the governors as a trade-off against sanctions. He said he has repeatedly told Mugabe that MDC has no control over sanctions. But, he added, lack of any flexibility on the issue of sanctions poses a problem for him and his party.  In this he assured us that Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Q In this he assured us that Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara is in full agreement with him. He also acknowledged that his public statements calling for easing of sanctions versus his private conversations saying they must be kept in place have caused problems.
    ¶5. (C) Tsvangirai said the challenges for 2010 are:
    - Get the reforms moving on the constitutional process. - Open media space, national healing, and anti-corruption. - Prepare for elections in 2011. - Move from economic stability to growth. - Deal with human rights violations.
    He said the coalition government must expedite action in all these areas because, not only are Western governments watching, but the people of Zimbabwe will expect improvement.  He said Security Sector Reform will take center stage in
    HARARE 00001004 002 OF 002
    2010, using a multilateral approach involving all parties here and SADC. In early 2010, Tsvangirai and Mutambara will take the diplomatic lead on the sanctions issue. The question before us, Tsvangirai said, is how to start moving on rewarding progress without giving the impression we are rewarding lack of progress or bad behavior. We need to establish acceptable benchmarks of progress, and determine what each involved party needs to do to change the status quo. If necessary, he said, he and Mutambara can quietly meet with Western leadership to develop a plan on the issue of sanctions. He said that he and Mutambara have decided to take this issue out of the hands of the negotiators and handle it personally. What is needed is some kind of concrete roadmap that all can agree on, linking easing of sanctions with identifiable and quantifiable progress.
    ¶6. (C) Tsvangirai wants to go to Mugabe after the negotiators deliver their final report on January 15, 2010, with some idea of what the Western position is on sanctions. He said that in order to change the status quo, all parties might have to take some risks, because maintaining the status quo only guarantees continued stalemate in the reform process. Economic recovery and democratic reform are the essential requirements in Zimbabwe right now. The 2011 elections are a critical goal as well. Winning the election, he said, is not the problem, but a peaceful transfer of power is. The recently announced commissions will be installed early in 2010, he said, and he is satisfied with their makeup. The heads of the Media and Electoral Commissions are honest men who he believes will put the interests of the country first. His goal is to have the Electoral Commission hire its own staff and be independent. The key is to wrest control from the Securocrats.
    ¶7. (C) On the subject of Mugabe himself, Tsvangirai said that in his recent meetings, though Mugabe seems mentally acute, he appears old and very tired. He comes to many meetings unbriefed and unaware of the content. It appears that he is being managed by hardliners. Tsvangirai said his goal now is to find a way to ‘manage’ Mugabe himself. One way, perhaps, would be to give him something to give his hardliners. Precisely what that something is, he said, is something he is still wrestling with.
    ¶8. (C) COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST. We are skeptical of Mugabe’s motives, and worried a bit at what appears to be naivete on Tsvangirai’s part. However, we believe that in one area he is correct: changing the status quo here will require some risk taking on everyone’s part. As we’ve previously discussed (reftel), we think it might be in USG interests to consider some form of incremental easing of non-personal sanctions, provided we see actual implementation of some of these reforms. Post would appreciate Washington’s view on what would be acceptable benchmarks, and possible moves on our part. We also request guidance on what to tell Qmoves on our part. We also request guidance on what to tell Tsvangirai at our next meeting, which is expected early in the New Year. END COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST.
    RAY

`