Commonwealth members condemn the Zimbabwean government
August 16, 2003, 10:15
Commonwealth members condemn Zimbabwe for human rights abuses
The 11 South Pacific members of the commonwealth have condemned Zimbabwe for continuing human rights abuses, saying no progress had been made to end its suspension from the grouping. Leaders of the Pacific states, which include Australia and New Zealand, issued a statement at the end of the Pacific Islands Forum noting their grave concern at the situation in Zimbabwe, in particular continuing serious human rights abuses and the worsening economic crisis. They said Zimbabwe was showing an intransigence in its refusal to move back towards democracy.
Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwean president, has been accused of intimidation and vote rigging during the March 2002 presidential elections, leaving his African State racked with political violence. Earlier at the forum, John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister, said Mugabe was an unelected despot and Zimbabwe should not be readmitted to the 54-nation commonwealth. Howard chairs a commonwealth troika, which includes South Africa and Nigeria, set up to judge democracy in Zimbabwe.
In March, Zimbabwe's one-year suspension from the commonwealth, a group of mainly former British colonies, was extended until the end of the year after Australia, South Africa and Nigeria reported no progress in the restoration of democracy. South Pacific leaders said the next commonwealth leaders summit in December in Abuja, Nigeria, would permit an objective discussion of Zimbabwe's suspension, including further action that may be required to address the deteriorating situation.
"Leaders considered that concrete and practical responses by the Zimbabwean authorities were urgently required by the suffering people of Zimbabwe. Such responses were also essential prerequisites for any return by Zimbabwe to full membership of the organisation, said the statement.
Earlier this month, Joaquim Chissano, the Mozambican president, said after talks with Mugabe that he felt there was movement toward improving the volatile political situation in Zimbabwe. However, Pacific leaders said calls for the rule of law to be restored for political dialogue to be resumed, and for political violence to be brought to an end, remained unheeded. - Reuters
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