Zimbabwe to escape SADC censure

Zimbabwe to escape SADC censure

MUDENGE: Yet to respond to damning report on Zimbabwe's human rights abuses

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By Sthembiso Msomi

SOUTHERN African ministers are to recommend that no action be taken against Zimbabwe despite a recent African Union report detailing human rights abuses committed by President Robert Mugabe's government.

In a report prepared ahead of Monday's Heads of State summit, the Southern African Development Community's foreign affairs ministers say they are opposed to sanctions but propose that the region should be more active in ensuring that Zimbabwe's parliamentary elections in March next year are fair.

"We remain opposed to sanctions as we believe that they impact negatively on the poor... We are committed to work within SADC organs to help the Zimbabweans find a solution to their situation," the council of ministers recommends.

Zimbabwe has faced renewed regional attention since the release of a damning report by the AU Human Rights Commission detailing the government's role in violence and inti midation.

The Zimbabwean government has refused to recognise the report, saying it was never given an opportunity to give its side of the story. Despite the AU last month giving Zimbabwe two weeks to reply to the report, Foreign Affairs Minister Stan Mudenge appears to be in no hurry to do so.

The presidents of the 13 SADC member states begin a two-day meeting in Mauritius tomorrow where the political situation in Zimbabwe, the recent attempted coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the creation of a regional standby force to maintain peace in the region are expected to top the agenda.

The summit is also expected to adopt guidelines for future elections and decide on Madagascar's application for SADC membership.

The election guidelines, which insist on the establishment of electoral bodies that are independent of the state, will come into effect before Zimbabwe's parliamentary elections.

But despite Zimbabwean electoral laws being in clear contravention of some of the guidelines, government officials say Mugabe will vote in favour of the guidelines on Tuesday. Critics of the guidelines point out that they set out no punitive measures.

The start of the summit will also mark the start of South Africa's one-year term as chair of the SADC organ on politics, defence and security. Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad says Mbeki's first task as chairman of this organ will be to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo later this month to discuss the conflict in the Great Lakes Region.

The summit will be the last regional gathering to be attended by Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano and Namibian President Sam Nujoma. The two men, who will step down when their countries go to the polls later this year, will bid formal farewells at the summit.
Sunday Times
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