Posted on 12/05/2003 6:35:06 PM PST by blam
Double blow for Mugabe's allies
By Anton La Guardia in Abuja
(Filed: 06/12/2003)
President Robert Mugabe's allies suffered a double defeat last night after they failed to secure Zimbabwe's reinstatement to the Commonwealth and lost the fight to unseat Don McKinnon, the organisation's secretary-general.
Mr Mugabe addresses his ruling Zanu-PF party congress in Masvingo
The decisions amounted to a victory for Tony Blair, who came to the Commonwealth summit in Nigeria determined to ensure that Zimbabwe was not re-admitted before it had halted the repression of political opponents.
The battle now moves to the terms and conditions that Zimbabwe will have to meet before it can be re-instated.
A committee of six countries, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Mozambique, India and Jamaica, has been told to draw up a proposal for a "mechanism" for Zimbabwe's re-admission. It will report to Commonwealth leaders in Abuja over the weekend.
Mr Mugabe has been visibly offended by his exclusion. Speaking at the annual conference of his Zanu-PF party, he launched another tirade against Britain.
"Mr Blair, listen to what we are saying, Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans," he ranted. "If the choice was for us to lose sovereignty or be a member of the Commonwealth, let the Commonwealth go, it is just a club, and there are many other clubs we can join."
Sure. Like ELF, PETA, NAACP, NARAL, etc.
You'll fit right in.
Reminds of the scorpion and the turtle....
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