Re-admission to Commonwealth a step closer

Zimbabwe could well be readmitted into the Commonwealth after a year-long suspension ends in March, news reports said on Monday. The BBC reported that two of the three nations in the Commonwealth troika - which is comprised of Australia, South Africa and Nigeria - did not want Zimbabwe's one-year suspension from the Commonwealth to be extended when it ends in March. The troika was mandated by the Commonwealth to take the lead on what, if any, actions should be taken regarding the crisis in Zimbabwe. Australian Prime Minister John Howard said that the South African and Nigerian leaders had told him they did not agree with his view that further measures should be taken against Zimbabwe because of political and human rights violations. Howard, who is in Washington for talks on Iraq with US President George W Bush, said South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki told him in a telephone conversation on Saturday that South Africa and Nigeria did not want to hold another meeting of the panel. Effectively allowing for the automatic re-admission of Zimbabwe when the suspension lapses. The Australian newspaper reported that Howard was seeking legal advice about the ban on Zimbabwe, and writing to all Commonwealth members after the breakdown in agreement between himself and the other members of the troika. Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai told IRIN he was not yet prepared to comment on the decision or its implications. But MDC shadow minister of foreign affairs, Moses Mzila, told IRIN that Zimbabwe's re-admission would be tantamount to granting legitimacy to an "illegitimate" government. "[Re-admission] would be recognising an illegitimate government that they decided was illegitimate only 11 months ago as the electoral process was heavily flawed and fraudulent. Any change in that stance would mean [President Robert] Mugabe would literally get away with murder. He will feel recognised [by the international community]," Mzila said. Zimbabwe's re-admission would have implications for "how Mugabe conducts himself here at home in relation to the rule of law", he noted. "He [Mugabe] will feel he has free reign now that the international community has accepted that the way he is conducting affairs [in the country] is normal," Mzila added. The Commonwealth suspended Zimbabwe in March last year, following a poll which the Commonwealth said was neither free nor fair. South African-based international affairs analyst, Professor John Stremlau, told IRIN that Nigeria and South Africa's position could be a sign that more was going on behind closed doors in terms of resolving the Zimbabwe crisis. "I get the impression that Obasanjo was working the issue rather hard in Zimbabwe, Mugabe did not appear to be enthralled ... especially by Obasanjo meeting with Tsvangirai. The Howard [statement] should be viewed in somewhat larger context of a lot happening, [but] the action is all under the surface, like water-polo," he said. There was speculation late on Monday that the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group - which pre-dates the troika - may be asked to assess what actions should be taken with regard to Zimbabwe, in the absence of an agreed position of the troika. Meanwhile, the MDC has said there was no truth to media speculation around the substance of the talks between Obasanjo and Tsvangirai on the crisis in Zimbabwe at the weekend. Media reports had earlier claimed that Obasanjo had told Tsvangirai that there would be no end to the current crisis without negotiations between the MDC and the ruling ZANU-PF. A statement from MDC secretary-general Welshman Ncube said: "There is no truth in media speculation on the substance of the discussion. What is true is that the MDC president, Morgan Tsvangirai, briefed President Obasanjo on the deteriorating economic, political, and social situation in Zimbabwe. Nothing further was discussed." Obasanjo, on an official visit to Zimbabwe, also held talks with Mugabe. Tsvangirai is still facing treason charges arising from an alleged plot to "eliminate" Mugabe, a charge he denies.