Dialogue is key to resolving crisis

The Commonwealth this week reiterated its call for Zimbabwe's ruling party to negotiate with its political rivals, saying that "dialogue and national reconciliation" were necessary before the country could be readmitted to the 54-nation grouping. Speaking to journalists at the end of a tour of east African countries on Wednesday, Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon acknowledged that several attempts by the organisation to engage the Zimbabwean government on its controversial land reform programme and alleged rights abuses had failed. "Sadly, our overtures have been spurned. President [Robert] Mugabe's government has chosen to keep us at arm's length. Efforts by my officials to visit [Zimbabwe] have been consistently rebuffed, including one very recently," McKinnon said. Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth's decision-making councils after Mugabe was re-elected in polls widely condemned by many Western countries as seriously flawed. McKinnon confirmed that the Harare government would not be invited to attend the Commonwealth's annual summit in December in Nigeria. Moreover, it was unlikely that the country's suspension would be lifted before the Abuja meeting, McKinnon said. The Commonwealth noted a number of far-reaching changes that would have to take place in Zimbabwe before its readmission could be considered. It was recommended that authorities begin a dialogue with key political players to start the process of national reconciliation. McKinnon hinted at the recent banning of the Daily News, the country's only independent daily newspaper, and the arrest of trade unionists who had protested against soaring inflation, as issues that also needed to be addressed. The Commonwealth called for the "repeal or amendment of legislation which is prejudicial to freedom of speech, the press and peaceful assembly". Public demonstrations and protests are illegal without police clearance under the 2002 Public Order and Security Act, which activists say curtails citizens' rights to freedom of expression. McKinnon also urged the government to engage with the Commonwealth and the UN Development Programme on land redistribution. He highlighted the financial commitment made by the international community to agrarian reform, should the government cooperate with both organisations.