Think-tank calls for sanctions

A Brussels-based think-tank has called on the international community to isolate and punish the political leadership in Zimbabwe should next year’s presidential election prove fraudulent.

In a report published on Friday, the International Crisis Group (ICG) drew a bleak picture of the state of the economy and political freedoms in Zimbabwe. It noted: “Confronted with plummeting popularity and a diverse coalition seeking fundamental reforms, the ZANU-PF leadership appears willing to do anything to stay in power. Using war veterans, police, army, and other ZANU-PF supporters to suppress violently all opponents, the party’s only objective is to maintain its hold on power. [President] Robert Mugabe has institutionalised an authoritarian system in Zimbabwe that is aimed at ensuring ZANU-PF controls the keys to the doors of power even if it means the entire house may burn to the ground.”

The report recommended that “a strategy for change not unlike that undertaken by the international community in Yugoslavia” should be implemented in Zimbabwe to persuade Mugabe to allow free and fair elections in 2002. “If Mugabe will not permit free and fair elections, the international community should apply sanctions that impact on the political leadership - a freeze on personal funds and travel restrictions - but not on the general population, and the Commonwealth should suspend Zimbabwe,” the ICG said. It called on donors to offer assistance to civil society and pro-change groups to help level the political playing field, ahead of the poll. It also urged the establishment of a Trust Fund to fast-track land reform, and promote job creation and reconstruction of the Zimbabwean economy if elections are ruled free and fair.
To view the report go to:
http://www.crisisweb.org/projects/showreport.cfm?reportid=356