Threat to cut aid on the cards

The European Union is to take the unprecedented step of delivering a final warning to Zimbabwe about its human rights record in a move which could result in the ending of a multimillion dollar aid package, news reports said on Thursday. A meeting of officials in Brussels on Thursday was expected to finalise the details of how the EU would force a new "dialogue" with Harare about its abuse of human rights. Technically, Zimbabwe is eligible for aid and trade concessions from the EU and the European Development Fund this year, although the vast majority of that cash has not yet been committed. Foreign Secretary Robin Cook on Wednesday announced that the Commonwealth would send a fact-finding team to Zimbabwe to investigate human rights abuses. Cook said the move was agreed in a conversation with Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon. The Commonwealth delegation will report back to a meeting of ministers scheduled to take place in London on 19 March, said Cook.