Paul Ohia With Agency Report
5 December 2003
Lagos — Canada has signalled its intention to take up the gauntlet and fight for a compromise over Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth when the summit begins in Abuja today.
The country says it will suggest a mechanism to ensure Zimbabwe could rejoin ahead of the next summit in two years time.
"We're not ready to lift the suspension. We haven't seen any real positive developments. But let's not wait for another two years before we readdress the issue at the next summit," a Canadian official said yesterday.
Australia has backed Britain in calling for sanctions to remain in place, but other states led by Zambia are pushing for the country's re-admittance.
President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe blames his exclusion on a white "unholy alliance".
British Prime minister Tony Blair said, as he left for Abuja, that he believed Zimbabwe had not qualified for re-admission to the Commonwealth.
The president of Malawi, Bakili Muluzi, has said the exclusion of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth will hurt only Zimbabweans and not President Mugabe.
He said Malawi would encourage the international community to help Zimbabwe so that its people wouldn't suffer.
On Wednesday, Zambia's President Levy Mwanawasa announced he would lead a campaign to readmit Zimbabwe, which was suspended in protest at alleged electoral abuses.
"Zambia does not support the continued suspension of Zimbabwe and we will raise the matter so that the suspension is lifted," he said.
Mugabe himself blames his country's suspension from the body of 54, largely developing, states on an "Anglo-Saxon unholy alliance" of Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
He is furious at his exclusion, but will be involved in his own ruling party's annual congress this weekend.
Speculation is also growing that members will seek to block the re-election of the Commonwealth's secretary-general, New Zealander Don McKinnon, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Outgoing Commonwealth chairman, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, on Wednesday urged African leaders to join in upholding the suspension.
"I'm not worried about a push for Zimbabwe to come back in the tent," he said in Canberra as he prepared to leave for Nigeria.
"I want Zimbabwe back. But Zimbabwe must match Commonwealth principles if she is to be readmitted."
Don McKinnon also expressed confidence that his position as secretary-general was secure and he played down reports that South African President Thabo Mbeki was advocating his replacement by Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar.
"I read in the papers, I hear about these things but I've heard nothing official," the Commonwealth secretary-general said.
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