The Zimbabwe Guardian (London)
Floyd Nkomo
18 June 2008
AUSTRALIA says it may impose more sanctions against Zimbabwe if President Robert Mugabe wins a run-off election echoing statements made by Britain which says will draw some "contingency plans".
Aussie Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, speaking on public television late Tuesday, called on African nations to do more to end what he termed "a campaign of violence, intimidation and fear" in the country ahead of the June 27 election.
He criticised South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, saying the international community had expected a stronger stance on Zimbabwe from him during the current election campaign.
"I think it is true to say that the international community has been somewhat disappointed by the lack of robustness on the part of the president and the South African government," Smith said.
Smith accused President Mugabe of trying to "steal" the election run-off against the opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
"It's quite clear to us that having tried to steal the first presidential count by rorting (rigging) the count itself, Mr Mugabe is now trying to steal the second presidential run off by a campaign of violence, intimidation and fear."
Australia has imposed a mixture of declared and undeclared sanctions and travel bans on the Zimbabwe government, suspended non-humanitarian aid, banned arms sales and halted defence and ministerial links.
Smith said Australia would consider expanding the sanctions if President Mugabe won the June 27 vote.
"But what is required here is not just Australia contemplating acting by itself, it's regional and multilateral action," he said.
"So far as the regional action is concerned, that primary responsibility has to be sheeted home to the southern African community states and the African Union."
President Mbeki has maintained a policy of quiet diplomacy saying Zimbabwe "is not a province of South Africa."
Australia echoed Britain's latest call for further sanctions against President Mugabe's government.
The United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is lobbying the Southern African region to consider sanctions against President Robert Mugabe's government in the aftermath of the run-off presidential election if the MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, does not win the election.
Britain, as a former colonizer of Zimbabwe, has sought not to 'go it alone' on Zimbabwe and are currently "talking up their chances of building a wide coalition in case of the need for action" in the run up to the election, according to press reports on Sunday in Britain.
President George W. Bush said he is availing US$7 million to 'assist' observers in the election campaign.
President Mugabe has blamed the West for seeking to effect regime change in Zimbabwe and trying to install a 'puppet' government led by Tsvangirai. He vowed that he will not let the MDC-T party reverse the gains of the liberation struggle.
This statement was also echoes by Vice President Joseph Msika who also labelled Tsvangirai a 'puppet' of the West and said voting Tsvangirai was like voting for Rhodesia (colonial name for Zimbabwe) and was akin to declaring war on Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe goes to the run-off presidential election in less than two weeks on June 27 where President Mugabe will square off against the opposition MDC-T leader.
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now if Australia and Britain say they will impose sanctions if Mugabe wins, have they already chosen the leader for Zimbabweans? Do they already know who will win? How? Or do they find it difficult to beat Mugabe with their 'also' rigging tricks? Why make pre-conclusions? That's prejudice. Allow Zimbabweans time to decide for themselves. Is not Zimbabwe a sovereign state in spite of their donations? Why do they chose a leader for Zimbabweans? I am sceptical.
How stupid. Mugabe is already rigging the poll in his favour. Everyone knows it. So this response to this rigging which is common knowledge. However if this rigging fails to come off, and the MDC wins, then they wont happen. Everyone, including Mugabe, knows that if he didnt rig the election, he wouldnt win.
Ask CNN, MEMBERS PLANNING FOR MORE SANCTIONS ON ZIMBABWE, 20-06-2008 news
There's that word again, "Australia may impose MORE sanctions".
The same tactic used by the self same paper when reporting on new sanctions proposed by the UK.
If all of these sanctions are new it begs the question what sanctions are in place now? Because these new sanctions seem to be pretty thorough and far reaching.
I wonder if anyone will tell me what the present sanctions are?
Hey folks I have to try. *LOL*