APPENDIX 14
Memorandum from Clive Sabel
Comments on the crisis in Zimbabwe
REVIEW
The Zimbabwe Regime is not improving. It is
corrupt, despicable and the antithesis of everything for which
the Commonwealth stands.
Existing measures are largely symbolic and there
appears to be no coherent strategy internationally to exert meaningful
pressure for reform.
There appears to be little chance that mediation
via the Republic of South Africa or SADEC will succeed.
The Commonwealth, by virtue of its decision
to give Nigeria and South Africa 12 months mediation opportunity
before re-addressing the issue collectively, appears to have left
itself little room for manoeuvre in the interim.
PROPOSALS
1. The Commonwealth secretariat to offer
public progress reports at say, four month intervals pending comprehensive
ministerial review.
2. Failing tangible, credible progress by
January 2003, a Commonwealth team with wide membership not dominated
by one regional grouping should be mandated to visit Zimbabwe
for an extended period and allowed unfettered access, eventually
leading to an All-Party Conference. This to be co-chaired by leading
Commonwealth statesmen or former statesmen. Venue, possibly outside
Zimbabwe.
3. Failing agreement to this end by the
Zimbabwe Government, Zimbabwe to be suspended from the Commonwealth
with concomitant.
— cessation of Commonwealth-wide investment
in and sporting and cultural links with Zimbabwe;
— pressure on SADEC Members, especially
South Africa, by ensuring that tangible support for NEPAD is withheld
and our posture made public;
— unrelenting pressure through EU,
North America and Commonwealth analogous to former modus operandi
against apartheid South Africa
— By the same token, humanitarian aid
to Zimbabwe to continue provided that the NGOs and other agencies
are free to dispense it without the option of diversion to Zimbabwe
Government's own agenda.
Clive Sabel
May 2002
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