Madagascar’s neighbors have suspended it from their regional club, and say they will take further steps if democracy is not restored to the island nation.
A Southern African Development Community summit that ended early on Tuesday also called on the West to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe.
In Madagascar earlier this month, Andry Rajoelina, accusing President Marc Ravalomanana of corruption and mismanagement, led a series of sometimes violent street protests that culminated with the military declaring Rajoelina president.
Tomaz Salamao, executive director of the Southern African group, said the summit urged Rajoelina ”to vacate the office of the president as a matter of urgency, paving the way for unconditional reinstatement of President Ravalomanana.”
Swaziland’s King Mswati III said Ravalomanana’s removal earlier this month ”violates the basic principles, protocols and treaties” of the regional bloc. Host Mswati is Africa’s last absolute monarch, and his government stands accused of clamping down on dissent and the trade union movement this year.
The Swazi king said the summit would decide on sanctions against impoverished Madagascar, whose critical revenues from eco-tourism have dried up since unrest started earlier this year.
Rajoelina, speaking to journalists in Madagascar on Monday, said the likelihood of sanctions ”isn’t surprising”. He added: ”Madagascar has been a member of this organisation because of personal rather than public interests.”
Rajoelina also said his government would re-examine contracts with multinational companies, especially mining enterprises.
”There is a big difference between the taxes they are currently paying and what they should be paying,” Rajoelina said. He said the government would consult with experts on the way ahead.
Rajoelina has pledged to hold new elections within two years.
At least 8 000 people demonstrated in support of Ravalomanana in Madagascar’s capital on Monday. The number of protesters at daily demonstrations has been steadily growing, despite moves by security forces to disrupt them in recent days by firing into the air and launching tear gas grenades.
Ravalomanana supporters called on Monday for Madagascar’s Southern African neighbours, France or the United Nations to send in peacekeepers. That was unlikely, and Rajoelina told reporters military intervention was ”unacceptable”.
On Zimbabwe, the new unity government that was installed there after a year of political violence and impasse has asked its neighbors for $2-billion — half to support retail and other sectors, and the rest to help schools and restore health and municipal services.
An estimated two-thirds of Zimbabweans are in need of food aid and a cholera epidemic has sickened more than 80 000 people and killed more than 4 000 since August.
Southern African nations have limited resources. South Africa is heading into recession and even wealthy Botswana is feeling the squeeze as the demand for diamonds falls rapidly.
Western donors are preoccupied with their own economic woes and there is continuing mistrust toward Mugabe and his central bank chief, Gideon Gono, who are blamed for the economic collapse of the once-thriving nation. – Sapa-AP