The political turmoil in Zimbabwe will not jeopardise Africa’s efforts to attract foreign aid and pursue economic reforms, the chairman of Commonwealth nations said on Saturday.
In the first ever meeting of Commonwealth foreign ministers, African delegates expressed concerns that the crisis in Zimbabwe would hamper the continent’s renewed efforts to pursue economic reforms and investment, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told reporters.
”Their concern was that African development issues shouldn’t be held up because of the issue in Zimbabwe, that aid flows, for example, and support for economic reform” shouldn’t be interrupted by the Zimbabwean question, he said.
”But I think there was pretty much a view from the developed countries, the donor countries, in the meeting that they wouldn’t allow the Zimbabwean issue to interfere with the aid programmes they have running in other parts of Africa,” Downer said.
Zimbabwe was thrown into crisis when President Robert Mugabe began a land reform programme seeking to drive white farmers from their land.
The Commonwealth, representing Britain and its former colonies, in March suspended Zimbabwe from its decision-making councils for a year after presidential elections that monitors say were rigged.
Britain and Australia also imposed sanctions on Mugabe’s regime. A three-nation committee of Australia, Nigeria and South Africa are to meet September 23 in Abuja, Nigeria, to consider further action against Zimbabwe.
Don McKinnon, the Commonwealth’s secretary-general, said the ministers urged the committee ”to take the issue of Zimbabwe forward,” although they fell short of coming up with recommendations.
Zimbabwe’s turmoil is exacerbating a food crisis in southern Africa and driving displaced farmers and other refugees to its neighbours, McKinnon said. Its imploding economy also threatens the region, he added.
South African President Thabo Mbeki and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who will attend the meeting with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, ”have tried to play a role through envoys to encourage reconciliation in Zimbabwe … but the envoys have not had success,” Downer said.
Saturday’s meeting, attended by 38 foreign ministers from the 58-member Commonwealth, was held on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly.
The ministers also discussed efforts to help member nations combat terrorism and other regional issues, but did not bring up the crisis in Iraq, an issue that has dominated the UN meeting, Downer said.
On Monday, the assembly will interrupt its general debate for a day-long special session on a plan launched by African leaders to promote development and reduce poverty.
The New Partnership for African Development, or Nepad, will seek international investment in Africa in return for good governance, fiscal responsibility and respect for human rights. – Sapa-AP