The threat of a damaging split within the Commonwealth loomed on Monday after Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe insisted he was determined to secure an invitation to a summit of leaders next month.
His remarks followed a flying visit to Harare by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has been attempting to broker a deal to prevent a rift over whether Zimbabwe, which has been suspended from the Commonwealth council, should be allowed to attend.
When asked at a press conference if Mugabe will be invited to a summit of the 54 leaders of the commonwealth countries, Obasanjo said: ”I am still consulting.”
However, Mugabe, who was standing next to him, stepped in and interjected: ”Yes, consultation is always necessary and we look forward to attending.”
Mugabe has put Obasanjo into an awkward position, and his stance threatens to split the Commonwealth along racial lines if he is not invited.
If he goes, Tony Blair is unlikely to attend.
When asked if the British prime minister would go to the Commonwealth summit if Mugabe was there, a Foreign Office spokesperson said: ”This remains a hypothetical question but suffice it to say it would create significant difficulties for the participation of the UK as well as a number of other Commonwealth countries.”
Zimbabwe has been suspended from the Commonwealth council since March 2002, following the finding by Commonwealth observers that Mugabe’s re-election was marked by state violence and evidence of massive vote rigging. Since then, Mugabe has waged a determined effort to get the suspension lifted and to be invited to the Commonwealth summit in Abuja, Nigeria, December 4-8.
Mugabe has lobbied other African Commonwealth members with the slogan, ”There is no Africa without Zimbabwe” and urged a boycott of the summit if he is not invited. Mugabe has argued that the ”white Commonwealth”, chiefly Britain and Australia, have ostracised Zimbabwe because they object to his seizure of white-owned farms. Mugabe has urged a split of the Commonwealth along racial lines over the issue of his exclusion.
But Mugabe has not taken any steps to lessen his repressive policies.
Most Commonwealth members, including African countries, appear to have taken the view that Zimbabwe remains suspended and therefore Mugabe cannot be invited.
Obasanjo met Mugabe for 90 minutes yesterday in what Harare diplomats said was a last-ditch effort to keep dialogue open.
Obasanjo is an ally of Mugabe’s, but he recently said unless there is a ”sea change” in Zimbabwe, Mugabe cannot go to the summit.
Obasanjo has made little progress in his bid to broker talks between Mugabe and Zimbabwe’s opposition — a key Commonwealth demand.
In recent months he has closed the country’s largest newspaper, the Daily News, and police have illegally arrested and beaten trade union leaders and lawyers.
African diplomats say Obasanjo views a successful summit in Abuja as a matter of pride for Nigeria and does not want to risk a crisis by inviting Mugabe.
Obasanjo met opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai earlier yesterday. Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change is pressing a court challenge to Mugabe’s re-election on the grounds of state violence and ballot stuffing. – Guardian Unlimited Â