| THE CLOSURE of the G8 summit on climate change in Hokkaido, Japan, was overshadowed by events in Zimbabwe. The G8 leaders criticised President Mugabe’s regime, and called for fresh sanctions against members of his government.
They recommended the appointment of a UN special envoy to the country. This was widely seen as a rebuff for President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, who had been leading Africa’s negotiations with Zimbabwe. G8 leaders also expressed “grave concern about the situation”, and called for a mediation process to install a new government in Zimbabwe.
A draft UN resolution, proposed by the UK and the United States, to impose a ban on travel and freeze the assets of key members of President Mugabe’s administration, is likely to go before the Security Council later this week. It would include an arms embargo on Zimbabwe.
Speaking at the summit, Gordon Brown said: “The G8 summit has been overshadowed by the events in Zimbabwe. I hope that the whole international community will find it possible to condemn the illegitimate regime in Zimbabwe.”
The G8 statement on Zimbabwe reflected what Mr Brown called “the unanimity of the whole international community, reflecting the outrage people feel about the violence, the intimidation, and the illegitimate holding of power by the Mugabe government”.
Non-governmental organisations added their condemnation of the Mugabe regime. “By flagrantly and consistently violating the values upon which present day Africa is premised, Mr Mugabe has done great disservice to the people of Zimbabwe and the continent,” said Kumi Naidoo, chairman of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, an international alliance of campaigns.
Tearfund is one of the few aid agencies still working in the country. It reports that the current violence is hampering the delivery of aid to 35,000 Aids orphans.
“The humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe is overwhelming,” said Karyn Beattie, Tearfund’s disaster management officer for Zimbabwe. “Five million people are in serious need of food, and this figure will increase even further if something is not done.” |
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