You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Africa: Southern
Commonwealth decides to extend year-old suspension of Zimbabwe
2003-12-07
Woe to Bobland! - Didn’t they promise to quit if this happened?Commonwealth leaders agreed Sunday to continue their year-old suspension of Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe after a debate that had threatened to split Western and developing-world members of Britain’s former colonial empire. The suspension was indefinite, pending demanded reforms by the Zimbabwe leader, Commonwealth heads of state said. The announcement was a defeat for Mugabe, who had threatened to pull out of the 54-nation bloc completely if its four-day summit ended without an end to the suspension. Several -- although not all -- African and developing nations in the bloc had demanded lifting of the suspension, arguing that dialogue and engagement, not isolation, would bring change in Zimbabwe.
yep....bluff called a**hole
The Commonwealth, whose nations represent one-third of the world’s 6 billion people, banned Zimbabwe from its decision-making councils last year, after Mugabe was widely accused of rigging re-election to continue his 23-year rule. Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo is charged with monitoring Zimbabwe to judge if it moves toward the demanded human rights and democratic reforms. In its statement Sunday, the Commonwealth said the Obasanjo should report back "when he believes sufficient progress has been made."
Yup. Olusegun's right on the case...
"The key is reconciliation" in Zimbabwe, Obasanjo told reporters.
No, the key is Bob leaving.
Commonwealth leaders have demanded Mugabe reach out to the opposition in his troubled southern African nation, as a first step toward change.
Posted by:Frank G

#3  Zimbabwe quits Commonwealth

link to article
Posted by: snellenr   2003-12-7 11:00:59 PM  

#2  
"The key is reconciliation" in Zimbabwe, Obasanjo told reporters.


Or, perhaps, the key is fewer kleptocrats, less killing, and a thorough de-Bobbing...
Posted by: snellenr   2003-12-7 4:29:29 PM  

#1  Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo is charged with monitoring Zimbabwe to judge if it moves toward the demanded human rights and democratic reforms.

At least they didn't give the job to Mbeki...
Posted by: Pappy   2003-12-7 4:01:40 PM  

00:00