Act now against Mugabe
From Mr Geoffrey Van Orden, MEP Sir: Stephen Glover is to be commended for the latest in a series of articles drawing attention to the abuses perpetrated by the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe (Media studies, 12 January). Many of us share his frustration at the slow response of the British government and the EU in taking President Mugabe to task. I have initiated two emergency resolutions on Zimbabwe in the European Parliament since last September, calling for the imposition of 'smart sanctions' against Mugabe and his close associates.
Instead of taking resolute action, however, for too long the international community has preferred to give this discredited dictator the benefit of the doubt. Back in September the Commonwealth were taken in at the Abuja Conference when the government of Zimbabwe promised to restore the rue of law and then proceeded to do the opposite. The EU is in danger of missing yet another opportunity to take a strong line with Zimbabwe. At his meeting with the EU under the Cotonou consultations in Brussels on 11 January. Foreign Minister Mudenge was given a week to specify how he would make good certain undertakings. His letter of response, dated 18 January, is a bizarre mixture of semi-compliance and truculent self-justification. But the danger is that it will again dilute the EU's recently enhanced resolve.
The evidence on the ground in Zimbabwe is that the situation continues to deteriorate. In the remaining weeks before the presidential elections there is still action we can take. EU foreign ministers should move to introduce smart sanctions immediately at the general affairs council on 28 January in co-ordination with other key members of the international community. It should be made clear that these measures will be kept under constant review. EU member states must not recognise a Zimbabwean dictator — only a president elected freely and fairly who is responsive to international concerns. Such a benign outcome will attract substantial financial and practical assistance for Zimbabwe from the whole international community.
Geoffrey Van Orden
Conservative Spokesman on Defence and Security Policy and Human Rights, Brussels
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