PM keen to oust Mugabe

By HELEN TUNNAH deputy political editor

New Zealand still wants corruption-riddled Zimbabwe thrown out of the Commonwealth, but Prime Minister Helen Clark does not expect that to happen at next week's Heads of Government meeting in Nigeria.

"I don't think it's possible," she said yesterday.

"Our view is they should have been expelled quite some time ago, but suspension at least has the advantage of they don't turn up."

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe was suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth last year, and has not been invited to the Nigeria summit.

That was confirmed yesterday by Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo, who visited Mr Mugabe in Harare last week.

A defiant Mr Mugabe has said he will turn up anyway, prompting some members, including New Zealand to say they would boycott the meeting if he did.

Mr Obasanjo, as summit chairman and leader of one of Africa's strongest powers, will play a pivotal role next week as the Commonwealth struggles to work out what to do about Zimbabwe.

It was suspended from the Commonwealth after last year's presidential election, which returned Mr Mugabe to office, but which was marred by allegations of vote-rigging, and intimidation and violence against opposition candidates.

A committee of three countries, South Africa, Australia and Nigeria, has failed to persuade Mr Mugabe to observe the principles of good governance and democracy - agreed by Commonwealth members in Harare 12 years ago.

Their report to next week's summit is expected to confirm a lack of progress in Zimbabwe.

Commonwealth leaders are expected to continue Zimbabwe's suspension.

Countries such as New Zealand will also press for a formal statement criticising the Mugabe Government.

Helen Clark said the poverty afflicting Zimbabwe's people was horrific.

Although suspension had not worked so far, it did serve a purpose in retaining pressure on Mr Mugabe.

New Zealand has travel sanctions against Zimbabwe's leaders.