Mugabe must go say PM and Goff

By GREG ANSLEY in Coolum

New Zealand will continue to push for Zimbabwe's expulsion from the Commonwealth if Robert Mugabe is returned to power in 10 days, regardless of whether the election is fair.

Foreign Minister Phil Goff said yesterday that Mr Mugabe's rule was so tainted that the Commonwealth could not tolerate its abuse of the fundamental principles of law and democracy.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said she was outraged that the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group had not done anything about Mr Mugabe weeks ago.

She said he was an ageing dictator who seemed determined to bring the whole side down with him, and that a victory by his Zanu-PF party would be seen as ridiculous and unfair.

Commonwealth leaders will this weekend consider their response to a possible March 10 election win for Mr Mugabe amid growing concern at violence by his supporters and the stoning of a South African observers' car.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said it was clear that conditions in the African state were worsening.

"I think the general tenor of reporting is that the situation is certainly not good and that the situation is deteriorating."

The ministerial action group's recommendations on Zimbabwe will be presented to today's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Queensland. Chogm is expected to wait until after the election before taking further action.

Australia and Britain back New Zealand's tough stand, although Australian Prime Minister John Howard has backed away from any unilateral action ahead of the election.

Mr Goff said that if Mr Mugabe were returned to power, New Zealand would push for the action group to set a three-week deadline to determine whether the election was fair.

If the election was not free and fair, Zimbabwe would face suspension from the Commonwealth.

"We go beyond that and say if the [Mugabe] Government is returned - even if the election were to be judged free and fair - it has already taken action that will justify its suspension if we are to protect the integrity of the Commonwealth as a family of nations that hold those beliefs in the rule of law and democracy as being fundamental," Mr Goff said.

"I think that in the end the Commonwealth will need to act in regard to Zimbabwe as in did in the past against Nigeria and against Pakistan and Fiji."

All were suspended after coups and human rights abuses, although the suspensions against Nigeria and Fiji have been lifted.