SYDNEY - Australia may impose more sanctions against Zimbabwe if President Robert Mugabe wins a run-off election, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said, accusing him of trying to ‘steal’ the vote. Smith, speaking on public television late Tuesday, also called on African nations to do more to end ‘a campaign of violence, intimidation and fear’ in the country ahead of the June 27 election.
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He singled out South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki for criticism, saying the international community had expected a stronger stance on Mugabe's conduct during the current election campaign. ‘I think it is true to say that the international community has been somewhat disappointed by the lack of robustness on the part of the president and the South African government,’ Smith said.
Smith accused Mugabe of trying to ‘steal’ a second round election run-off against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai after his rival came just short of an absolute majority in the first round, according to official, but disputed, figures. ‘It's quite clear to us that having tried to steal the first presidential count by rorting (rigging) the count itself, Mr Mugabe is now trying to steal the second presidential run off by a campaign of violence, intimidation and fear.’
Australia has imposed financial sanctions and travel bans on members of the Zimbabwe government regime, suspended non-humanitarian aid, banned arms sales and halted defence and ministerial links.
Smith said Australia would consider expanding the sanctions if Mugabe won the June 27 vote. ‘But what is required here is not just Australia contemplating acting by itself, it's regional and multilateral action,’ he said. ‘So far as the regional action is concerned, that primary responsibility has to be sheeted home to the southern African community states and the African Union.’ |