Skip Navigation

January 2012 Volume 39, National News

Zimbabwe off AU agenda after Mugabe lobbies chairman

By Special correspondent   Wed, Jan 11, 2012

HARARE — Zimbabwe will not be on the agenda at the next African Union summit, it has emerged, after President Robert Mugabe held talks with AU chairman and Equatorial Guinea President T eodoro Obiang Nguema in Harare this week.

 

Mr Mugabe, who is under scrutiny from regional leaders for pushing for early elections before electoral reforms are completed, is widely believed to have lobbied Mr Nguema to remove Zimbabwe from the spotlight.

Equatorial Guinea’s leader has been in power as long as Mr Mugabe, and during his over three-decade reign has shown little tolerance for political opposition.

When asked if Zimbabwe would be on the agenda at the next AU meeting, Mr Nguema replied: "The agenda for the AU summit has been set as per the provisions of the AU Commission and it would focus on how African leaders would strengthen co-operation between their countries."

The AU Peace and Security Council met on Monday, ahead of an AU summit next month.

The two leaders met for more than six hours on Monday. Official communications show they sought to cement trade ties. Zimbabwe buys some of its oil from Equatorial Guinea, which seeks investment in its manufacturing, energy and construction sectors.

Officials privy to the details of the meeting said Mr Nguema would support Mr Mugabe should African leaders confront him over electoral, media and human rights reforms.

"The meeting was unannounced until very late and the fact that it was a lengthy meeting … suggests that Mr Mugabe is looking for support," said an official source, who declined to be named.

By Special correspondent

Please login to post your comments.