African leaders rallied to support Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe today, with Tanzania's leader, Mr Benjamin Mkapa, mounting a passionate case for the Commonwealth to abandon talk of sanctions.
President Mkapa dismissed the controversy surrounding the Commonwealth's stand on Zimbabwe, which will hold presidential elections on March 9-10 pitting Mr Mugabe against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, as "ridiculous".
He also objected to the way in which Zimbabwe's internal affairs have become fodder for both the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Australia, and the international media.
"The scene is unfolding in Zimbabwe. It is not unfolding in Coolum," Mr Mkapa told journalists.
"And unless you are going to make an intelligent, rational decision, we should let the scene be played out there before we make a judgement.
"You are assuming that if the government wins, the election is not fair - let's wait and see how people vote."
His comments have been echoed by other African leaders, concerned that Britain is trying to railroad them into taking a hard-line stand against their neighbour.
Mr Mugabe has reportedly told British Prime Minister Tony Blair "to keep your pink nose out of our affairs," the Sun-Heraldreported today.
"Go to hell," said Mr Mugabe. "Our people have decided and that is what matters to us. It's not their (Britain's) right or responsibility to decide on our elections."
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told Australian television today that there was some sympathy for Mr Mugabe's comments among African leaders here, whose countries were once part of the British empire.
"There is very much a regional view in Africa that they want to do a certain amount to protect a fellow country.
"There is still that very strong sense that Britain and other countries (are) sometimes being neo-colonialist."
But New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark maintained: "It's important that the Commonwealth goes back the principles which it repeatedly says it stands for. Those principles being constitutional law, human rights and democracy.
"It is clear in New Zealand's view that Zimbabwe has breached all of them."
AFP