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09 July 2008
By Never Kadungure
Robert Mugabe’s regime responded to threats of targetted sanctions coming from the G8 summit in Japan by getting Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi to issue a PR-coated pledge they would accept a unity government.
The remarks were dismissed off-hand by the opposition who said they doubted Mugabe’s sincerity after the sham June 27 run-off and the murder of 109 MDC activists and officials since then.
Leaders from the richest nations in the world, falling under the G8 umbrella on Tuesday united in condemning Mugabe’s regime, describing the recent elections as not reflecting the will of the people.
All members pledged to support a US backed resolution at the United Nations calling on targetted sanctions on members of the Mugabe regime.
Under measures planned the UN would impose an arms embargo, travel bans and asset freezes against members of the regime. African countries expressed reservations the measures will work and would only force Mugabe to dig in.
Senior diplomats familiar with the goings on at the UN said out of the 15 members in UN Security Council only 9 votes were needed, provided none of the 5 permanent members of the security council veto the resolution. With China, Russia, Britain, France and the United States making that group all eyes are on the Russians and Chinese to see how they will vote.
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