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‘Draft softened Australia’

Politics
AUSTRALIA’S indications that it will lift the sanctions it slapped on Zimbabwe if Harare holds free and fair elections could have been influenced by developments in the constitution-making process.

AUSTRALIA’S indications that it will lift the sanctions it slapped on Zimbabwe if Harare holds free and fair elections could have been influenced by developments in the constitution-making process.

REPORT BY PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI

On Wednesday Foreign minister Bob Carr said Australia would lift sanctions if Zimbabwe holds the constitutional referendum and conducts a credible election.

The Copac draft constitution sailed through Parliament on Wednesday.

Political analyst Alexander Rusero said the decision by Australia could have been influenced by the latest developments. “I think Australia considered that their demands have been met through the fulfillment of the Global Political Agreement (GPA),” he said.

“I think they are being sincere because they gave certain conditions for the lifting of the sanctions and those conditions are being met.”

Another political commentator, who declined to be named, described the agreed position on the constitution as “a decisive step toward the implementation of the Sadc agreed electoral roadmap”.

“The latter included the drafting of a new constitution as well as the holding of a referendum on the same. It is, however, also linked to the Australian government trying to offer incentives to our government to ensure the holding of free and fair elections, particularly to Zanu PF which is the party most affected by the sanctions,” he said.

He said Australia’s decision could be adopted by the European Union (EU) and the United States. “The EU has already issued a statement that they will consider lifting sanctions if the referendum is free and fair. The Americans are most likely to issue a similar statement,” he said.

Rusero was however doubtful that the US and EU would give in easily despite the consensus on the draft constitution.

“The US has already hinted they were not going to remove sanctions as certain demands have not been met and I think their positions is more of an individual member position,” he said.

The EU has said sanctions against President Robert Mugabe and members of his inner circle will only be lifted after a “peaceful and credible” constitutional referendum.

The EU and the US slapped sanctions against individuals and organisations that engaged in activities undermining democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law.