Mugabe's friends block Security Council discussion on Zimbabwe

By Tererai Karimakwenda
19 July 2005

In a move that surprised no other countries on the United Nations Security Council, nations that are friendly with Robert Mugabe again blocked discussion of his human rights abuses during a public debate last week. The state controlled Herald newspaper gloated on Monday, claiming Zimbabwe continues to receive the support of the international community at United Nations Security Council meetings. The Herald said it was Britain that attempted to get Harare on the agenda, even though it was Canada that cited the recent clean-up operation as an example of a crisis created by a government's own policies against its people.

In the debate, Canada's permanent representative to The United Nations said "It is also important to acknowledge that humanitarian crises are not solely the result of armed conflict. There are also those prompted by the misguided and malevolent policies of governments towards their own populations." In this regard, Zimbabwe's controversial cleanup operation was an appropriate example, especially given that the UN had found it necessary to send a special envoy into the country to investigate.

But The Herald chose to ignore this important point, focusing instead on how the usual suspects - India, China and Venezuela - rejected Canada's position. Helmoed Romer Heit Man, the South Africa correspondent for Jane's Defence Weekly said what happened last week is nothing new to the Security Council. It goes back to the Korean conflict and how the Soviet Union used its powers in that situation. Romer Heit Man said proposed changes by secretary general Kofi Annan might limit the usual suspects from blocking important issues, but they probably won't work as no country with veto powers will be prepared to give them up.