I have spent a little time discussing the upcoming EU/AU summit in Lisbon, Portugal in December on my main page “The Bearded Man”, but thought that it may be worth the effort to look at it all in a little more depth here.

Unity is the coming together of like minds, with the intention of bringing out the best for all parties within that coalition. One would think that this oneness would automatically exclude any dissenting parties, and precludes them from any protection the alliance may offer.

Well, with the African Union, this unity is decidedly off-target.

The website for the AU states, within their objectives:

  • To achieve greater unity and solidarity between the African countries and the peoples of Africa;
  • To defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States;
  • To accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent;
  • To promote and defend African common positions on issues of interest to the continent and its peoples;
  • To encourage international cooperation, taking due account of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
  • To promote peace, security, and stability on the continent;
  • To promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance;
  • To promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other relevant human rights instruments;
  • To establish the necessary conditions which enable the continent to play its rightful role in the global economy and in international negotiations;
  • To promote sustainable development at the economic, social and cultural levels as well as the integration of African economies;
  • To promote co-operation in all fields of human activity to raise the living standards of African peoples;
  • To coordinate and harmonize the policies between the existing and future Regional Economic Communities for the gradual attainment of the objectives of the Union;
  • To advance the development of the continent by promoting research in all fields, in particular in science and technology;
  • To work with relevant international partners in the eradication of preventable diseases and the promotion of good health on the continent.

All admirable aspirations - if they are applied collectively and without favour.

The problem being that the goals are applied selectively.

How can African leaders rally behind the likes of Mugabe? He is a despot, a tyrant, a dictator.

He is short-sighted when it comes to the population of Zimbabwe and everything that he sees as negative is blamed on the West.

Now, with the summit approaching in December, the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown has stated that if Mugabe attends, he will not, whilst the Zambian President, Levy Mwanawasa, has stated that if Mugabe does not get invited, he will boycott the summit.

As I said in my blog, we now have three possible scenarios:

a) Mugabe is invited, and attends - Brown boycotts

b) Mugabe is not invited - Brown attends, Mwanawasa boycotts

c) Mugabe is invited, but does not attend - Brown and Mwanawasa attend.

I am sure that you will all agree with me that not one of these three possibilities gives us the desired win-win result.

The trick now, for the Portuguese government, as hosts, is to work out which scenario is going to hurt the EU/AU summit the least.

Obviously, in an ideal world it would be great to see all three men attend - but as I have written so many times already, Mugabe’s activities would need to be limited. And in this I mean that he should not really have free access to the press as we know that he will do nothing more than heap scorn on the West, making all sorts of wild allegations - all of which he has yet to substantiate.

And he should not be given the floor. He may be the elder statesman in Africa, but his perceived self-preening goes nowhere with the EU. Again, any address Mugabe may make will be laced liberally with anti-West vitriolic, with a touch of hatred thrown in for good measure.

The EU needs to make their decision based upon the facts as they are today, not as Mugabe would prefer them to think.

A simple glance at the internet press articles - and for this, I am happy for people to look beyond my internet efforts - to see the truth of Mugabe’s rule.

If he were to be invited - who exactly would accompany him? Mugabe traditionally travels with a large entourage - not all of them actually needed for any other reason than he likes them nearby. Grace, his wife, will embark on a huge shopping spree which would put many a well-heeled millionaire to shame - and she will expect to be excused any duty as she is the President’s wife!

Who pays for the travel? The EU/AU? - or the Zimbabwean government? - who are broke!

So someone else has to pay, no matter which way we look at it. And this is cause for some concern to me.

Why should the EU/AU pay for a trip for a huge Mugabe entourage? - and conversely, the Zimbabwean government cannot afford it either. So maybe the invite should be with a proviso or two - limit the number of people in his entourage and put some sort of gagging order on his access to press.

I am fully aware that this will never even be considered - and as a direct result we will get to see Mugabe parading himself at the summit and addressing press and then be given the floor, whilst Gordon Brown kicks his heels in Old Blighty.

And then, in all consciousness, who has won?

Take care.

‘debvhu