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POLITICS: MBEKI SAYS CRICKET FUROR IS AIMED AT DEMONIZING MUGABE.
By Anthony Stoppard
JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 11 (IPS) -- South African President Thabo Mbeki this week accused Britain and Australia of trying to use the cricket World Cup to wage a campaign to isolate the government of Zimbabwe.
Britain and Australia have been leading an international campaign to undermine the government of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, whom they accuse of rigging the country's last presidential election, abusing human rights and ignoring the rule of law in his country.
In a public letter, Mbeki said: "With regard to Zimbabwe, political questions have been raised. These are an integral part of an international political campaign being waged by the same governments -- the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand -- against the government of Zimbabwe. Accordingly, it has been argued that any games played in Zimbabwe would give legitimacy to President Mugabe and his government".
Mbeki said that no sports sanctions have been imposed on Zimbabwe, by anybody. "Only last year, the Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, in the United Kingdom. Zimbabwe athletes participated in these games. The UK, Australia and New Zealand, whose athletes competed in these games, did not call for the exclusion of Zimbabwe. And yet, now that we have a tournament held in Africa, an attempt is made to impose a sports boycott against Zimbabwe. Apart from anything else, this raises serious questions about issues of double standards," Mbeki added.
The British High Commission in South Africa has reportedly rejected the notion that they are "part of any conspiracy to sabotage the World Cup Cricket tournament".
South Africa has been resisting efforts to isolate Zimbabwe, saying that the international community can only help resolve the political and economic crises in that country if it continues to engage the Mugabe government. South Africa also does not want its northern neighbor to be forced to collapse into a crisis, which could spill over its borders.