31 March 2009

SAPA --

Lozitha, Swaziland - Madagascar's neighbours have suspended the impoverished nation from their regional club and declared they would take further steps if the Indian Ocean island nation's toppled president is not restored to power.

A Southern African Development Community summit that ended early on Tuesday also called on the West to lift sanctions against another member, Zimbabwe.

In Madagascar earlier in March, Andry Rajoelina, accusing President Marc Ravalomanana of corruption and mismanagement, led a series of sometimes violent street protests that culminated with the military declaring Rajoelina president.

Tomaz Salomao, executive director of the southern African group, said the summit urged Rajoelina "to vacate the office of the president as a matter of urgency, paving the way for unconditional reinstatement of President Ravalomanana."

If that does not happen, the leaders said in a communique that followed a daylong summit, the regional group would work with the African Union and the United Nations to "consider other options to restore constitutional normalcy."

The African Union had earlier condemned Rajoelina and suspended Madagascar until it has a government elected through fair and transparent elections.

Western nations have also voiced concern at what critics say was a coup, with Washington cutting all non-humanitarian aid to Madagascar.

The southern African leaders had been expected to impose sanctions on Madagascar.

Their decision on Zimbabwe, though, is a reminder that the subject of sanctions is delicate.

Zimbabwe has argued that what the West calls targeted sanctions - banking and travel restrictions on top leaders - have a chilling effect on the overall economy.

In their communique, the southern Africans "urged the developed countries to lift all forms of sanctions against Zimbabwe as these sanctions will undermine the country's and (regional) efforts to normalise the situation in that member state."

The Southern African Development Community, dedicated to fighting poverty and encouraging democracy and good governance, pushed Zimbabwe's factions to form a unity government that was installed in February after a year of political violence and impasse.

Zimbabwe has asked its neighbours for $2-billion - half to support retail and other sectors, and the rest to help schools and restore health and municipal services. It has said it needs billions more from other donors.

The summit urged Africans to make financial pledges, but offered no specifics.

Instead, the leaders said they would dispatch a committee of finance ministers from South Africa, Zambia, Congo, Botswana and Zimbabwe to major capitals in Europe, Asia and America to canvass for financial support for Zimbabwe.

Southern African leaders had made clear earlier that they have limited resources.

South Africa is heading into recession and even wealthy Botswana is feeling the squeeze as the demand for diamonds falls rapidly.

Western donors are preoccupied with their own economic woes and there is continuing mistrust toward Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his central bank chief, Gideon Gono, who are blamed for the economic collapse of the once-thriving nation.

Salomao said it was time the international community started helping Zimbabwe with "the necessary financial support for its timely economic recovery."

An estimated two-thirds of Zimbabweans are in need of food aid and a cholera epidemic has sickened more than 80 000 people and killed more than 4 000 since August.

US, European and Asian donors and World Bank, African Development Bank and UN representatives met earlier in March in Washington to discuss aid to Zimbabwe.

They noted that they provided about $670-million in aid to Zimbabwe in 2008, and so far in 2009 they have provided $300-million, targeted at fighting hunger and disease.

In a statement last week following their meeting, the donors commended the unity government's reform efforts, and urged it to take other steps, including freeing political prisoners and stopping political violence.

"Provided positive developments in regards to these political and economic reforms, the donor community is ready to support Zimbabwe's rebuilding with development assistance," the donors said.