Abuja, Nigeria, Monday, 23 September 2002
President Thabo Mbeki will, on Monday 23rd September 2002, as part of the meeting of the Commonwealth Chairperson's Committee on Zimbabwe, join the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard and President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria in Abuja, Nigeria to discuss the current situation in Zimbabwe.
The Commonwealth Secretary General, Don McKinnon will also participate in this meeting.
This meeting follows the meeting of the Chairperson's Committee at Marlborough House in London on 19th March 2002, at which a decision was taken to suspend Zimbabwe from the Councils of the Commonwealth for one year. The matter would be reviewed after twelve months based on progress in Zimbabwe according to the Commonwealth Harare principles and reports from the Commonwealth Secretary General.
At this meeting the Presidents of Nigeria and South Africa were requested to actively promote the process of reconciliation between the main political parties in Zimbabwe.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs