Durban, Nov 28: South Africa has refused to fall in line with a call by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe for boycotting the upcoming Commonwealth meeting in Nigeria, saying it will be attending the summit. “The South African government will be attending the meeting of the Commonwealth heads of government in Abuja next month,” a spokesperson for the department of foreign affairs said today.

The Zimbabwean leader had issued the call on Wednesday after Nigerian leader Olesugun Obasanjo declined to invite Mugabe to the meeting.

Political observers here say that South Africa's decision is a slap in the face for Mugabe and other Commonwealth African leaders would also take its lead.

They say Mugabe may have been trying to divide the Commonwealth into black and white camps by his boycott call. The ruling African National Congress's ally, the New National Party (NNP), said in a statement today that "the 20-year hold on power in Zimbabwe by Mugabe is nearing its end."

The NNP spokesperson, Boy Geldenhuys, said, "this is a serious setback for Mugabe and could signal his fall from power."


Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth after charges that Mugabe rigged his re-election to power last year.
Bureau Report