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Senegal wants Zim, UK detente
28/11/2007 22:08 - (SA)
Harare - A fellow African leader expects and wants Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to attend a planned Europe-Africa summit, but said on Wednesday that he hoped a way could be found for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to go as well.
The Brown-Mugabe spat, with the British leader saying he cannot sit in the same meetings with a man accused of ruining his own country's economy and democracy, threatens to overshadow the December 8-9 meeting in Lisbon.
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade arrived in Zimbabwe's capital to try to mediate on Wednesday, saying he was acting on his own initiative.
Hoped to find an agreement
Wade was greeted in Harare by dancers, drummers and Mugabe, who met him on the airport tarmac under umbrellas held by soldiers in green camouflage.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a Wednesday afternoon meeting with Mugabe, Wade said he expected Mugabe to hold to his word and attend the Lisbon summit, and said he hoped to find an agreement by which Brown would also attend.
"I think Britain must come to Lisbon," he said.
But if forced to choose, Wade said, he would take Mugabe's presence over Brown's.
"Mugabe is an African brother," Wade said.
Wade said he does not condone Mugabe's policies, but said his actions should be considered in historical context.
"We did not have the type of colonisation that they have here," Wade said.
Portugal hopes Mugabe stays away
Britain is one of the sharpest European critics of Mugabe's regime, accusing him of economic mismanagement, failure to curb corruption and contempt for democracy.
Portuguese officials say they would prefer Mugabe to stay away because his presence would divert attention away from key issues to be discussed in Lisbon.
The summit is to address human rights and good governance as well as global warming, immigration and trade.
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