'Comrade Mugabe' must change
2003-12-04 21:00
Blantyre - Shortly before leaving home for the Commonwealth Congress in Nigeria on Thursday, Malawian President Bakili Muluzi warned Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe it was time he got his house in order.
"My brother, comrade Mugabe, and his Zanu-PF must realise the world is changing in the direction of democracy. Laws that don't benefit the people should be scrapped," he said.
This is the first time an African leader has publicly opposed Mugabe to such an extent.
But Muluzi said he did not think Zimbabwe should be isolated by the international community.
Malawi feels the international community should offer Zimbabwe a window of opportunity to stop the people's suffering, he said.
Muluzi's comments come amid a great divide among African countries concerning Zimbabwe's re-admittance to the Commonwealth.
Zambia said on Thursday it would ask for Zimbabwe to be re-admitted.
South Africa's stand is not yet clear.
Muluzi told journalists Mugabe needed to embrace democracy fully in a bid to stop his country from falling apart completely.