President Museveni Returns

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni returned home yesterday from the four-day biennial 2002 Commonwealth heads of state and government summit in Australia, report Alfred Wasike and Agencies.The Commonwealth leaders vowed to stamp out terrorism at the end of their summit and enhance global trade but did not take a tough stand on Zimbabwe, triggering charges that the 54-nation body is little more than a talking-shop. Museveni, who won a special Commonwealth award for Uganda’s success story in the struggle against HIVAIDS, said European leaders should have consulted their African colleagues on Zimbabwe which is on the verge of an election to determine President Robert Mugabe’s fate. In a strongly-worded seven-page communiqué, the leaders resolved: “There is no justification for terrorism. While terrorist activities are unconscionable and should be eradicated forthwith, the challenge is to understand the root cause of those despicable acts and deal with them appropriately.”They highlighted moves to pull down barriers and forge new opportunities in trade, investment and private sector development to ensure more of the Commonwealth’s 1.7 billion people benefit from globalisation. The leaders also pledged to work to combat AIDS, which is pandemic in many African nations, and sought to address the reforms needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century. But the tough position, reiterated in a separate Coolum Declaration, contrasted with a watered-down statement on Zimbabwe that deferred a decision on whether to impose sanctions until after the weekend presidential polls. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, backed by Australia and New Zealand, had led calls to immediately suspend Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth in protest at the political violence there.Ends