Bringing change to Zimbabwe

For a long time Robert Mugabe has kept alive the falsehood that Africa and much of the rest of the world remains on his side in what he claims is a colonial dispute with Britain and, to a lesser extent, Europe. The events of the past few weeks have transformed that view. It is unequivocally clear that the world is united in its condemnation of the violence perpetrated by Zimbabwe's leaders. This is now Mr Mugabe and his regime versus the world.

African leaders have one by one come out and shown their opposition to what Mr Mugabe is doing: Tanzania, Senegal, Rwanda, Botswana, Angola, South Africa and Zambia most recently. Last week an open letter signed by more than 40 African leaders, including many ex-Presidents, ex-secretary generals and civil society leaders called for an end to the violence. African leaders know that Robert Mugabe's rule is now illegitimate by his own Constitution, by the SADC principles of elections and by the African Union, which requires that its members are democratically elected. And Africans are ashamed. Kofi Annan wrote that "Zimbabwe is tarnishing the reputation of Africa". Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga called Zimbabwe "an eyesore".

The UN Security Council was also this week unanimous in its verdict that "conditions do not exist for free and fair elections right now in Zimbabwe. There has been too much violence, too much intimidation." Among the 15 Security Council members who unanimously signed up to the statement were China, Russia and South Africa: three countries previously reluctant to join in this kind of international condemnation of Zimbabwe.

What has brought this decisive change in world opinion? The facts speak for themselves. Eighty-four opposition supporters are confirmed murdered; 2,700 injured; 34,000 displaced. Tragically, these grim figures continue to grow, even despite the MDC's withdrawal from the vote. It is no longer an election campaign.

It is a campaign of violence and intimidation against innocent men, women and children whose only crime is to wish to express their democratic right to vote. To do so as they did on March 29 in the election that, according to the African observers, the MDC rightfully won.

And it is a campaign that takes place against a catastrophic economic background. Inflation is estimated at two million per cent. Zimbabwe has just reaped its worst harvest in 60 years. Electricity and water shortages last for days at a time in some areas. Meanwhile, the ZANU-PF government has suspended life-saving NGO humanitarian activities. Even hunger has become a political weapon.

Europe has a critical role to play in bringing change to Zimbabwe. The EU's existing targeted measures of travel bans and asset freezing against Mr Mugabe and 130 senior ZANU-PF leaders must be deepened and broadened to include a wider range of individuals involved in perpetrating the violence. Beyond this the EU must consider how best it can ratchet up the pressure without adversely affecting ordinary Zimbabweans. WPP has properly decided to divest its stake in a local advertising company responsible for ZANU-PF advertising. But is it right that a European company continues to print the banknotes that allow Mr Mugabe's regime to keep the machinery of state oppression going while feeding the intolerable habit of hyperinflation?

Most importantly, Europe must work to support the African and global leadership demonstrated by SADC, the African Union and the UN. Europe must do more to build a global effort to isolate and delegitimise Mr Mugabe's regime: to document human rights abuses and seek remedies, and to force Mr Mugabe's regime to allow the emergence of a government that represents the will of the people.

In recent weeks Mr Mugabe and his inner circle have succeeded in uniting the world against them. They have put themselves beyond the pale. They have scorned international norms and values. And they should know that they must face the consequences.

Mr Malloch-Brown is UK Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN.