Commonwealth divided

For now, the contentious issue of that country's continued suspension, which threatens to grievously split the body, has been prevented from deteriorating further with the formation of a stop-gap special committee. However, sooner or later, a decision has to be made one way or the other, because the Commonwealth must define itself as a community, not by who it chooses to expel.

The special committee will at least allow the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, a temporary respite to move on to other substantive matters. But even as the summit got under way, Zimbabwe came back on stage with President Robert Mugabe announcing that his Government would pull out from the Commonwealth following a resolution passed by his ruling ZANU-PF party.

Such a drastic move, if carried out, could bring the split between white and black members out into the open, with possibly dire consequences for what remains of the grouping's continued relevance. However, Mugabe did not say when his country would withdraw. Apart from Zimbabwe, there is still the lingering issue of Pakistan's suspension after a bloodless coup in 1999, which the Commonwealth said violated its democratic principles.

Upholding democracy is important but so are the other major socio-economic problems faced by the grouping's poor and developing members, a number of which are non-white nations. The Commonwealth must not be sidetracked by divisive issues that wrench it back to its sordid colonial past. Focusing on helping the poor, overcoming AIDS/HIV, fighting terrorism, promoting investment, trade, education, science and technology and other forms of co-operation are of more lasting value and benefit to the people who live in the diverse 54 countries of its membership. It must stop bickering over politics and move forward on a firmer development agenda.

-- New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur