Appendix 4. Statements of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on Zimbabwe Fifteenth Meeting of The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group On The Harare Declaration (CMAG) Marlborough House, 19-20 March 2001 - Concluding statement Ministers used the occasion of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) meeting to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe. They recalled that at their thirteenth meeting in May 2000, Ministers had expressed concerns over a number of issues in the run-up to Zimbabwe's parliamentary elections. The Ministers were concerned that problems continue, and noted especially recent reports of intimidation of the judiciary and the media. They recalled and affirmed the principles embodied in the Commonwealth Harare Declaration to which all Commonwealth members have pledged their commitment. Conscious of the importance of the Commonwealth being fully engaged and having accurate information on the situation in Zimbabwe, and in the spirit of co-operation and dialogue which are features of the Commonwealth association, the Ministers decided that a Commonwealth Ministerial Mission should visit Zimbabwe. The Mission would conduct consultations with the Zimbabwe Government, convey its concerns and offer any appropriate Commonwealth assistance. The Mission would consist of the Foreign Ministers of Barbados, Australia, and Nigeria. Ministers request the full co-operation of the Government of Zimbabwe so that this Mission can take place as soon as possible, in order that they can prepare for and advise the forthcoming meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government accordingly. They request the Secretary-General to undertake the necessary preparations. Sixteenth Meeting Of The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group On The Harare Declaration (CMAG) Marlborough House, 3-4 September 2001 CMAG Ministers took the opportunity to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe. Recalling that they had expressed concern over conditions in Zimbabwe at their meetings in May 2000, and again in March 2001, Ministers again registered concern that the situation in Zimbabwe had not improved. They deeply regretted that the Government of Zimbabwe had not agreed to receive three CMAG Ministers as proposed at their last meeting. The Group expressed its full support for the initiative by President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria to hold a meeting of Commonwealth Ministers on the Zimbabwe situation in Abuja, Nigeria on 6-7 September 2001. They hoped that the Abuja meeting would make progress towards reaching a solution which would benefit all the people of Zimbabwe. The Ministers decided that CMAG would review developments in Zimbabwe when the Group met on 5 October 2001 immediately prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Brisbane, Australia. Seventeenth Meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG), Marlborough House, 20 December 2001 CMAG used the occasion of its Meeting to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe. It recalled that on three previous occasions the Group had expressed concern about conditions in Zimbabwe. The Group reaffirmed its full support for the process established by the Abuja Agreement, reached at the initiative of President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, and expressed its deep appreciation for the President's ongoing mediation efforts. It also expressed its support for the initiative by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as the involvement of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in assisting with land reform in Zimbabwe. CMAG noted that the repeated efforts of the Secretary-General to engage with the Government of Zimbabwe had been unsuccessful. It also noted that the Government of Zimbabwe had not agreed to receive a Commonwealth Ministerial Mission proposed by CMAG in the Commonwealth spirit of dialogue and co-operation. The Group reiterated its deep concern about the ongoing situation in Zimbabwe especially the continued 34