I noticed this morning that high ranking UN officials have joined the international chorus of voices encouraging the African Union to take the lead in ensuring that there is a negotiated settlement to the Zimbabwe crisis.
While negotiations at the AU level will be necessary, I would like to see the international community play a tougher role. In particular I think that it is very important that the UN Security Council refer the Zimbabwe situation to the International Criminal Court. Such a move would perhaps increase the pressure on some within the Mugabe government and the Zimbabwean armed forces. The manner in which hundreds of opposition supporters were killed and many thousands displaced, should merit an investigation from the ICC Prosecutor Mr. Ocampo.
The Security Council must act before many more people are killed and injured by a regime that is completely out of control.
