Will it take another execution to make the world stop this dictator?

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What will it take for the international community in general, and the Commonwealth in particular, to rise against President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe?

It took the assassination of Ken Saro-Wiwa for the Commonwealth, at the exhortation of Nelson Mandela, to wake up to the reality that General Sani, the late Nigerian dictator, was a despicable man in whose dictionary the words "democracy" and "human rights" did not exist.

Will it take another execution, this time perhaps that of Morgan Tsvangarai, the leader of Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change who is facing prosecution on spurious charges, to prevent him from running against Mr Mugabe in next year's presidential elections? Sadly, it would appear that the Commonwealth does not yet fully appreciate the enormity of the situation. After all Mr Mandela, who has unequivocally condemned Mr Mugabe's rule of fear, will not be at the next Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Brisbane.

Disappointingly, but perhaps understandably, Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, could do no more than wring his hands yesterday. He would not spell out what action, if any, Britain would want the Commonwealth to take.

In Africa, where leaders have traditionally stood by one another, the tide is turning against Mr Mugabe, who is gradually being seen for what he is: a huge embarrassment whose actions are negating the good work done by supporters of the New African Initiative (NAI), which advocates democracy and fiscal discipline. There are clear signs that more African leaders are now ready to ostracise Mr Mugabe.

The Organisation of African Unity subtly rebuffed Mr Mugabe last month. He had expected an endorsement of his illegal land resettlement programme. Instead, heads of state watered down a pro-Mugabe resolution initially adopted by foreign ministers and urged Britain and Zimbabwe to continue to talk.

Then, when Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders met last week, they delivered an unprecedented snub. First they stripped him of the chairmanship of the important defence, security and political organ of SADC. Then they expressed concern about growing lawlessness in Zimbabwe and the impact it was having on the region.

More surprisingly, Swaziland's King Mswati III publicly denounced Mr Mugabe, saying that he had gone "beyond the premises of democracy, and he has to be stopped". Even the Swazi monarch, an absolute ruler who does not allow free political activity in his tiny kingdom, recognises that Mr Mugabe has gone way too far.

Commonwealth leaders should take their cue from Africa, whose leaders are more than willing to ostracise Mr Mugabe and signal to the world that, unlike him they are serious about the NAI.

The writer is an associate editor of 'The Independent' and was editor of the 'Daily News' in Durban, South Africa