CBC
December 4, 2003

Abuja, Nigeria: In a blunt message to African leaders, [Canadian] Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said they must tackle corruption and government mismanagement to attract foreign investment.

The prime minister made the comments during a speech to business leaders at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.

Responding to questions from the audience, Chrétien told delegates that investors need to know there is rule of law, respect for basic human rights and fair elections before they invest.

Backgrounder: The Commonwealth

“You need political stability to stop these bloody conflicts that you have too often in some parts of Africa,” said the prime minister. “You have to have a system to cure that. You know, this is the reality. And the capital will come.”

Chrétien, who has days left as prime minister, arrived in Nigeria Thursday. Queen Elizabeth will officially open the meetings on Friday.

The political crisis in Zimbabwe will likely dominate the conference. Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth last year after President Robert Mugabe held onto power in elections that were widely viewed as rigged.

Canada is pushing a compromise position that would see Zimbabwe’s suspension continue, but then be reviewed in six months to a year.