"It is important the Common-wealth maintains the position it has adopted because it is sending a very clear message about upholding values to which we all subscribe," International Development Secretary Hilary Benn told Reuters late Monday.

The minister will travel with Prime Minister Tony Blair -- a bete noire to President Mugabe -- for the meeting of the 54-nation group of mainly former British colonies over the weekend.

Although trade, AIDS and other global issues will figure, the Commonwealth summit looks set to be dominated by the controversial suspension of Zimbabwe since 2002 when Mugabe was accused by some observers of rigging his own re-election.

The issue has split the group along broadly racial grounds, with Britain and Australia leading the anti-Mugabe camp and South Africa and Nigeria seeking a softer line.

In classic brinkmanship fashion, a furious Mugabe has threatened to quit the Commonwealth altogether.

"We don't want it to dominate the summit because there are lots of other things we want to talk about," said Benn.

But he added: "It's about upholding (democratic) principles which the Commonwealth holds very dear. The fact is that Zimbabwe is in the position that it finds itself in and will remain so because the situation in the country has actually got worse since that decision (suspension) was taken."

Benn said Zimbabwe's crisis, including mass hunger, was a damning indictment of mismanagement in the one-time southern African bread-basket, ruled by Mugabe since the former Rhodesia won independence from Britain in 1980.

"If 25 years ago you would have said that Zimbabwe would need food aid and the international community would be responsible for two-thirds of it, people would have said 'what are you talking about?"