Smash hit

The Queen approved the annulment of Mr Mugabe’s knighthood, which was awarded during Sir John Major’s premiership. A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: “This action has been taken as a mark of revulsion at the abuse of human rights and abject disregard for the democratic process in Zimbabwe over which President Mugabe has presided.”

Mr Mugabe is the first foreigner to be stripped of an honorary knighthood since the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989, the day before his execution.

The Foreign Office spokesman added: “Our focus has been on improving the situation for ordinary Zimbabweans on the ground and it remains so. But we can no longer justify an individual who is responsible for a consistent campaign of human rights violations and the disregard for the democratic process retaining an honour. As international and regional leaders have said, Mugabe’s actions in the run-up to the second round of elections have demonstrated his total disregard for democracy and human rights.”

Mr Mugabe was honoured during a state visit to Britain in 1994. “The honour was given when conditions in Zimbabwe were very different,” the Foreign Office spokesman said.

Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: “This is an important step but symbolism alone is not enough to end the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe. What is needed now is urgent international co-operation on sanctions which will hit the Mugabe regime where it hurts.

“Gordon Brown is right to realise at last the importance of making clear our disgust at the behaviour of

Robert Mugabe. No person who behaves with such cruelty towards his own people should be able to do so with impunity.”

In the House of Commons, Mr Brown warned British companies against doing business with the Mugabe regime. He told MPs: “Businesses should look at their involvement in Zimbabwe . . . Where businesses are helping the Zimbabwean regime they should reconsider their position now. The whole world has woken up to the evils that have been going on in Zimbabwe.”

Anglo American said yesterday that it was “reviewing all options surrounding the development” of a $400 million (£200 million) mine.

The company’s decision over the Unki mine in central Zimbabwe has prompted outrage and more than £1.8 billion was wiped off the company’s value over the news that the miner was pressing ahead with its investment in the country.

Under pressure from politicians and its own shareholders, Anglo said that it would review the project but did not want to abandon the 650 people working at the mine.

In a statement the company said: “Anglo American is deeply concerned about the current political situation in Zimbabwe and condemns the violence and human rights abuses that are taking place. The company is monitoring the situation in Zimbabwe very closely and is reviewing all options surrounding the project.”

Times Recommends

• Times Charity Appeal: SolarAid
• Is it Black Monday all over again for Dubai?
• Behind the scenes at the biggest deal