Instead of welcoming Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe to its summit this week in Egypt, the African Union should have barred him as punishment for recklessly undermining democracy in his country. Zimbabwe’s recent election was a sham wrapped in deceitfulness inside an empty pretense.

As a result, Mugabe has less legitimacy than a speck of dust. Unless he changes course quickly, he will make a permanent mockery of his much-touted liberation credentials. Beyond that, Mugabe’s unrelenting political rampage could lead to Zimbabwe’s collapse and failure as a state.

It is time to hand the obstreperous, six-term leader an ultimatum for his shameful manipulation of the political process and unconscionable repression. Consider that he trailed opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai by several points in March’s general election, then managed to charge to victory with 85 percent of the vote in last week’s runoff. Why?

Because Mugabe and his minions so aggressively manhandled the election that Tsvangirai, fearing for the safety of his followers, dropped out. Harsh condemnation of such excesses, which has been the preferred approach of many African leaders, clearly is not enough.

Africa, as a whole, has experienced an impressive rise during recent years, both politically and economically. Mugabe’s dictatorial behavior casts a pall over that success. Thus, responsibility falls to the African Union to fix the problem.

The ultimatum that is sorely needed should contain at least three parts:

First, a strong condemnation. The African Union should reject the fraudulent June 27th election in Zimbabwe and its absurd outcome. It also should demand that Mugabe enter into talks with the opposition. By this, I mean externally monitored, serious, goal-oriented discussions with a timetable aimed at establishing a transitional government, not a lackluster, open-ended conversation that drags on until Mugabe dies in office.

Some people say that only his passing would resolve the current impasse. Well, the long-suffering people of Zimbabwe should not have to wait that long, nor should the African Union allow such a travesty to happen.

Second, the imposition of sanctions. That effort should be pursued in cooperation with the rest of the world to show collective displeasure and, if necessary, ramped up to isolate Zimbabwe. The penalties would have to remain in place until a proper transition occurred, that is, one assisted and overseen by a team of African Union mediators.

Now, I am well aware that various African leaders have argued against sanctions, claiming that they do not work and merely serve to antagonize. No matter. Imperfect though sanctions may be, they have successfully contributed to pressures for change in other countries, including South Africa. Moreover, Mugabe has gone out of his way to antagonize his own people and the international community. He deserves a dose of his own medicine.

Third, a promise. If Mugabe fails to cooperate and desist in his mockery of democracy within a reasonable period of time – at most, 90 days – the African Union will intervene with stabilization and peacekeeping forces.

Some people may consider that idea a bit extreme. But let us look at the situation from the very likely perspective of Zimbabwe as a failed state, consumed by death and violence, and disrupting neighboring countries. In that scenario, the African Union would have no choice except to act and could well require a much larger force to quell the chaos. African countries should dangle the hammer of stabilization and peacekeeping forces over Mugabe’s head to remind him that they have the means to provide the freedom and fairness that his government prevents.

Prominent African figures, from Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga to former Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, already have already spoken out in favor of some kind of intervention. Others should offer their voices and support.

A sham wrapped in deceitfulness inside an empty pretense is a loathsome political standard that 21st-century Africa should not tolerate, especially in its midst.