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British objections stall Zimbabwe's bid to rejoin the club of colonies
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Zimbabwe's bid to rejoin the Commonwealth has hit a stumbling block, with British objections delaying the southern African nation's re-admission, Foreign Affairs Minister Amon Murwira revealed in Parliament last week.
Murwira said despite Zimbabwe having fulfilled all the necessary requirements set by the Commonwealth Secretariat, including the completion of a formal assessment process, re-entry into the 53-member intergovernmental organisation remains on hold.
"Zimbabwe undertook all four steps following our expression of interest to rejoin the Commonwealth," Murwira told lawmakers. "These efforts culminated in the production of the Commonwealth Secretariat assessment report, which outlined the progress made by the country since 2017 to support our re-admission."
The assessment included several study visits conducted with the full cooperation of the Zimbabwean government. However, Murwira disclosed that in January this year, the British government raised objections to Zimbabwe's re-admission.
"They wanted a reassessment," he said. "It is their democratic right and sovereign decision to do so, but we still await a formal representation from the secretariat."
Murwira was responding to a question from opposition MP Gladys Hlatywayo, who sought clarification on what was hindering Zimbabwe's return to the Commonwealth.
He explained that Zimbabwe's application was anchored in Section 12 (2) of the national constitution, which mandates the country to engage with regional and international organisations in pursuit of development and global cooperation.
"This informed Zimbabwe's decision to apply for readmission into the Commonwealth after we opted out of the Commonwealth voluntarily," Murwira said.
Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2003 under the leadership of then-President Robert Mugabe. The decision came after the organisation suspended Zimbabwe's membership following controversial elections and concerns over governance and human rights abuses.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration made a formal application to rejoin the bloc in 2018, signalling a desire to reset relations with the international community.
If successful, Zimbabwe would become the fifth country to rejoin the Commonwealth, after South Africa, Pakistan, Fiji, and The Gambia. The last nation to join the organisation was Rwanda in 2009.
Other countries that have withdrawn from the Commonwealth include Ireland (1949) and the Maldives (2016), although the latter later rejoined.
While Zimbabwe's readmission remains uncertain, Murwira insisted that the country remains committed to constructive engagement and awaits a final response from the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Murwira said despite Zimbabwe having fulfilled all the necessary requirements set by the Commonwealth Secretariat, including the completion of a formal assessment process, re-entry into the 53-member intergovernmental organisation remains on hold.
"Zimbabwe undertook all four steps following our expression of interest to rejoin the Commonwealth," Murwira told lawmakers. "These efforts culminated in the production of the Commonwealth Secretariat assessment report, which outlined the progress made by the country since 2017 to support our re-admission."
The assessment included several study visits conducted with the full cooperation of the Zimbabwean government. However, Murwira disclosed that in January this year, the British government raised objections to Zimbabwe's re-admission.
"They wanted a reassessment," he said. "It is their democratic right and sovereign decision to do so, but we still await a formal representation from the secretariat."
Murwira was responding to a question from opposition MP Gladys Hlatywayo, who sought clarification on what was hindering Zimbabwe's return to the Commonwealth.
"This informed Zimbabwe's decision to apply for readmission into the Commonwealth after we opted out of the Commonwealth voluntarily," Murwira said.
Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2003 under the leadership of then-President Robert Mugabe. The decision came after the organisation suspended Zimbabwe's membership following controversial elections and concerns over governance and human rights abuses.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration made a formal application to rejoin the bloc in 2018, signalling a desire to reset relations with the international community.
If successful, Zimbabwe would become the fifth country to rejoin the Commonwealth, after South Africa, Pakistan, Fiji, and The Gambia. The last nation to join the organisation was Rwanda in 2009.
Other countries that have withdrawn from the Commonwealth include Ireland (1949) and the Maldives (2016), although the latter later rejoined.
While Zimbabwe's readmission remains uncertain, Murwira insisted that the country remains committed to constructive engagement and awaits a final response from the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Source - The Standard
