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LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS — including the Government, opposition parties and civil society organisations — have united in support of Zimbabwe’s bid to rejoin the Commonwealth, in a show of cross-sectoral support that strengthens the country’s prospects for readmission.
This development represents a significant milestone for President Mnangagwa’s foreign policy of engagement and re-engagement, which is aimed at reintegrating Zimbabwe into the global community of nations.
It is understood that the outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland, recommended at the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, that Zimbabwe be readmitted to the 56-member club, over two decades after the country’s withdrawal.
Zimbabwe left the Commonwealth in 2003 amid tensions between Harare and London over the Land Reform Programme.
It then lodged an application for readmission in 2018, after which the Commonwealth initiated its four-step assessment process to determine the country’s eligibility.
As part of the evaluation, the secretariat dispatched several missions to Zimbabwe to assess its alignment with the organisation’s values.
The readmission process consists of an informal assessment by the Commonwealth secretary-general, consultations with member states, a formal invitation to apply and then a final application showing evidence of democratic processes and popular support for Commonwealth membership within the applicant country.
The Sunday Mail has gathered that the Commonwealth Secretariat is presently finalising consultations with member states and other formalities.
Responding to an inquiry from The Sunday Mail, Commonwealth spokesperson Mr Tom Allen said there was broad support for the country’s readmission.
“Zimbabwe has applied to rejoin the Commonwealth. In our visits, we have ascertained that stakeholders (the Government, the opposition, civil society, the media, religious leaders, et cetera) would like to see Zimbabwe rejoin,” he said.
“The process is ongoing. It will be a decision taken by the leaders once the process is finalised. We have been in regular contact with the Government and will continue to work with it, providing the necessary support, feedback and guidance throughout this process.
“The Commonwealth has a robust membership process that must be followed once the formal expression of interest in rejoining has been expressed.”
The process, he said, was not time-bound.
“We cannot comment on the specifics of the process as it is still ongoing,” he added.
In August last year, Zimbabwe conducted a peaceful, free and fair election, clearing the last hurdle that stood in the way of its readmission.
The Commonwealth Election Observer Mission gave the polls a clean bill of health, praising the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for managing the plebiscite efficiently.
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