adminAshley Mujoma
THERE have been some notable developments, in Zimbabwe’s bid to rejoin the Commonwealth, since the last Club assessment.
This was said by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Frederick Shava, in Harare yesterday.
A visiting Commonwealth delegation is in the country.
In a meeting attended by several Cabinet ministers at Munhumutapa Building yesterday, Minister Shava said:
“We are pleased that since the last Commonwealth Assessment Mission in July 2019, Government has made significant strides in implementing the reform agenda, as well as meeting the five expectations that are critical for our re-admission into the Commonwealth.
“We are working with Vision 2030 which prioritises the reorientation of the country towards democratisation, respect for human and property rights, freedom of expression and association; the rule of law as well as addressing economic challenges.
“In that regard, under our National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), for the period 2021-2025, the Government is striving to build on the successes of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme to ensure macro-economic stability and growth.
“Notable achievements have also been witnessed since the inception of the political dialogue, notably the acceptance and endorsement of POLAD by SADC, the AU and UN, as a worthwhile and timely intervention in promoting peace, unity, social cohesion and dialogue.
“Further, POLAD has played an active role in promoting economic, social and governance issues at national level,” he said.
Commonwealth assistant secretary-general and leader of the delegation, Professor Luis Franceschi, said:
“It takes a lot of consideration for a country to make that wise decision, which is not influenced by emotions.
“We encourage other nations to work with the same spirit.
“Zimbabwe first applied to be readmitted back into the Commonwealth in 2018, which it left 19 years ago.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter