Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe
ZIMBABWE has fulfilled all the necessary requirements to re-join the Commonwealth and is now awaiting guidance from the oganisation’s secretariat on the next steps in the formal re-admission process, a Cabinet minister has said.
This development follows the country’s formal expression of interest to rejoin the voluntary association of independent and equal sovereign states, which it voluntarily withdrew from in 2003.
Under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe has intensified its engagement and re-engagement efforts with all nations and international organisations. Significant progress has been recorded in this regard, in line with the Second Republic’s foreign policy thrust of being “a friend to all and an enemy to none”.
Responding to legislators in Parliament on Wednesday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, reaffirmed the Government’s unwavering commitment to multilateral cooperation, highlighting Zimbabwe’s constitutional obligations and the progress achieved under the national reform agenda.
“Section 12 (2) of Zimbabwe’s Constitution emphasises Zimbabwe’s obligation to work with regional and international organisations that promote peaceful economic, social and cultural cooperation with Zimbabwe.
“This informed Zimbabwe’s decision to apply for readmission into the Commonwealth after we opted out of the Commonwealth voluntarily. It will be recalled that eligible countries seeking to join the Commonwealth should undertake a four-step membership process once the formal expression of interest to join is triggered,” Minister Murwira said.
He explained that the re-admission process comprises four key steps: an informal assessment by the Secretary-General following the expression of interest, consultations with existing Commonwealth member states; an invitation extended to the interested country to submit a formal application; and finally, the submission of that application along with evidence of democratic processes and broad public support for rejoining.
“Zimbabwe undertook all four steps following our expression of interest to re-join the Commonwealth,” he said.
The minister added that Zimbabwe has submitted detailed reports outlining progress made under its reform agenda, which is aligned with Vision 2030, an initiative led by President Mnangagwa to transform the country into an upper-middle-income economy.
“These efforts culminated in the production of the Commonwealth Secretariat of the assessment report, which stated the achievements made by the country since 2017 to support our readmission into the organisation,” said the minister.
Professor Murwira stated that Zimbabwe facilitated all necessary study visits and consultations with the Commonwealth Secretariat, demonstrating transparency and cooperation throughout the process.
“The Secretariat undertook all the study visits it required with the concurrence of the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and came up with the recommendations that were presented to member states.
“The current position by the Government, therefore, is that we wait to hear from the Commonwealth Secretariat on the next steps. I wish to reaffirm that Zimbabwe remains open to mutually respectful and constructive engagement on this important matter, guided by the doctrinal reference point, a friend to all and an enemy to none.
Zimbabwe’s bid to re-join the Commonwealth has attracted widespread interest, forming a key part of the country’s broader diplomatic re-engagement and its resolve to reposition itself on the global stage.
