Zimbabwe is far from re-joining the Commonwealth following objections from the British government, Foreign Affairs minister Amon Murwira has told Parliament.
Former president Robert Mugabe pulled Zimbabwe out of the organisation in 2003 after Harare’s membership was suspended following disputed elections held the previous year.
In 2007, the Commonwealth adopted a four-part process for re-admitting nations which include making a formal application which has to be presented with evidence of a functioning democratic process.
In 2018, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration officially applied for Zimbabwe to re-join the Commonwealth.
Murwira, told Parliament last week that there were objections to Zimbabwe re-joining the Commonwealth despite the country having completed all stages needed to be a member of the bloc.
He said Zimbabwe’s desire to join the Commonwealth was hinged on Section 12 (2) of the constitution, which speaks to the country’s obligation to work with regional and international organisations.
“This informed Zimbabwe's decision to apply for readmission into the Commonwealth after we opted out of the Commonwealth voluntarily,” Murwira said.
He was responding to opposition lawmaker, Gladys Hlatywayo, who wanted him to explain the reasons behind objections to Zimbabwe rejoining the Commonwealth.
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“Zimbabwe undertook all four steps following our expression of interest to rejoin the Commonwealth,” Murwira said.
“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.
“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.”
Murwira said Britain was, however, objecting to Zimbabwe being readmitted to the bloc.
“As I said, there were objections from the British government in January, but those were submitted to the secretariat,” he said.
“They wanted a reassessment but our point is that it is their democratic right and sovereign decision to do so, but we still await a real formal representation from the secretariat.”
“So, we are still awaiting a response from the secretariat.”
If readmitted, Zimbabwe will become the fifth country to re-join the association — which has 53 member countries – after Gambia, South Africa, Pakistan and Fiji.
The other countries to have quit the organisation are Ireland, which left in 1949, and the Maldives, which exited in 2016.
The last country to join was Rwanda in 2009.
