Zimbabwe Ready to Rejoin Commonwealth

The Republic of Zimbabwe looks set to become part of the Commonwealth of former British colonies once again, says a government official.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade spokesperson, Constance Chemwayi, recently announced that the country’s application is in the second stage of a four-step process.

The current step involves the Commonwealth’s secretary general, Patricia Scotland, discussing the southern African nation’s application to rejoin other member states.

Chemwayi said: “Commonwealth decisions are based on consensus and by that nature, every member is entitled to a say on the case of Zimbabwe.”

The process’ first step consisted of two informal assessment missions and discussions with local authorities, which were undertaken by Scotland in June 2018 and July 2019.

In 2003, then-president Robert Mugabe made the decision to see Zimbabwe withdraw from the political association of 54 member states, after the nation was suspended in 2002 for failing to adhere to the declaration of the Commonwealth’s principles and values.