Commonwealth secretariat set to visit Zim

Zim Now Writer

As Zimbabwe works tirelessly in order to earn readmission into the Commonwealth, the Club’s Secretariat is set to travel to Zimbabwe this month to assess the situation on the ground, according to secretary-general of the group Patricia Scotland.

Scotland said yesterday during a media conference at the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand where she was guest of honour said the secretariat has made its assessment, it will then report back on Zimbabwe's suitability to re-join the bloc.

“On the question of re-admission of Zimbabwe into the Commonwealth, Zimbabwe has made an application to come home (get back into the Commonwealth fold) and re-joining or joining is a three-stage process,” said Scotland.

“The stage where we are now with regards to Zimbabwe is that the Commonwealth Secretariat will visit the country in November this year and this team will assess the situation on the ground and then report back so that all members of the Commonwealth can come up with a position on Zimbabwe’s application to re-join.”

This comes as government is adopting a deliberate engagement and re-engagement policy under which it seeks to mend bridges with those countries that had shut the door on Harare.

In his opening address, PAP president Chief Fortune Charumbira said the process to reform the continental legislative body into something new and better positioned to address African problems was already in full swing, adding that Africa remained entrapped under scourges of wars, coups, and also food shortages, which he said affect the lives of African people especially children

Charumbira also said: “The voice of the African people should find space in the global development agenda and PAP should evolve into an institution with legislative powers if it is to help in stemming a myriad of challenges afflicting the African continent.”

Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth for breaching the Harare declaration, which hinged on achieving a Commonwealth of democracy. When the Club refused to lift the suspension in 2003, the southern African nation withdrew from the Club.