Friday, March 16, 2018

Zimbabwe Ready to Rejoin Commonwealth
15 MAR, 2018 - 00:03
Herald 

Nyemudzai Kakore
Herald Correspondent

Negotiations for the Zimbabwean Government to rejoin the Commonwealth are ongoing and consultations are at an advanced stage, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Lieutenant-General Sibusiso Moyo (Retired) said yesterday.

Rtd Lt-Gen Moyo said the new administration was not facing any impediments with regards to it being a member of the Commonwealth.

He said this while responding to questions without notice from Hurungwe West legislator Keith Guzah, who had asked what Government policy was with regards to rejoining the Commonwealth.

“They were reasons which led to Zimbabwe extricating itself from the Commonwealth. As a result of that the country withdrew itself from the Commonwealth after suspension,” he said.

“However, the current position is that there is no impediment whatsoever why Zimbabwe would be averse to rejoining the Commonwealth. In fact, the process which is there at the moment is that there are necessary processes and consultations, which are taking place.

|”These consultations should again inform the Executive so that the processes of rejoining the Commonwealth could then be undertaken.”

President Mnangagwa is on record expressing interest in Zimbabwe rejoining the commonwealth.

Former President, Mr Robert Mugabe, withdrew Zimbabwe from the commonwealth in 2003.

The new administration led by President Mnangagwa is opening Zimbabwe for business and is eager to end the isolation of the country on the global stage.

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