FOREIGN Affairs and International Trade minister Sibusiso
Moyo will today make a presentation at a breakfast meeting on the sidelines of
the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London where he is
expected to outline Zimbabwe’s reform agenda.
Zimbabwe had requested to attend the CHOGM meeting as
observer but the request was turned down on grounds that such a status does not
exist.
A special arrangement however was made for Zimbabwe to make
a presentation on the sidelines of a CHOGM meeting today.
A British Harare embassy spokesperson yesterday confirmed
that Zimbabwe does not have formal observer status and will therefore not be
part of meetings.
“Zimbabwe does not have formal observer status at CHOGM and
we understand will not be attending any Commonwealth events. However Foreign
Minister Moyo is welcome in London and we are delighted he will take advantage
of CHOGM to meet a number of key interlocutors in the margins,” the
spokesperson said.
On Zimbabwe’s readmission to the Commonwealth the spokesperson
said; “Applying is a matter for the Zimbabwean people to decide. Zimbabwe would
have to formally apply to the Commonwealth secretariat and the final decision
would then be for all Commonwealth members. However, the UK would strongly
support a new Zimbabwe that is committed to political and economic reform, and
the re-entry of Zimbabwe to the Commonwealth.”
The Zimbabwe Independent understands that for Zimbabwe to
be readmitted it has to first write to the Commonwealth secretariat which will
then refer the matter to heads of state.
This means the earliest Zimbabwe can be readmitted is at
the next CHOGM meeting in 2020.
The embassy confirmed that Moyo would make a special
presentation on the sidelines of CHOGM meeting saying that the meeting is primarily
an opportunity for Zimbabwe to set out its commitment to international
re-engagement.
Moyo will also meet the British Foreign Secretary Boris
Johnson and British Minister for Africa Harriett Baldwin as a follow-up to
earlier engagements.
Zimbabwe quit Commonwealth in December 2003 after a meeting
of the organisation’s heads of government extended the country’s suspension
from its ranks.
The Commonwealth suspended Zimbabwe in March 2002 following
the presidential election, which was marred by high levels of politically
motivated violence.
Zimbabwe also has to fulfil a number of obligations in line
with the Harare Declaration of 1991 which saw members of the Commonwealth
pledging to ensure the protection and promotion of the fundamental political
values of the Commonwealth; democracy, democratic processes and institutions
which reflect national circumstances, the rule of law and the independence of
the judiciary, just and honest government; fundamental human rights, including
equal rights as well as create opportunities for all citizens regardless of
race, colour, creed or political belief among other pledges. Zimbabwe
Independent
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