Zimbabwe’s chances of re-joining the Commonwealth now hangs by a thread as the British are not convinced of the “New Dispensation’s”to democracy and the rule of law. This comes after security forces killed 7 people in August 2018, and another 12 people early this year.
Britain’s Commonwealth minister, Lord Tariq Mahmood Ahmad warned that the military and police heavy-handedness against opposition and civil society leaders were jeopardising the country’s chances of being re-admitted into the Commonwealth. Said Ahmad:
Many saw during the (2018) Commonwealth summit, the government’s commitment to encouraging, among other partners, the new Zimbabwe to come forward for membership. Clearly, the events that have unfolded recently put that into question — but, of course, it is a matter not for the UK, but for the Commonwealth as a whole.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba said that Zimbabwe is not desperate to rejoin the Commonwealth, rather it is the British government that is pining for Zimbabwe’s readmission. Charamba had this to say:
The sentiments on prospects of Zimbabwe rejoining the Commonwealth overlook a very basic fact, namely that it is the British government which wanted Zimbabwe back into the Commonwealth. We related positively to that indication because it coincided with our policy of re-engagement. If there is a second thought on the matter, so be it.