HARARE – A Commonwealth Assessment Mission is headed for Zimbabwe for a week’s observation of the country’s possible readiness to rejoin its ranks based on terms set by the famous grouping.
This follows Zimbabwe’s request 2018 to be readmitted into the club of former British colonies.
In a statement Thursday, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Frederick Shava said the team was expected to jet into the country this weekend.
“A Commonwealth Assessment Mission will be in Zimbabwe from 12 to 18 November 2022, at the invitation of His Excellency President E D. Mnangagwa, to assess the progress that the country has made following the application it submitted in 2018 to rejoin the organisation.
“The Mission, led by Assistant Secretary General Professor Luis Franceschi, will be visiting the country for the third time, in line with Zimbabwe’s re-engagement thrust that seeks to reset and rekindle its foreign relations in order to create a conducive and supportive environment for the successful implementation of NDSI and the realisation of Vision 2030.
“During the visit, the Mission will meet with His Excellency the President and hold discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador F. M. Shava, and other ministers and senior government officials covering the political, legislative and economic reforms that the Government has implemented under the Second Republic.
“It will also engage the media and other stakeholders on matters of interest to the organisation,” he said.
Late former President Robert Mugabe pulled Zimbabwe out of the Commonwealth 2003 in frustration after his administration was taken to task over poll fraud and state sponsored violent seizures of white-owned land.
