*Zimbabwe Completes Commonwealth Re-Admission Process Minister Murwira* ___________________________________ `June 20, 2025` ___________________________________ > *Follow The Voice Online News WhatsApp channel:* https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaPRQqTHrDZdGRK5yH43 ___________________________________ > *Share The Voice Online News WhatsApp group link:* https://chat.whatsapp.com/DjU5F7Goh3M6M4XSkg81Gx ___________________________________ > *To advertise with The Voice Online News, talk to us here:* https://wa.me/message/PLR6ANGW2RX4I1 ___________________________________ Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Amon Murwira says Zimbabwe has completed all the necessary steps to rejoin the Commonwealth and is now awaiting direction from the organisation’s secretariat on the formal re-admission process. Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Murwira said Zimbabwe had followed the full four-step process required for rejoining, after formally expressing its interest in returning to the bloc. He said: Section 12 (2) of Zimbabwe’s Constitution emphasises Zimbabwe’s obligation to work with regional and international organisations that promote peaceful economic, social and cultural cooperation with Zimbabwe. This informed Zimbabwe’s decision to apply for readmission into the Commonwealth after we opted out of the Commonwealth voluntarily. It will be recalled that eligible countries seeking to join the Commonwealth should undertake a four-step membership process once the formal expression of interest to join is triggered. Minister Murwira explained that the re-admission process involves four key stages. First, the Commonwealth Secretary-General conducts an informal assessment after a country expresses interest in rejoining. This is followed by consultations with existing member states. If these go well, the country is invited to submit a formal application. The final step is the submission of that application, which must be accompanied by evidence of democratic governance and broad public support for rejoining the Commonwealth. He said: Zimbabwe undertook all four steps following our expression of interest to re-join the Commonwealth… The [Commonwealth] Secretariat undertook all the study visits it required with the concurrence of the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and came up with the recommendations that were presented to member states. The current position by the Government, therefore, is that we wait to hear from the Commonwealth Secretariat on the next steps. I wish to reaffirm that Zimbabwe remains open to mutually respectful and constructive engagement on this important matter, guided by the doctrinal reference point, a friend to all and an enemy to none. Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth in December 2003 following a period of increasing tension and a suspension of its membership. The Commonwealth and various international bodies accused Zimbabwe’s government, then led by Robert Mugabe, of systematic human rights abuses, including violence against opposition figures, suppression of free speech, and politically motivated intimidation. Concerns were raised about the fairness of elections, particularly the 2002 presidential election, which observers reported was marred by violence and irregularities. The independence of the judiciary and adherence to the rule of law were also questioned. The fast-track land reform program, which involved the forceful seizure of white-owned farms for redistribution, was a major point of contention. This policy led to widespread violence, disruption of agricultural production, and significant economic decline, and it was seen by some Commonwealth members, particularly the UK, as a violation of property rights and the rule of law. Due to these issues, Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth in March 2002. When the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Abuja, Nigeria, in December 2003 decided to extend this suspension indefinitely, then-President Robert Mugabe unilaterally announced Zimbabwe’s withdrawal from the organisation. Mugabe famously characterised the Commonwealth as “a mere club” and likened it to “Animal Farm,” implying that some members were more equal than others and that the organisation was a tool of “Anglo-Saxon” (primarily British) interests. _*Herald*_