(HERALD) Zim can apply to rejoin Club: Envoy

Zim can apply to rejoin Club: Envoy
Tuesday, 07 June 2011 22:54
Herald Reporter

THE Commonwealth would want to see Zimbabwe rejoin the club but Harare should re-apply if it wants to be part of the club, Australian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Matthew Neuhaus has said.

Australia was instrumental in unilaterally suspending Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth in 2003 before Harare chose to withdraw from the grouping of Britain and its former colonies.

Mr Neuhaus was addressing the media after paying a courtesy call on Vice President, John Landa Nkomo, in Harare yesterday.

He said Zimbabwe would, however, have to be prepared to ascribe to the conditions set by the club.

But Zimbabwe's other reason for withdrawing was its refusal to be subjected to conditions, which were being selectively applied just to find fault with Harare.
Mr Neuhaus said the Commonwealth was distressed to see Zimbabwe withdraw from the club.

"It was distressing when Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth after they were suspended. We had hoped they would come back shortly after the suspension but they withdrew.

"Zimbabwe need to re-apply and there is big hope that they will rejoin the Commonwealth but they should be ready to ascribe to the conditions of the Commonwealth like free and fair elections and the rule of law and the elections roadmap," Ambassador Neuhaus said.

He said the Commonwealth had welcomed the Global Political Agreement adding that the club was following progress.

"At the last Commonwealth meeting, the membership generally welcomed the GPA and leaders would now want to review the GPA progress," he said.

Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth on December 7, 2003 on unfounded allegations of failure to hold free and fair elections.

Turning to his meeting with VP Nkomo, Ambassador Neuhaus said they discussed the need for peace and intolerance to political violence.

"The Vice President is a lead member of the Organ of National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration, so we talked a lot on the importance of the need to make sure there is no political violence.

"I told him I have been travelling all over the country and of the support that the Australian Government is giving to Bulawayo in areas of water," said Ambassador Neuhaus.