“I see a day when Zimbabwe will rejoin the Commonwealth” says Zimbabwean Minister
Posted by AlexT - 21/10/09 at 10:10 amIn an interview conducted by the RCS as part of the Commonwealth Conversation, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, Zimbabwean Minister for Regional Integration and International Cooperation, emphasised how important the Commonwealth is to Zimbabwe, but warned that it must do more to sell itself to the Zimbabwean people.
Transcript
Q: Last week a meeting was held in Harare as part of the Commonwealth Conversation. The people of Zimbabwe were keen to see further involvement with the Commonwealth. Why do you think this is?
A: I think it is such because the people of Zimbabwe do have a relationship with the Commonwealth, they have known of the Commonwealth from way back, during our liberation struggle. However, what has been lacking is the translation of that relationship into something people can relate to at a practical level.
I always give an example that if you say Zimbabwe will no longer be participating in the world cup they would be uproar in the streets. But the reason you did not see uproar when Zimbabwe pulled out of the Commonwealth is because a whole lot of Zimbabweans did not have an appreciation of practical issues about the Commonwealth. How the Commonwealth can bring people together, how Zimbabwe and Ghana can relate within the context of the Commonwealth. They see how South Africa and Zimbabwe relate, but they do not understand how Ghana, Kenya, Britain relates.
Q: So what are the benefits of Commonwealth membership for Zimbabwe?
A: I think the benefits for one are the sharing of experience. Zimbabwe at the moment is building new institutions. New local government structures, where they need to be learning from other countries that are around the Commonwealth. To learn how to effectively use the Local Government structures. We are beginning to build institutions like the human rights institutions, media commission, Zimbabwe electoral commission. The commonwealth has this vast experience around the running of elections – so sharing best practises – and being part of a family and sharing those values.
Q: And finally, do you envisage a point of the future when Zimbabwe will rejoin the Commonwealth?
A: Certainly. There is a general agreement that we need to be reengaging with the international community. If you go back even to President Mugabe’s speech at the opening of Parliament, he said “we seek to reengage with the international community”. He did not say minus the Commonwealth. So I do see a day to which we will rejoin.
Category : Mobility & Exchange, The Commonwealth's Relevance, homepage items
Tags: Commonwealth, Zimbabwe
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October 23rd, 2009 at 9:08 pm
I’m not entirely convinced of the connection to Mugabe’s own words. ”International community”, against the backdrop of Mugabe’s anti-colonialist rhetoric and paranoia about British meddling, seems unlikely to extend to the Commonwealth quite so smoothly as the Minister suggests.
October 26th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
‘Zimbabwe or any other country is more than an individual president or persons.We should look at things beyond this era in Zimbabwe and the world.If only the Americans had seen the world as Mr Bush then we could have been talking in another language now.The COMMONWEALTH thus should not be worried about certain individuals as far as Zimbabwe is concerned.As young people we can even do more to foster these good relations. We cannot have a situation were we are divided from our brothers and sisters who are living in the UK. Can you engage Zimbabwe.This is possible.Prove the prophets of doom that the Intention of the organization is not to extend hegemony but to share what ever resources we have to achieve common goals like; Democracy,Poverty alleviation,Environmental sustainability etc.
February 15th, 2010 at 9:21 am
Denis Sinyolo writes in the ZimDiaspora ’8 Reasons by Zimbabwe must join Commonwealth’
http://www.zimdiaspora.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2801:eight-reasons-why-zimbabwe-must-join-commowealth&catid=38:travel-tips&Itemid=18