The opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) says Zimbabwe is yet to meet the conditions to be readmitted to the Commonwealth because of continuing human rights violations.
CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere lamented what she called violations of the constitution, property rights, and the escalation of politically motivated violence by ZANU PF against innocent people. Said Mahere:
For Zimbabwe to rejoin the community of nations, it is very important for us to stop abusing citizens.
You know that there are political prisoners who have been in pretrial detention for more than 140 days.
Violations of the constitution, violations of property rights, corruption, the escalation of violence by ZANU-PF against citizens, journalists and members of political opposition and civic society, the shrinking democratic space and the continued promulgation of repressive unconstitutional legislation — that does not bode well for Zimbabwe to be received back into the community of nations.
Zengeza West MP, Job Sikhala, who is CCC deputy chairperson, Chitungwiza North MP Godfrey Sithole, and 14 party members have been in prison since June on allegations of political violence.
Sithole was released on Friday night but others are still languishing in pre-trial detention.
A Commonwealth delegation led by assistant secretary-general Prof Luis Franceschi is currently in Zimbabwe to assess whether the country has met the conditions to be readmitted to the group. | NewZimbabwe.com
CCC is not a member of the Commonwealth. As such it cannot says whether or not the Zimbabwe qualifies for re-admission to the Commonwealth. That’s up to the Commonwealth member states.
Very true. These guys act as though the commonweath wants to admit a political party as opposed to a country. They drafted and called for sanctions and now deny they did. Here we go again. It would be much easy for them to engage in their opposition child play with Zimbabwe within the commonweath than outside. These guys are indeed immature with all their decisions being made by their tinpot dictator without any structures. If Uganda, Nigeria etc are within the comon9why should zimbabwe which is much better than most countries there be excluded
The above comments are shallow, first and foremost you should support your statements with evidence to show that what the CCC spokesperson is saying is not true instead of digressing into irrelevant issues which have no connection with the issue at hand. If you have nothing to say please don’t expose your shallowness.
Zimbabwe’s readmission to the Commonwealth could help Zimbabwe a lot.Article by Njabulo email libertyatliberty at gmail dot com.Human Rights are inviolable .Human Rights are indivisible.Human Rights are an integral part of all human beings.Human Rights are inalienable(no one can take them away). Human Rights are universal (for all the world).That is why they must not be trampled on by individuals,state ,institutions ,companies and/or organisations.What is disheartening is that the west that claims to be the custodian and champion of human rights laws,is the one that is at the helm of trampling on human rights of people and other small states .For example,in the USA the black folk’s human rights are trampled on everyday.Having mentioned this ,human rights observation ,must be done by all states in the world ,irregardless of or notwithstanding how big those countries are.Even all small states are expected to uphold the human rights laws.I therefore write this comment as a neutral, focusing on the importance of readmission of Zimbabwe to the Commonwealth.I am not finger pointing anyone or apportioning any blame to any one or any institution,organisation ,company and/or any political party in Zimbabwe for breach of human rights,lest my comment be misconstrued.Let us be reasonable here,there will be more advantages for Zimbabwe,if readmitted to the Commonwealth,than for her not to be readmitted.If readmitted ,Zimbabwe will adhere to all the rules and regulations of the Commonwealth.One of those governing rules and regulations,is not to violate human rights of anyone and also to uphold the rule of law.This therefore ,is a positive factor for all Zimbabweans who advocate for peace and the eradication or alIeviation of human rights violations in Zimbabwe.So,those allegations of human rights violations ,can be expunged once and for all. The readmission will put a clog to the wheel of human rights violations,which are being alleged to be committed in Zimbabwe.It will be therefore a prudent course of action for all political parties and other stakeholders ,to put their differences aside in this issue.All parties are to work together ,in an endeavour to help Zimbabwe to be readmitted to the Commonwealth.If Zimbabwe is readmitted to the Commonwealth,any sabotage by any western countries and illegal sanctions will then come to an end.That will help Zimbabwe’s economy to appreciate.That will not only be good news for the incumbent government ,but for the whole nation of Zimbabwe.Sanctions are draconian and they hurt all Zimbabweans.Furthermore,it is possible that the UK can allow Zimbabwean citizens to travel to the UK without any visas ,as it used to be the case in yester years.So,everyone has to work together to make the readmission of Zimbabwe to the Commonwealth possible.Further ,if Zimbabwe is readmitted to the Commonwealth, the political climate in Zimbabwe will be conducive for all political parties ,as there will be rules and regulations which every political party will be obligated to adhere to or abide by.So,it is more of an advantage to Zimbabwe to help in its readmission ,rather than to campaign against its readmission.What is needed is to espouse a more positive attitude of this ,rather than a negative attitude.A negative attitude would negate the whole purpose of the good idea of its admission.”One Zimbabwe ,one nation “.”Forward with readmission of Zimbabwe to the Commonwealth”. This is for the best interest of all Zimbabweans.It is of no use to use political differences to block Zimbabwe from being readmitted to the Commonwealth.The furore about the allegations of unfair elections and disenfrichement of other people in Zimbabwe will be a thing of the past, if Zimbabwe is readmitted to the Commonwealth.So,all people must see this as good for Zimbabwe and political parties.I have written this comment as a neutral.Please note that l do respect the views of others regarding this issue,but this is my own independent view without any malicious intention.
No fear ,no favour or prejudice.
Article by Njabulo email libertyatliberty at gmail dot com .