BULAWAYO
–
Zimbabwe
must
reform
its
governance
and
human
rights
record
before
it
is
readmitted
into
the
Commonwealth,
the
United
Kingdom
has
said,
effectively
blocking
the
country’s
return
to
the
body
from
which
it
was
suspended
in
2002.
The
Commonwealth
secretariat
had
recommended
Zimbabwe’s
readmission
after
giving
member
countries
until
November
26
to
share
their
views.
A
readmission
would
require
all
members
to
approve.
The
UK’s
foreign
office
said
the
time
is
not
yet
right
to
readmit
Zimbabwe.
In
a
written
response
to
a
question
by
Baroness
Kate
Hoey
in
the
House
of
Lords,
the
foreign
office
said:
“The
UK
has
always
been
clear
that
we
would
like
to
see
Zimbabwe
return
to
the
Commonwealth
when
the
time
is
right.
However,
currently
we
do
not
share
the
secretariat’s
assessment
of
Zimbabwe’s
progress
or
readiness
in
line
with
the
shared
values
and
principles
laid
out
in
the
Commonwealth
Charter.
“Whilst
we
recognise
there
has
been
progress,
we
believe
further
steps
are
needed
on
democracy,
governance
and
human
rights
before
Zimbabwe
makes
a
formal
application
to
re-join
the
Commonwealth.”
In
particular,
the
UK
says
Zimbabwe
has
not
implemented
recommendations
by
the
Commonwealth
Election
Observer
Mission.
The
observers
pointed
to
several
deficiencies,
including
the
Zimbabwe
Electoral
Commission’s
lack
of
independence;
exorbitant
candidate
registration
fees
which
prevent
participation;
lack
of
judicial
independence
and
lack
of
transparency
in
the
announcement
of
election
results.
The
UK
said
it
would
“encourage
a
further
Commonwealth
assessment
mission
to
Zimbabwe
in
2025
to
follow
up
on
these
areas.”
The
foreign
office
added:
“The
UK
strongly
values
our
partnership
with
Zimbabwe
and
stands
ready
to
support
further
reforms
in
this
regard,
through
the
Commonwealth
and
other
fora.”
The
Commonwealth
is
currently
made
up
of
56
countries
with
roots
in
Britain’s
empire.
African
countries
had
called
for
Zimbabwe’s
return
to
the
grouping.