So right off, let me begin by saying the Zimbabwe situation is so depressing. The latest elections threw up very little surprise and the loss of life followed is one those points in our history that will be swept under the carpet as one cannot see Zanu-Pf giving up power for at least the next 20 years. The vote rigging was on the scale that Zimbabweans have come to expect from Zanu-Pf followed by the farce of a court case that confirmed Mnangagwa as the President. So all that optimism we had when Bob was finally kicked out...POOF!
ED is promising to fix the economy, hmm we will see. Zimbabwe is a lovely country with an abundance of resources. Already in bed with China, let's face it though the figures being thrown about once you start thinking about them, show you that nothing is going to change. Out of $60 billion FOCAC pledged by Chinese President Xi Jinping towards financing African projects, ONLY a little more or less than $1 billion will be directed at Zimbabwe since investments earmarked are shared between 55 African nations.
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| The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) |
Obviously only a few in the list of African countries with stable political/economic environments and high growth rates will receive the lion's share of Chinese grants, loans etc, which by no stretch of the imagination can include Zimbabwe under corrupt and incompetent Zanu-PF governance.
The Commonwealth Problem
While there are a tonne of benefits to Zimbabwe being readmitted to the Commonwealth, let's not forget why Zimbabwe was kicked out in the first place. The Commonwealth suspended Zimbabwe in March 2002 following a presidential election marred by high levels of politically motivated violence.
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| Commonwealth of Nations |
Zimbabwe also has to fulfil a number of obligations in line with the Harare Declaration of 1991 which saw members of the Commonwealth pledging to ensure the protection and promotion of the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth; democracy, democratic processes and institutions which reflect national circumstances, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, just and honest government; fundamental human rights, including equal rights as well as create opportunities for all citizens regardless of race, colour, creed or political belief, among other pledges.
Come 2020 I have no doubt that Zimbabwe will still be a long way from fulfilling these obligations but I am not holding out much hope for the Commonwealth standing firm and refusing readmission. Ultimately just like China members of the Commonwealth see more benefit in trade and investment rather than standing up for the people of Zimbabwe whose rights have been trampled on for so long. 😢😢😢😢😢😢
The struggle goes on...✊
