Britain extends olive branch to Zim

LONDON: Britain has said it will strongly support Zimbabwe’s re-entry to the Commonwealth and praised President Emmerson Mnangagwa for impressive progress since Robert Mugabe was toppled in a military coup.

But it said Mnangagwa would still have to deliver on free and fair elections in July to win over Zimbabwe’s critics at home and abroad.

Zimbabwe left the Commonwealth network of 53 mostly former territories of the British Empire in 2003 after Mugabe, who had ruled the country from 1980 when it received independence, came under criticism over disputed elections and land seizures from white farmers.

“The UK would strongly support Zimbabwe’s re-entry and a new Zimbabwe that is committed to political and economic reform that works for all its people,” the British Foreign Office said in a statement.

As Harare looks to rebuild its international ties, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson met his Zimbabwean counterpart, Sibusiso Moyo, and ministers from other nations over breakfast on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London.

Johnson praised Mnangagwa’s record in office in the past 150 days but said a bellwether for the direction of a new Zimbabwe would be the July election. The election will pit Mnangagwa against a clutch of opponents including 40-yearold Nelson Chamisa from the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

David Coltart, a former education minister and member of parliament for the MDC , said he was shocked by the speed with which Mnangagwa had been welcomed back to the fold after an unconstitutional seizure of power. “I am utterly appalled by the Common- wealth… and the British government fêting the Zimbabwe regime,” he said on Twitter.

The West imposed sanctions on Mugabe and members of his inner circle, accusing them of rigging a series of votes – charges they denied. Now Zimbabwe has said it will invite Western powers to monitor its national elections for the first time in more than 15 years.

“The UK stands ready in friendship to support a Zimbabwe that fully embraces the rule of law, human rights and economic reform,” Johnson said. – Reuters

PICTURE: REUTERS/AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY (ANA) British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson arrives for a meeting with delegations from Zimbabwe and other African nations yesterday during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London.