This article examines Zimbabwe’s political situation following the 2017 coup that ousted Robert Mugabe. While there are aspirations for rejoining the Commonwealth, significant concerns about electoral integrity and political reform remain. Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Scotland expresses optimism despite a more skeptical outlook from other observers regarding the government’s commitment to necessary reforms. The handling of reports on Zimbabwe’s democratic progress reveals discrepancies in the assessment of public support for Commonwealth membership.
In November 2017, Robert Mugabe, the long-time leader of Zimbabwe, was ousted by a military coup, marking the end of his 37-year dictatorship. His successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who had served as Vice-President, appeared eager to embrace change, especially with aspirations of rejoining the Commonwealth. Celebrations erupted upon Mugabe’s removal, as the public hoped for an end to corruption and mismanagement. However, the reality of Zimbabwe’s political landscape proved more complex.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Scotland expressed optimism regarding Zimbabwe’s potential return to the Commonwealth, contingent upon the country meeting expectations outlined in the Commonwealth Charter. The disputed 2018 elections, marred by violence, cast doubt on progress, yet the Secretary-General maintained a cautious hope, placing Zimbabwe’s application in her pending tray. As a sign of engagement, Scotland initiated an informal assessment of Zimbabwe’s compliance in 2022 and highlighted “significant progress.” The reactions from international bodies, including the EU and SADC, indicated substantial concerns regarding electoral integrity leading to critique of the 2023 elections.
Notably, a Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) was invited to observe the elections, which is unusual for a non-member state. Their observations echoed concerns raised by other international observers, although they withheld final judgement until after their report was officially released. Early 2024 saw the report awaiting approval within the Secretary-General’s office and preceding the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa later that year.
The handling of the COG report raised questions about transparency, as it took over a year for public release despite being sent to member governments shortly before the summit. Both the COG report and Scotland’s informal assessment shared concerns about Zimbabwe’s democratic challenges, such as electoral reforms and civil liberties. While Scotland portrayed an optimistic outlook regarding Zimbabwe’s progress, the COG’s more skeptical perspective underscored significant doubts about the government’s commitment to reform.
In assessing public support for rejoining the Commonwealth, the Secretary-General reported widespread enthusiasm among Zimbabweans for membership. However, contrasting evaluations between the COG and Scotland reflect a divide in perceptions of the nation’s political landscape and the level of genuine reform required to meet Commonwealth standards.
The circumstances surrounding Zimbabwe’s potential re-entry into the Commonwealth illustrate the complexity of its political situation post-Mugabe. While optimism exists regarding governmental engagement and public support for Commonwealth membership, significant concerns regarding electoral integrity, democratic reform, and civil rights persist. The divergence in perspectives between Commonwealth officials and observers highlights the need for transparent and substantial reforms for Zimbabwe to achieve its democratic goals.
Original Source: www.commonwealthroundtable.co.uk
