HARARE -- South African President Jacob Zuma appealed for the readmission of Zimbabwe into the Commonwealth during a summit of the grouping of former British colonies held in Trinidad and Tobago, his spokesman Vincent Magwenya said.
In a statement Magwenya said Zuma told the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that ended Sunday that accepting Zimbabwe back would show the international community’s support of efforts by the Harare coalition government to deliver economic and political change.
"Zimbabwe's re-admission into the Commonwealth, will serve as a recognition to the progress that has been achieved thus far. Equally, along with the lifting of sanctions, it will represent the international community's support and encouragement to parties to continue the dialogue that will deliver a lasting solution to the challenges facing the country," Magwenya quoted Zuma as having told the summit.
President Robert Mugabe withdrew Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth after the organisation condemned his controversial rule and had voted to maintain Harare’s suspension from the club. Mugabe and his government failed to abide by the principles contained in the Harare Declaration. In this Declaration, Heads of Government reaffirmed their commitment to work “with renewed vigour” to protect and promote “the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth”. Zimbabwe was suspended in 2002, and decided to withdraw from the Commonwealth in December 2003.
The announcement by Zuma follows an almost similar plea for Harare’s re-admission made by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Thursday last week.
However Brown said more reforms including holding of free and fair elections were critical to ensuring Zimbabwe’s re-engagement with the Commonwealth and the rest of the international community.
- ZimOnline and Simba Nembaware
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Political parties not uplifting women: Group
HARARE – A Zimbabwean women’s pressure group has castigated the three political parties in the power-sharing government for failing to promote the participation of women in politics.
In its gender audit report released on Wednesday, the Women in Politics Support Unit (WIPSU) said President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T and Deputy Premier Arthur Mutambara’s MDC-M are just the same when it comes to the treatment of female politicians.
“The three parties claim to believe in the core values of equality, justice, empowerment, non-discrimination, freedom and equity among others but none of these three parties had a substantive gender policy,” read the report entitled “Are Political Parties Serious About Gender Equality and Women’s Rights?”
“Only MDC-T had developed a gender and women empowerment policy by the second phase of the study. The MDC claimed they had a policy however most of those interviewed were not aware of it. ZANU PF claimed the country’s National Gender Policy is the ZANU PF policy since it went through ZANU PF processes before being adopted as the national policy.”
WIPSU is a feminist organisation which provides support for women in parliament and local government in Zimbabwe with the aim of increasing their qualitative and quantitative participation and influence in policy and decision making.
The gender audit report which was compiled between March 2008 and 2009 assesses the commitments the political parties in Zimbabwe have made in advancing women participation in decision-making positions.
The report further stated that members of the three parties are not even aware that there are gender policies in their parties. It said the parties have written policies that look good on paper but will not go further than the shelves.
“For all the three political parties, it is clear that there is a huge gap between rhetoric, policy on paper and policy in reality,” read the report.
The pressure group said the attitude of political parties in Zimbabwe is generally negative.
The group said it will present the report to the three political parties and lobby them to implement its findings and recommendations.
– ZimOnline
In its gender audit report released on Wednesday, the Women in Politics Support Unit (WIPSU) said President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T and Deputy Premier Arthur Mutambara’s MDC-M are just the same when it comes to the treatment of female politicians.
“The three parties claim to believe in the core values of equality, justice, empowerment, non-discrimination, freedom and equity among others but none of these three parties had a substantive gender policy,” read the report entitled “Are Political Parties Serious About Gender Equality and Women’s Rights?”
“Only MDC-T had developed a gender and women empowerment policy by the second phase of the study. The MDC claimed they had a policy however most of those interviewed were not aware of it. ZANU PF claimed the country’s National Gender Policy is the ZANU PF policy since it went through ZANU PF processes before being adopted as the national policy.”
WIPSU is a feminist organisation which provides support for women in parliament and local government in Zimbabwe with the aim of increasing their qualitative and quantitative participation and influence in policy and decision making.
The gender audit report which was compiled between March 2008 and 2009 assesses the commitments the political parties in Zimbabwe have made in advancing women participation in decision-making positions.
The report further stated that members of the three parties are not even aware that there are gender policies in their parties. It said the parties have written policies that look good on paper but will not go further than the shelves.
“For all the three political parties, it is clear that there is a huge gap between rhetoric, policy on paper and policy in reality,” read the report.
The pressure group said the attitude of political parties in Zimbabwe is generally negative.
The group said it will present the report to the three political parties and lobby them to implement its findings and recommendations.
– ZimOnline
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