Zimbabwe’s bid to rejoin the Commonwealth has received a potential boost following talks between senior parliamentary leaders in London.
National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda says Britain’s House of Commons Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, has pledged to use his influence to support Zimbabwe’s return.
Mudenda made the announcement at Zimbabwe House in London after meeting Hoyle during a recent working visit to the United Kingdom.
He led a delegation from Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The meeting also brought together embassy officials, senior government representatives, ZANU PF members and Zimbabwean diaspora business leaders.
“What came out of our discussion was that the Speaker has committed himself to use his authority and influence to speak to the power of that being, that Zimbabwe must be re-accepted in the Commonwealth. Our association with the Commonwealth is born from history,” Mudenda said.
Mudenda Calls for Equal Treatment in Parliamentary Relations
Beyond the Commonwealth question, Mudenda said both countries discussed ways to exchange parliamentary experience and improve cooperation.
“Our parliamentary processes are literally similar in many respects,” he said.
He also stressed that closer relations between Zimbabwe and Britain must respect national sovereignty and equality.
Mudenda said parliamentary diplomacy could complement engagement between the two countries’ governments.
“Parliamentary diplomacy is there to work with executive diplomacy at the level of the Head of State in Government,” he said.
He further explained that lawmakers must respond to social changes by creating appropriate legal frameworks.
“It is critical because when there are changes in our society, the law must be in place to provide the legal framework.”
Mudenda insisted that Zimbabwe approached the discussions as an equal partner rather than a former colony.
“The United Nations Charter, Article 2, is clear that all nations are equal and their sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.
“So I came here not as a speaker from a former colony, but as a speaker on equal terms.”
Zimbabwe’s Long Road Back to the Commonwealth
Zimbabwe’s relationship with the Commonwealth deteriorated following the disputed 2002 presidential election.
On 19 March 2002, the organisation suspended Zimbabwe from its councils. It cited political violence and concerns about whether voters could freely express their choices.
In December 2003, Commonwealth leaders met in Abuja, Nigeria, and extended the suspension indefinitely. Zimbabwe subsequently withdrew from the organisation.
However, the country later sought to reverse that decision. President Emmerson Mnangagwa formally applied for Zimbabwe’s readmission in May 2018.
Despite those efforts, the prospect of returning remains contentious. Critics argue that Zimbabwe must demonstrate stronger commitments to human rights, democratic governance and the rule of law.
Mudenda’s latest remarks highlight renewed parliamentary engagement with Britain. However, Hoyle’s reported support does not guarantee Zimbabwe’s readmission, which depends on the Commonwealth’s processes and requirements.