Staff Reporter
Rwanda vows to use its Chairmanship in the Commonwealth to assist Zimbabwe to re-join the grouping within its tenure of two years.
Speaking at the 24th Post Cabinet Briefing, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said this was disclosed by Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Honourable Dr Vincent Biruta during the exchange of notes on bilateral, continental and international issues.
“Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that the official visit to Zimbabwe by the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Dr Biruta, from 29 to 31 July 2022, was aimed at exchanging notes with his counterpart on bilateral, continental and international issues of mutual interest and concern.
“Rwanda has committed to assisting Zimbabwe in its bid to be readmitted to the Commonwealth, taking advantage of Rwanda’s chairpersonship of the organization in the next 2 years,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Dr Biruta concluded his visit by putting pen to paper on three instruments of bilateral cooperation. These three instruments include Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Immigrations, MOU on Civil Aircraft Accident and Special Incident Investigation and the Treaty on Extradition. To date, Zimbabwe and Rwanda have concluded and signed a total of twenty-two Agreements and/or Memoranda of Understanding.
Since the ascension to power by the Second Republic, Zimbabwe has been keen to re-join the Commonwealth through its engagement and re-engagement policy. The Commonwealth has been viewed as a platform that amplifies the voice of African nations, providing it with an additional means of lobbying major donors and diplomatic players like the UK, India and Canada. It also provides a potential framework for resolving disputes between African members.
