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ZINASU honours independence not isolation
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
July 21, 2010

ZINASU being aware of the Government Work Programme (GWP) for 2010 which was approved by the cabinet on the 9th of March 2010, priority 5 which focuses on the normalisation of international relations calls for the Zimbabwean government to re-engage the Commonwealth. The GWP acknowledges the fact that Zimbabwe cannot live to tell the tale under isolation and has seen that the country's international relations are critical to economic recovery.

Since 1923 the then Southern Rhodesia was not recognized as a full member and the two national revolutionary parties (ZAPU and ZANU) were recognized by Commonwealth. The recognition given to the two revolutionary parties enabled them a platform to narrate the story of the blacks in the era of colonialism. The Union believes the platform was another weapon to liberate the sons and daughters of Zimbabwe from oppression by the settler regime.

Upon independence in 1980 Zimbabwe became a full member of the Commonwealth and the nation benefited immensely in terms of aid and ideas acquired from various meetings such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGMs). The nation should not be held to ransom by the errors of a single man with the aid of other like-minded hoodlums of withdrawing from the Commonwealth.

Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth on the 7th of December 2003 after the group of six acting on Zimbabwe chaired by the then President of Jamaica Patterson to further suspend our beloved country. The suspension of Zimbabwe was based on the lack of respect for the rule of law, violations of human rights and farm invasions amongst other boisterous things. Other nations which are not formerly British colonies such as the Mozambique have joined the Commonwealth because of the immense benefits that are derived by being part of the inter-governmental organization. Why not Zimbabwe?

The government has to ensure that there is termination of further land invasions, respect of the rule of law even of the SADC tribunal where we as a nation are a member, uphold human rights amongst other things in pursuance of creating a democratic nation and being a member of strategic formations such as the Commonwealth as part of the re-engagement exercise. The Foreign Affairs Minister should see to it that re-engaging the Commonwealth will be part of his business as with immediate effect.

Zimbabwe should not take heed to the recent vomits by the Head of State to turn our backs at the West for the East. ZINASU respects the independence of Zimbabwe but shall strive to knock logic to our octogenarian President and his cohorts that the meaning of independence should not be confused with isolation. The Inclusive Government should not trail in the same footsteps of the previous regime despite some deadwood of the past establishment being part of the new setup of failing to implement their own policies.

ZINASU expects the government to fully implement the contents of Chapter 2 from sections 2.20 to 2.23 of the GWP of normalizing international relations by the end of the year 2010. Government officials should take heed to the words echoed by Zhanda (Member of Parliament) of ZANU-PF to put the people first and thrive to ensure economic recovery rather than politicking. The Commonwealth should be aware of the fact that the people of Zimbabwe still yearn to be part of the establishment despite the 'pulling out' stance by Mugabe and cronies.

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