MDC 'will bring Zimbabwe back'
2003-12-09 13:15
Cape Town - The Zimbabwean official opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), says that when it comes to power it will restore the country's membership of the Commonwealth.
Responding to President Robert Mugabe's withdrawal of his country from the union of former British colonies, MDC secretary general Welshman Ncube said: "The MDC government, which will come into power as soon as free and fair elections are conducted in Zimbabwe, will restore the country's membership to the Commonwealth."
"In this respect we welcome the setting up a committee of seven countries aimed at assisting Zimbabweans find a solution to the crisis. We hope that they will succeed in bringing the two main political parties and other stakeholders to the negotiating table."
Ncube said Mugabe's decision to pull Zimbabwe out of the Commonwealth was "clearly not in the interest of Zimbabwe and its people but is an attempt to avoid returning the country to democratic principles".
The opposition secretary general said the constitution of Zimbabwe clearly provided that decisions such as that of pulling out of the Commonwealth "must be made on the authority of a cabinet resolution and therefore Mugabe alone cannot lawfully do the withdrawal of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth".
The decision was therefore unlawful, Ncube argued.
"We congratulate the Commonwealth for standing firmly on the side of the people of Zimbabwe and strongly urge the rest of the international community not to be bullied into turning a blind eye to dictatorship, genocide, murder and torture under the guise of sovereignty. The decision by the Commonwealth (to suspend Zimbabwe's membership) confirms Mugabe's illegitimacy."