Business could tip the election pendulum in favour of Mnangagwa

Lovemore Lubinda | Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa seems to be on track, as far as re-engagement with the international community is concerned, just in line with his Zimbabwe is open for business battle cry.

Mnangagwa told the British special envoy, Mrs Harriet Baldwin in Harare recently, that his country is now ready and committed to re-joining the Commonwealth, and has since formally applied to the British government notifying them his intention to re-join the grouping.

The British Commonwealth is a voluntary intergovernmental organisation that seeks to promote mutual understanding friendships and trade. Being a member of the Commonwealth has a lot of benefits for member states, such as trade arrangements as well as educational scholarships, and sporting engagements.

Since coming to power, Mnangagwa has been chasing the economic front, as opposed to chasing the crowds at rallies. This could tip the election pendulum to his favour, come election time. The Zimbabwean leader is on record for admitting the country cannot survive in isolation and seem to be taking it seriously.

The country is expected to become a member of this socio-economic grouping again before the end of this year.

Zimbabwe left the Commonwealth on 7 December in 2003, following its suspension from the grouping for alleged lack of democratic ethos and disrespect for  the rule of law.

The suspension was effected in March 2002 in response violence that characterised that year’s elections.

The move did not go down well with former President Robert Mugabe, who announced that he was pulling out, describing it as only a club. The Commonwealth is comprised 53 countries.