HARARE, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe is on the verge of rejoining the Commonwealth after President Emmerson Mnangagwa this week met the organization's secretary-general Patricia Scotland to work on modalities for readmission, local media reported on Friday.
The two met on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly currently underway in New York.
Outgoing British ambassador to Zimbabwe Catriona Laing confirmed the meeting to journalists in Harare Thursday after bidding farewell to Acting President Kembo Mohadi, the state-controlled Herald newspaper reported.
Laing said the United Kingdom is supportive of Harare rejoining the international organization, which Zimbabwe left in 2003 at the height of a diplomatic tiff between Harare and London.
She said there is a process that has to be followed for Zimbabwe to rejoin the grouping of former British colonies.
"That process, as I understand it, has started but it would not formally conclude until the next Commonwealth summit, which will be in Malaysia in 2020," Laing said.
"It's not automatic. It involves ensuring that the Harare Declaration, which was signed here in early 1990s, is enacted," the outgoing envoy said.
Britain is encouraged by improvements in Zimbabwe's electoral processes although she it is concerned about the tragic events of Aug. 1, when six people were killed after violent protests by members of the opposition.
She said where possible, London is ready to give advice following the announcement by Mnangagwa that he wants to create an office of the opposition leader as is the case with the British parliamentary system.
Mnangagwa has said the office of the opposition is not meant to appease any particular individual but is an effort to create strong institutions that help entrench democracy and political inclusivity in the country.
