Don McKinnon expressed his hope that Zimbabwe would change its hardline position and urged the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries to persuade the former British colony to reconsider.
Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2003 after it faced suspension. President Robert Mugabe’s government said it did not see any value in belonging to an organisation that “has nothing to offer.”
McKinnon said that he respects Zimbabwe’s decision to withdrew from the Commonwealth group but reiterated that “we leave our options open. The Commonwealth’s door will always be open and welcoming to Zimbabwe’s return.”
The Secretary General said in the meanwhile the Commonwealth will continue to encourage the SADC process, led by South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki “to play a leading role in that.”
Mckinnon confirmed that the Commonwealth would continue with its suspension of member states as a form of punishment to human rights abusers.
“I believe that the Commonwealth has not just matched international commitments to human rights but tried hard to set the bar even higher – to say that we expect a greater commitment, and higher standards.
“The Commonwealth capacity to suspend members is perhaps the most visible way in which we can show how serious we are about this,” McKinnon said.
McKinnon said that 19 of the Commonwealth member countries have yet to ratify the two 1966 UN conventions on civil and political rights, and social and economic rights.Â
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