By Tatenda Mujeyi
The Zimbabwean Government has engaged the African Peer Review Mechanism, an agency of the United Nations that caters for governance, sustainable development and peace building.
The African Peer Review Mechanism is also the membership board that facilitates United Nations signatories to be members of the New Economic Plan for African Development (NEPAD).
The APRM was fully integrated into the AU in 2018 at the 11th AU Extraordinary Head of States summit through the decision of the Assembly/AU/Dec.635(XXVIII) despite having been in operation since 2003
The process of becoming a member is a five stage process that commences with consultation, review mission, draft report, the peer review and finally the final report.
Zimbabwe is currently on the first phase of the process of joining after an earlier visit by the delegation to the President having allowed government to engage the delegation.
“The Mission paid a courtesy call to the President earlier today and we have been given permission to engage the delegation as we have nothing to hide to anyone as the second republic,” Ambassador Ngoni Masoka from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The Foreign Affairs ministry has been mandated to go through the process on behalf of the Zimbabwean Government with discussions having commenced
The APRM is an independent multi sector mechanism of engaging political parties, churches and civic society groups that aims to foster and negotiate a common ground conscious of divergent views.
APRM will strengthen Government’s efforts in fulfilling the sustainable development goals as well as foster for democratic inclusivity in governance processes.