By Remi Adebayo 

Request by the Zimbabwean President, Emmerson Mnangagwa to pay his last respect, alongside other world leaders to departed Queen Elizabeth II has been rejected.

In a letter on behalf of His Majesty King Charles III by Miss Jennie Vine, Deputy to the Senior Correspondence Officer to one Mr. Frederick Shava, the new monarch cited travel restrictions on Zimbabwean government officials due to human rights records as reasons for the refusal.

King Charles III also noted that Zimbabwe has not been readmitted back into the Commonwealth, adding that invited leaders were mostly members of the organization.

In the letter dated 12 September, 2022, Buckingham Palace acknowledged Shava's letter to His Majesty King Charles III expressing his condolences on the passing of his late mother.

"His Majesty King Charles lII has asked me to write to you expressing his thanks as well as to respond to President Mnangagwas request to attend the funeral of Her Majesty The Queen.

"His Majesty King Charles Ill has asked me to inform you that President Mnangagwa's request cannot be granted as it would go against the restrictions including those of travel that the United Kingdom has in place with regards to many of the Zimbabwean Governmental leadership and those connected to them. 

"There is also concern at the confimed reports of non adherence to respecting human rights occurring in Zimbabwe.

"As you stated in your additional letter, other world leaders including those from Africa have been invited and we note your concern that President Mnangagwa has not been invited and for good international relations you feel he should be, however the restrictions still apply," Miss Vine wrote.

She added that invitations have only been sent to leaders that new king has invited personally, and leaders from commonwealth countries of which Zimbabwe is not a member. 

While acknowledging that Zimbabwe has applied to rejoin the commonwealth, Vine noted that the new monarch has been informed that Zimbabwean future commonwealth membership will be subject to the instituting governmental reforms.

The letter indicated that such reforms are particularly regarding respecting human rights and the rule of law.