Zimbabwe has formally informed the Commonwealth it is withdrawing from the 54-nation group over its extended suspension.
President Robert Mugabe withdrew from the Commonwealth last Sunday after the group of mainly former British colonies meeting in Nigeria renewed Zimbabwe's suspension, demanding it reconcile with its opposition and respect human rights.
The Commonwealth first excluded Zimbabwe last year accusing Mugabe, 79 and in power since independence in 1980, of a rigged re-election in 2002 and persecuting his opponents. Mugabe insists he won the polls fairly.
The Herald newspaper today reported that Zimbabwe's Foreign Affairs Minister Stan Mudenge had written to Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon saying the club was "threatening the country's independence and sovereignty" and had flouted rules and procedures in dealing with Zimbabwe's suspension.
"The principles of equality, fair play and respect for the national sovereignty of member states for which the club stands have sadly been compromised," the paper quoted Mudenge as writing.
"In the light of the...threats to its cherished and hard won independence and sovereignty, the Republic of Zimbabwe has chosen to terminate its membership of the Commonwealth effective from 7th December, 2003 rather than continue to subject itself to such racist humiliation, arbitrariness and arrogance."
Zimbabwe is struggling with a deepening economic crisis that many blame on government mismanagement over the last 23 years, but Mugabe says the turmoil is a result of sabotage by local and foreign opponents of his land reforms.