MOZAMBIQUE (Hansard, 22 November 1977)

§ Q3. Mr. Brotherton
asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Mozambique.

§ The Prime Minister
I have at present no plans to do so.

§ Mr. Brotherton
How much longer do the Government intend to subsidise terrorism and murder in Rhodesia through their aid programme to the Marxist Government of Mozambique, who harbour and shelter the murderers who make raids into Rhodesia?

§ The Prime Minister
Like the rest of his party, the hon. Gentleman is totally isolated from opinion in this matter, including opinion in the United States, in the Commonwealth and in many United Nations countries. The basis on which aid is given was spelt out by me in an answer to the right hon. Member for Knutsford (Mr. Davies) in the early 1313 months of this year. It is clearly set out inHansard. The Opposition would be far better employed in going to see the poverty which exists in some of these areas than in giving encouragement and aid to the régime in Rhodesia.

§ Mr. Whitehead
Does not my right hon. Friend agree that economic aid for the infrastructure of Mozambique is a guarantee of making less likely rather than more likely its dependence on the Sovietbloc, of which Opposition Members are constantly trying to remind us?

§ The Prime Minister
Yes, Sir. There is no doubt of that. I would add that President Machel is being of great assistance to this country in relation to events in Rhodesia and is helping, with the other front-line Presidents, to get a settlement. That is unlike the attitude of hon. Members opposite who, in their visits to Rhodesia in the course of the summer, seem to have done nothing but discourage Mr. Smith from coming to any settlement.

§ Mr. Biggs-Davison
As one who has seen poverty and terrorism in Mozambique, may I ask the Prime Minister whether he has no compunction about the double standards of subsidising and seeking help to secure majority rule in Rhodesia from a régime in Mozambique for which there has been no vote whatever?

§ The Prime Minister
The fact that there has been no vote in Mozambique should not detract from the hon. Gentleman's support for both Front Benches in this House, who have declared that there should be elections in Rhodesia before independence comes.