Zimbabwe (Presentation of Gift) (Hansard, 16 July 1982)

§ Mr. Mark Carlisle (Runcorn)

So much of importance has happened, both in this country and in this House, over the last few months that it seems a very long time since the House passed a resolution on 21 January of this year proposing that I and the right hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Concannon) should be selected to go to Zimbabwe to present the gift of a Speaker's Chair to the House of Assembly. It seems equally long since the memorable day on 9 March when we had the honour to be present, at a special sitting of the House of Assembly in Zimbabwe, to present the Chair on behalf of this House. I know that I speak for both of us when I say that it was an occasion on which we felt very proud to have been invited to represent this House. It was an occasion and a visit that neither of us will ever forget.

The kindness shown to us—and to Mr. Birley, one of the Clerks of this House who accompanied us—was enormous. It commenced from the moment when we were met at the airport on our arrival by Mr. Speaker Mutasa in person until we left, seen off by him personally, about a week later.

Salisbury, as it was then called, or Harare, as it is now called, is a lovely city, the capital of a beautiful country. While we were in the capital, we had the advantage and the opportunity to be received by the President and the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, as well as being generously entertained by Mr. Speaker, by the President of the Senate and by several members of the Government.

The ceremony and the presentation of the Chair was a friendly and enjoyable occasion. I think I should report to the House that, although the Chair that we presented was intended by this House for use as a Speaker's Chair, it became immediately apparent to me and to the right hon. Member for Mansfield that the Chair, although a fine example of modern craftsmanship, did not fully accord with the size and nature of the existing Chair used in the House of Assembly by Mr. Speaker or, indeed, of the Chair occupied by the President of the Senate. We knew that that view was shared by Mr. Speaker Mutasa.

With the permission of and on the authority of yourself, Mr. Speaker, and the then Leader of the House, my right hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire (Mr. Pym), I made it clear, in presenting the gift, that we would fully understand if it was decided to use the Chair for other ceremonial purposes and, further, that it would be the wish and desire of this House of Commons to provide Zimbabwe with an alternative Speaker's Chair made to that country's own design which would match more closely the dignity of the present Chair.

The gift that we presented as a symbol of our good will and to mark the emergence of Zimbabwe as an independent nation within the Commonwealth was received with great pleasure by the House. It was accepted by Mr. Speaker who asked us particularly to convey to you, Mr. Speaker, and to the House his personal gratitude for such a gift. His speech, in which he referred to the happy coincidence of our visit following immediately after Commonwealth Day, was supported by the Leader of the House and by the Chief Whip, who is not a member of the Government but the leading Back Bencher—perhaps a matter of interest to hon. Members in this House.

1261 As well as the thanks expressed on that occasion, I have with me a resolution addressed to you, Mr. Speaker, which was passed by the Zimbabwe House of Assembly on the occasion of the official opening of its Parliament on 17 June. It reads: We, the Members of the House of Assembly, of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, express our sincere thanks to the House of Commons for the Speaker's Chair which, by direction of Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom, was presented to this House as a token of the friendship and goodwill of the House of Commons towards the House of Assembly". The right hon. Member for Mansfield, who regrettably is unable to be present today, has asked me to say that he concurs in all that I have said about the ceremony and about our visit. I for my part would like to thank him and our Clerk, Anthony Birley, for being such friendly and helpful companions. We certainly enjoyed our visit. Part of that enjoyment stems from the fact that after three days in Harare we were taken to spend two equally memorable days at the Victoria Falls. The grandeur of the Victoria Falls has to be seen to be appreciated. The weather while we were there was perfect. It is difficult to envisage any more wonderful setting in the world in which to spend two days of relaxtion in good company and with excellent hospitality.

For both the right hon. Member for Mansfield and myself, it was our second visit to that country. I know that I speak for both of us when I say that we were immensely encouraged by what we saw. Much had changed in a very short time. Where before there had been war, there was now peace. Where before there had been guns, there were now merely friendly smiles and handshakes. I have no 1262 doubt that Zimbabwe, as an emerging nation in Africa, will face many difficult problems, especially economic problems, but the apparent spirit of reconciliation that has been largely achieved in such a short time gives enormous hope and encouragement for the future. I have no doubt that this will please many Members on both sides of the House.

I should like to end on a personal note. I wish to thank our High Commissioner and his staff in Zimbabwe for the help and kindness that they showed to us throughout our visit. I should like to thank all those in Zimbabwe whom we met, particularly Mr. Speaker and the Clerk, Mr. Moore, for their hospitality. I thank this House, too, for enabling the three of us to carry out such an important and enjoyable visit on its behalf. I now have pleasure, Mr. Speaker, in presenting you with copies of the resolution passed by the House of Assembly.