Zimbabwe (Hansard, 2 December 2003)

§ Lord Blaker
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What further proposals they have for helping to resolve the current serious situation in Zimbabwe.

§ The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)
My Lords, we have stood firm in our support of targeted EU sanctions on Zimbabwe. We will work with EU partners to ensure a rollover of robust measures next February. We continue to work with the international community to promote inter-party dialogue in Zimbabwe, with a view to bringing about a process that will lead to a return to legitimate government there. We will argue for Zimbabwe's continued suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth when heads of government meet in Nigeria later this week. We continue to respond to Zimbabwe's humanitarian crisis and have provided £62 million since 2001, making us the largest aid donor after the United States.

§ Lord Blaker
My Lords, I am grateful for that reply, so far as it goes. Would the Minister agree that the view of the opposition in Zimbabwe, the MDC, has until recently been, broadly speaking, that it would be wise for the United Kingdom Government not to be too much in the lead in criticising the Mugabe regime? However, is she also aware that, very recently, the view of the MDC has radically changed, and that it now urges two courses on Her Majesty's Government? One is to make sure that other governments, including governments in Africa, understand the full horror of the situation for the people of Zimbabwe, whether black or white, and the serious consequences for the whole of southern Africa. Even more importantly, the MDC urges Her Majesty's Government to take the lead in calling for reform and democracy in Zimbabwe. How will Her Majesty's Government respond?

§ Baroness Amos
My Lords, we have taken a lead in both those areas. We have spoken in some very robust terms to other governments about the situation in Zimbabwe, and drawn the human rights abuses and the harassment of the opposition to their attention. We have also worked very hard to promote reform and democracy in Zimbabwe and will continue to do that. The noble Lord will be aware that this year and last year, as part of the European Union delegation, we tried to get a resolution through the UN Commission on Human Rights. In both instances, we failed, but we 174 will continue to fight through international forums, the European Commission and the Commonwealth to see the restoration of democracy in Zimbabwe.

§ Lord Wright of Richmond
My Lords, does the Minister accept that, despite the appalling situation in Zimbabwe and rather surprisingly, President Mugabe is still regarded with a considerable degree of respect elsewhere in Africa and in the third world for his role in having brought Zimbabwe to independence? May I suggest to her that in those circumstances the Nigerian Government are to be congratulated on the firmness with which they have conveyed the message to President Mugabe that he is not welcome at the Commonwealth conference?

§ Baroness Amos
My Lords, I entirely agree. Zimbabwe has not been invited to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and President Obasanjo and the Nigerian Government are to be congratulated on that. I also agree about Mugabe's history and the fight for independence in Zimbabwe. However, because what he did in the land reform process—we have not agreed with it, and the way in which it was undertaken has led to much of the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe—was seen as dealing with historical injustice, it has been welcomed in some parts of Africa.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, does the noble Baroness agree that, when Mr Welshman Ncube was here recently, he made it plain to a meeting of your Lordships, and no doubt to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as well, that there was no basis on which a dialogue could be held between the ZANU-PF and the MDC? Will the MDC have an opportunity to make that clear to the CHOGM, which begins on Friday, so that it does not continue to insist that that is the only way forward? It must think of other means of solving the problem of Zimbabwe.

§ Baroness Amos
My Lords, the noble Lord is quite right. It is very important that we have a degree of clarity from the MDC, but also from South Africa, which has sought to promote that inter-party dialogue. There is a view that discussion and dialogue are going on behind the scenes, yet at the same time we are told that there is no basis for a dialogue. We need the situation to be clarified. We have certainly urged the MDC to ensure that its position is known by other governments in Africa and other Commonwealth governments.

§ The Lord Bishop of Southwark
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that the position of the bulk of the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe has recently changed? In recent months, it has been heavily involved in bridge building, but the position has changed to one of near despair. Is the noble Baroness also aware that the Bishop of Manicaland, who was in London last weekend, said that things could hardly get worse and that all pressure should be put on the Zimbabwean Government from whatever quarter?

§ Baroness Amos
My Lords, I am aware that the situation has changed and it is important that we pay 175 tribute to the work of the Anglican Church in trying to build bridges in Zimbabwe. The humanitarian situation continues to be dire. As we approach what may be the worst food shortages, we and other donors are concerned to ensure that food is in place so that millions of people do not starve. But it is a very difficult situation indeed.

§ Lord Howell of Guildford
My Lords, now that the international mood is changing, as confirmed by the question from the right reverend Prelate, why do we not have another attempt at a resolution in the UN Security Council? Why do we not follow the American example of targeting the people who are Mugabe's bankrollers? Why do we not go one further and work with our South African friends to build a serious road map to begin to address this appalling situation and give more of an impression that we are wholehearted about dealing with it?

§ Baroness Amos
My Lords, the noble Lord will know that we have been engaged in constant dialogue with the South Africans on this matter. When I was Minister with responsibility for Africa, I frequently engaged on the matter with my South African colleagues. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister had discussions with President Mbeki on these issues and we will continue to be in close touch with the Zimbabweans on them.
As regards a UN Security Council resolution, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs made the position clear in another place. At this point in time, we would not get a majority in the UN Security Council in favour of a resolution. We have talked to our Security Council colleagues and it is absolutely clear that we would not do so; we would merely hand a gratuitous victory to Mugabe. Therefore, there is no point in our taking action which would give him a paper victory; we want to see real movement on these issues.