Zimbabwe (Hansard, 17 June 2003)

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, the Foreign Secretary issued a statement at the arrest of Morgan Tsvangirai and other M DC MPs and activists. We also contributed to an EU statement on 3rd June and another on 6th June expressing our concern at the arrest and making it clear that we regard this as further evidence of the Mugabe regime's repressive and intimidating measures against the opposition. Zimbabwe's ruling party should be talking to its opposition, not jailing it.

§ Lord Astor of Hever
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that response. Images of Morgan Tsvangirai shackled in leg irons and evidence of widespread torture are stark reminders of the escalating brutality against opposition politicians in detention. Have Her Majesty's Government offered support for the establishment of an African Court of Justice to be discussed at the African Union Summit next month?
Pending the establishment of such a court, what co-operation has been forthcoming from African Union members on using existing mechanisms of the UN and other international institutions to arraign Mugabe for flagrant abuse of human rights?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Astor of Hever. I think that the images of Morgan Tsvangirai shackled in court were both shocking and—perhaps I may say—disgusting. The noble Lord raises the question of the African Court of Justice. One of the real problems, as I am sure the whole House understands, is that every time the British Government make a statement about what is happening in Zimbabwe, the Mugabe regime turns it around to make it into a bilateral row between two countries. It gives them the opportunity to move away from the rightfully aimed hostility of the international community and to say that somehow it is a residue of colonial rule. We are therefore very careful in what we say about African institutions, which we believe are very much for the African nations themselves to sort out.
The noble Lord referred to what is happening at the United Nations. When I answered the noble Lord's Question on 3rd June, the noble Baroness, Lady Park, asked me what had happened at the UN Commission on Human Rights. I am sure your Lordships will recall that when we tried to table a resolution at the 59th session, it fell because of a no-action motion proposed by South Africa on behalf of the African group. We have to tread very carefully over these issues. We are quite clear about what we think is happening, but we 667 do not want this to become a bilateral dispute. It must be dealt with internationally and attract international support.

Lord Acton
My Lords, have the Government been in touch directly with South Africa on this matter?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I understand that this matter was discussed with President Mbeki at the G8 meeting. He said that his understanding was that ZANU-PF and the MDC were engaged in a process of dialogue, which was fully supported by the ANC. He said that he was quite certain that an agreement on the way forward would he reached in the near future. I hope that he is right, but I believe the indications of what has happened in the past week or so must make us quite downbeat about our assessment of that.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, will the Minister join me in welcoming the report that Mugabe has indicated to President Mbeki that he is prepared to step down? Will she also agree that it would be unacceptable for him to hand over to Emerson Mnangagwa and that the whole of the present ZANU-PF regime must take responsibility for the appalling situation in which Zimbabwe now finds itself? In view of the unprecedented joint rebuke by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Mr. Cohn Powell, the US Secretary of State, will the Minister further agree that it is time for the international community as a whole, and SADC in particular, to recognise that there needs to be a re-run of the elections in order to get rid of the existing brutal and repressive regime?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, if it were true that Mr. Mugabe had said what the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, reports him as saying, and if he really did it, it would he greatly welcomed. Like the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, I hope that any leader subsequently chosen for Zimbabwe would be chosen by a fair and free election, properly monitored.

§ Baroness Sharples
My Lords, following the threats made by President Mugabe against our High Commissioner, will the Minister indicate what is the present situation of the High Commission?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, the noble Baroness will know that as part of his campaign of trying to turn this into a bilateral row, rather than addressing the real issue of starving his people and his complete abuse of human rights, Mr. Mugabe said that the British High Commission was behind the stay-away last week and has threatened our High Commissioner with being kicked out of Zimbabwe. I can assure all your Lordships that the British Government and the British High Commission had no role whatever in funding or in any way organising the stay-away protest that took place between 2nd and 6th June. The British Government and British High Commission do not and will not support any illegal 668 activity. Knowing our High Commissioners as I do, I am sure that Sir Brian Donnelly and his staff remain in very good heart.

§ Lord Hughes of Woodside
My Lords, my noble friend is right to be very careful about what she says. Is she aware that it is extremely difficult to read the situation from this distance? We are repeatedly told about discussions between the MDC and the government concerning a proper constitutional settlement, yet recently the MDC has publicly said that under no circumstances will it have any truck with Mr. Mugabe or, following the noble Lord, Lord Astor, with any of the ZANU-PF regime, and the general strike called last week was to bring down the government. In view of the vastly deteriorating situation, is there not a case for all sides, both in this House and in Zimbabwe, to have a care as to what they say and to try to institute further discussions in the hope that the tragedy will not deepen any further?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, that is very wise advice from my noble friend, especially in view of the possibility of inflaming an already very dangerous situation in Zimbabwe. I am sure that your Lordships will be mindful of the fact that Morgan Tsvangirai and a number of his colleagues are already in prison; that Morgan Tsvangirai is in the middle of one treason trial; that he may stand charged with another set of treason accusations; and that he may have to face yet a further trial, if he survives the first. I would commend to all your Lordships the words of my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary, when he said: Zimbabwe's most urgent need now is the resumption of inter-party dialogue to address the country's rapidly worsening political, economic and humanitarian crisis". Real, constructive engagement is needed. Whatever our doubts, scepticism or fears, that is what we must support.