§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit by the Minister for Overseas Development to the Republic of Zimbabwe.
§ Mr. RaisonI had a most useful and interesting, albeit brief, visit to Zimbabwe at the end of last month. I am very grateful for the warm welcome I received and for the arrangements that were made for me by the Zimbabwe Government.
I had very full discussions with Zimbabwe Ministers and officials concerned with various aspects of our aid programme, and I was able to see some of the activities that we are helping to fund, including a land resettlement scheme. I was particularly glad to be able to reaffirm our £30 million pledge of assistance to the land resettlement programme. I also discussed possible ways of using our aid programme to assist the Zimbabwe Government in dealing with its current balance of payments problems.
I welcomed the opportunity to meet key representatives of the private sector during my visit, and it was most encouraging to hear of their commitment to Zimbabwe's continued development and prosperity. The Zimbabwe Government clearly recognise the important role of the private sector, and during my visit I signed an agreement for the provision of a £20 million mixed credit facility—£5 365W million of aid and £15 million of export credits—which it is intended should assist Zimbabwe industry in obtaining essential imports of capital goods from Britain.
I was very glad that so soon after taking office I was able to take this opportunity to see something of what is one of our major aid programmes in Africa. It is our belief that Zimbabwe has a key role in the future development of Southern Africa, and I hope that I was able during my visit to underline Her Majesty's Government's support for the Zimbabwe Government in any efforts it takes to secure the country's peaceful and prosperous future as a multiracial state.