§ Mr. SedgemoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made any representations to the Zambian Government about human rights abuses in relation to Sipho Mbeje; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI understand that the Zambian authorities are detaining Mr. Mbeje at Lusaka central prison pending his deportation. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is pursuing the question of where he may obtain asylum.
Meanwhile our high commission in Lusaka raised Mr. Mbeje's case on 9 December with the UNHCR, who advised that there was no immediate cause for concern about his condition. The high commission will continue to monitor his case.