Zimbabwe (Hansard, 16 February 1999)

§ Mr. Maclean
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to call for the expulsion of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth. [70577]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
We have no plans to call for Zimbabwe's expulsion from the Commonwealth. Such action is a matter for the Commonwealth as a whole.

§ Mr. Maclean
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the state of governance in Zimbabwe. [70582]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
We receive regular reports on developments in Zimbabwe. There is clearly cause for concern in a number of areas, chiefly the economy, Zimbabwe's involvement in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and recent human rights abuses.

§ Mr. Maclean
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a British minister last met President Mugabe; and what was discussed. [70581]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
I met President Mugabe on 4 December 1998. We discussed the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, land redistribution in Zimbabwe and human rights. I also briefed him on the UK's position on Libya/Lockerbie.

§ Mr. Maclean
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to President Mugabe following his recent broadcast on state television on possible action against the judiciary and others. [70583]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
We had already made representations, here and in Harare, about recent human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, including the detention of Mr. Chavunduka and Mr. Choto, and the disturbing allegations that they were tortured while in army detention.

§ Mr. Maclean
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to President Mugabe about the detention of the journalists Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto. [70584]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
The Government are shocked by the detention and apparent torture of Mr. Chavunduka and Mr. Choto by the military authorities in Zimbabwe, and applauds the prompt action by the judiciary in 743W ordering Mr. Chavunduka's release. I have already sought assurances from the Zimbabwe Government that it will take swift action to investigate these serious allegations; and to bring the perpetrators to justice. We have also made representations on these lines with our European Union partners in Harare.
We await a formal response from the Government of Zimbabwe.

§ Mr. Maclean
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contingency plans his Department has to protect British citizens in Zimbabwe. [70585]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
All diplomatic missions overseas prepare contingency plans where there is a potential threat to the safety of the British community from civil unrest or a deterioration in the security situation. We currently hold such a plan for Zimbabwe.

§ Mr. Maclean
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Commonwealth Secretariat about civil rights abuses in Zimbabwe. [70586]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
None. I have made representations direct to the Government of Zimbabwe.

§ Mr. Maclean
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last called in the Zimbabwean Ambassador to protest about civil rights abuses in Zimbabwe. [70587]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
On 22 January we summoned the Acting High Commissioner for Zimbabwe, to protest about the detention and apparent torture of Mark Chavunduka and Ray Choto. We made it clear that we expect the Zimbabwe Government to uphold international human rights standards, and quickly to investigate allegations of abuse.

§ Mr. Soley
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Zimbabwe about allegations of torture and harassment of journalists in Zimbabwe. [69726]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
The Government are shocked by the detention and apparent torture of Mr. Chavunduka and Mr. Choto by the military authorities in Zimbabwe, and applaud the prompt action by the judiciary in ordering Mr. Chavunduka's release. I have already sought assurances from the Zimbabwe Government that they will take swift action to investigate these serious allegations; and to bring perpetrators to justice. We have also made representations on these lines with our European Union partners in Harare.
We await a formal response from the Government of Zimbabwe.