§ Mr. DavidsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to assist in measures to reduce the level of corruption in Zimbabwe. [87699]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe Department for International Development, through its projects with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Ministry of Local Government and the Privatisation Agency, is assisting in measures to combat corruption in Zimbabwe; and will continue to support initiatives aimed at improving accountability and tackling corruption.
§ Mr. DavidsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Government support and advice is provided to police forces in Zimbabwe to assist and encourage them to (i) police by consent and (ii) maintain a politically neutral position. [87767]
§ Mr. Tony LloydUnder a project funded by the Department for International Development, the Zimbabwe Republic Police receive support and advice from British police forces on many issues, to help them protect individual rights and improve public confidence in police services.
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§ Mr. DavidsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the level of political violence in Zimbabwe; what representations he has made to the Government of Zimbabwe on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [87700]
§ Mr. Tony LloydI receive regular reports of political developments in Zimbabwe from our High Commission in Harare. We made representations to the Government of Zimbabwe over the illegal arrest and torture of two newspaper journalists in January 1999. I raised our concerns about human rights with President Mugabe when he visited London in December 1998 and when I visited Harare in February 1999.
§ Mr. DavidsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Government support is provided to the Zimbabwean human rights organisation ZimRights. [87698]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe Government supported an organisational/development conference for ZimRights in December 1997. The Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which is largely funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is currently supporting a three-year ZimRights education programme for domestic and commercial farm workers.
§ Mr. DavidsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports have been received from the EU-funded election monitoring programme in Zimbabwe(a) in general and (b) on the preparations for this year's urban elections; and if he will make a statement. [87697]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe EU is funding an election monitoring training programme in Zimbabwe, run by the non-governmental organisation, ZimRights. They started work in May 1999. The main objective is to build a team of independent national election monitors to be in place for the 2000 General Election and the 2002 Presidential Election. The team will also monitor by-elections and local council elections. They have not produced any reports yet.