HC Deb 17 February 2000 vol 344 cc683-4W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made by him to the Government of Zimbabwe concerning demands that the UK compensate white farmers for land to be taken by the Zimbabwean Government. [110576]

Mr. Hain

Our High Commissioner called on the Vice President on 2 February. I wrote to President Mugabe on 4 February. The draft constitution, containing clause 57, was rejected by the Zimbabwe people in a referendum on 12–13 February.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to him by opposition groups within Zimbabwe about(a) that country's referendum on a new constitution and (b) human rights in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [110575]

Mr. Hain

We maintain close contact with a wide cross-section of society in Zimbabwe, including opposition groups. The referendum process was deeply flawed. The `No' vote showed that there was clearly wide discontent with both the process and the content of the draft.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Gapes) on 11 January 2000, Official Report, columns 132–33W.