Zimbabwe (Hansard, 15 January 2002)

§ Mr. Tynan
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Zimbabwe authorities regarding the treatment of members of the foreign and domestic press. [23884]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a strong statement on 24 November expressing his concern at the comments of the Zimbabwean Government spokesman which implied that foreign and local journalists were assisting terrorists. The British High Commissioner in Zimbabwe made formal representations to the Foreign Ministry in Harare on 26 November, and wrote to the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister the same day, expressing the British Government's deep concern at threats to the independent media in Zimbabwe.
We have since taken every opportunity to reiterate this concern. Others share our concerns. The European Union has made the issue central to its formal consultations 127W with the Zimbabwe Government under the Cotonou Agreement. Freedom of the media is a key element of recently-passed United States Congressional legislation on Zimbabwe. And Commonwealth Ministers issued a strong statement of concern about the situation in Zimbabwe at their meeting in London on 20 December, including the pressures on the independent media in that country.

§ Mr. Ancram
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department had with the Home Office concerning the deportation of Gerald Mutekiwa(a) before his deportation and (b) after his deportation. [26621]

§ Mr. Straw
The Foreign Office provides the Home Office with regular political reporting on Zimbabwe. The Home Office leads on asylum policy. The Home Office did not discuss Mr. Mutekiwa's case with the Foreign Office before his deportation. Following allegations that Mr. Mutekiwa had been mistreated on his return to Zimbabwe, the Home Office asked the British High Commission in Harare to investigate the allegations. It is doing so.

§ Mr. Ancram
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received on the treatment of Gerald Mutekiwa by Zimbabwean security police after being deported from the United Kingdom. [26622]

§ Mr. Straw
I have received reports yet to be substantiated that Mr. Mutekiwa was mistreated on his return to Zimbabwe. The British High Commission is currently investigating.

§ Mr. Ancram
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions his Department is taking to ensure the security of persons deported from Britain to Zimbabwe. [26617]

§ Mr. Straw
The Home Office are responsible for asylum policy. The Foreign Office, the British High Commission in Harare and the Home Office are in regular contact about the overall security situation in Zimbabwe.

§ Mr. Ancram
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with British representatives in Zimbabwe concerning the security of persons deported to Zimbabwe from the United Kingdom. [26616]

§ Mr. Straw
We are in on-going contact with the British High Commission in Harare about the overall security situation in Zimbabwe and, as appropriate, about how this might relate to individuals.

§ Mr. Ancram
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last spoke to the President of Malawi concerning the situation in Zimbabwe. [26618]

§ Mr. Straw
I discussed the situation in Zimbabwe with President Muluzi on 9 January.

§ Ann Clwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Zimbabwe about the medical condition of Mr. Fletcher Dulini-Neube MP. [26880]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
None.