§ The Earl of Caithnessasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether a timescale was agreed by the Commonwealth Heads of Government by which observers to the Zimbabwe elections should report to the troika of South Africa, Australia and Nigeria; and [HL3240]
108WAWhether a timescale was agreed by the Commonwealth Heads of Government by which the troika of South Africa, Australia and Nigeria should take a decision on the observers' reports of the Zimbabwe election. [HL3241]
§ Baroness AmosCommonwealth Heads of Government did not specify a time by which the organisation's election observation team to Zimbabwe should report to the troika. But we understand that they intend to issue their report early next week. The troika will take a decision on the basis of its findings shortly thereafter.
§ The Earl of Caithnessasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their attitude to SW Radio Africa. [HL3242]
§ Baroness AmosWe deplore recent Zimbabwean legislation that restricts the ability of the print and broadcast media to operate and commend the courage of Zimbabwean independent journalists in continuing to carry out their work under very difficult conditions.
§ The Earl of Caithnessasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they can correlate the remark by Baroness Amos that "it is up to (the Zimbabwean people) now to go out and vote and to ensure that their voice is heard" (HL Deb, 6 March, col. 345) with the reports that so many of them have been disenfranchised. [HL3245]
§ Baroness AmosThe international community has made it absolutely clear that it wanted a free and fair presidential election in Zimbabwe and has encouraged Zimbabweans to vote and ensure their voice is heard. The remarks referred to by the noble Earl were made in entirely the same spirit. The people of Zimbabwe are to be congratulated on the courageous way in which they attempted to make their views known, despite evidence of systematic efforts by the Zimbabwean authorities to thwart their ability to do so.