Zimbabwe (Hansard, 27 January 2003)

§ Mr. Andrew Turner
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list his meetings in the last 12 months with representatives of Zimbabwean(a) Government, (b) opposition, (c) churches, (d) humanitarian organisations, (e) sports organisations and (f) commercial interests. [91260]

§ Mr. Rammell
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the former Zimbabwean Minister of Finance, Dr. Simba Makoni, on 6 February 2002, who was transiting the UK on his return to Zimbabwe from the World Economic Summit in New York.
FCO officials are regularly in contact with a range of Zimbabweans, including from all the groups specified.

§ Mr. Andrew Turner
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he collates on the extent of Government inspired murder and torture in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.[91261]

§ Mr. Rammell
We monitor closely the situation in Zimbabwe and regularly receive detailed information on human rights violations there from a number of sources, including human rights organisations and other NGOs. The UK Government, along with other members of the international community, has consistently condemned the Government of Zimbabwe for its appalling record on human rights and have called on it to respect its obligations under international human rights conventions. Along with our EU partners, the UK Government will continue to focus international attention on human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

§ Mr. Andrew Turner
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the steps taken by(a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) the Commonwealth troika to end misgovernment and reintroduce democracy and the rule of law in Zimbabwe. [91262]

§ Mr. Rammell
The UK Government have taken a number of measures in response to the situation in Zimbabwe including; an outright rejection of the conduct and outcome of the Presidential election in March 2002; a complete embargo on arms sales since May 2000; a suspension of non-humanitarian aid and the withdrawal of our military training team. Working with our EU partners, we have also imposed targeted sanctions, a travel ban and assets freeze, on 79 members of the Mugabe regime.
The Commonwealth suspended Zimbabwe from its Councils in March 2002. The Commonwealth Troika is pressing for good governance and the rule of law to be restored in Zimbabwe. It last met in Abuja on 23 September 2002. It deferred a decision on further Commonwealth measures, but stated that it would stick to its task over the next six months "at which point further measures might need to be considered". It is due to meet again in March.

§ Mr. Andrew Turner
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when in the last 12 months representatives of Her Majesty's Government have visited each province of Zimbabwe. [91266]
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§ Mr. Rammell
Officials based at the High Commission in Harare regularly visit provinces throughout Zimbabwe in the course of their duties. London based officials have also visited provinces in Zimbabwe in the last twelve months. It would entail disproportionate cost to list the details. No Government Minister has visited Zimbabwe in the last twelve months.

§ Mr. Ancram
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resolutions have been tabled on behalf of the United Kingdom at the UN concerning the application of more international pressure on Mr. Robert Mugabe and his government. [93347]

§ Mr. Straw
As a UK initiative, EU member states tabled a draft resolution on Zimbabwe at the 58th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in March/April 2002. Regrettably, the African Group blocked discussion. Despite this, the UK's attempt to secure a resolution served to highlight the Zimbabwe Government's appalling human rights record.
We welcome the UN Secretary General's recent statement that: "At the heart of the problem is the crisis in Zimbabwe—a country which used to be the region's breadbasket, but is now wracked by hunger and HIV/ AIDS. This tragic situation is caused partly by forces of nature, and partly by mismanagement".