Extracts form debate on Zimbabwe, for full text, return a BLANK message to ncadc@ncadc.org.uk and in the subject line put: Subscribe Zimbabwe debate

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Hansard: Westminster Hall: Wednesday 23 January 2002

Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East):

It is chastening to observe that Robert Mugabe, who started his time in power in Zimbabwe as an avowed Marxist, seems to be ending it as a fascist.

. . . . . Since 2000, 156 opposition supporters have been murdered and many more have been kidnapped and tortured. The military have stated that they will not serve under a different Government from that of Mr. Mugabe. Of course, they do not put it precisely in those words. The chief of staff, General Zvinavashe, said that the armed forces could not accept a president who had not fought in the liberation struggle. That was clearly designed to rule out Morgan Tsvangirai.

. . . . .It is believed that, since the beginning of this month, some 10,000 soldiers have been sent on leave to campaign throughout the country for a Mugabe election win.

Dr. Lewis: . . . . . The Refugee Council expressed serious concern that the Home Office's assessment of the situation in Zimbabwe was so out of date that it was only under severe pressure from the council--and, I might add, from the Conservative party and the Liberal Democrats--the Home Secretary suspended deportations of people back into the hands of the Mugabe regime.

. . . . . . . Basildon Peta, the head of the free journalists in Zimbabwe, has stated that the EU, the UN, Britain and the Commonwealth have done precisely nothing. He said:

"All we can do is brace ourselves for years of dictatorship, and pray that someone, one day, comes to our aid."

He also said:

"An unfortunate truth for many Zimbabweans is that we cannot rely on institutions such as the Commonwealth, the British Government or the European Union, which purport to be the custodians of democracy, for relief against wayward leaders like President Robert Mugabe."

Mr. Francis Maude  . . . . . . of the presidential election. We must abandon the pretence that there is any prospect that it will be free and fair. It cannot be, even though the Zimbabwean Parliament is discussing the media law today. The other laws that have been passed, the gerrymandering and the systematic intimidation of those who oppose Mugabe make it unrealistic that the election could be free and fair. Even the presence of monitors would not change that. Their investigations could only provide more incontrovertible evidence of what has been going on, if that were needed.

Tony Baldry . . . . . . It seems to me that Zimbabwe challenges the ways in which the Commonwealth and the Government put principles into practice.

. . . . . . . . . Although Pakistan is making progress towards democracy, it remains suspended from the Commonwealth. In contrast, Zimbabwe--which is introducing the strikingly undemocratic Public Order and Security Bill and other legislation--has had no action taken against it by the Commonwealth. Such double standards do not reflect well on the Commonwealth.

Mr. Menzies Campbell . . . . Mugabe's determination to retain the presidency of his country at all costs--indeed, at any cost, as long as that cost is borne by his countrymen and women.

. . . . . . . The Mugabe Government are still characterised by intimidation of the judiciary, the expulsion of independent journalists, the persecution of their political opponents and the introduction of repressive legislation, with one purpose only: to secure Mr. Mugabe's re-election.

Mr. Michael Ancram . . . . We know that Zimbabwe faces a growing nightmare of fascism, the destruction of democracy, the suspension and abrogation of human rights and the undermining of justice and the rule of law.

. . . . . In the past year, there have been 48 political murders, 329 abductions, 2,245 cases of torture and 992 cases of unlawful detention. Foreign journalists have been labelled as terrorists. Draconian laws have been introduced to block basic democratic freedoms of expression and assembly. Every day, 2,500 Zimbabwean refugees are now entering South Africa.

. . . . . . Mugabe has no intention of keeping his promises to ensure free and fair elections. Already this week, we have seen the first Movement for Democratic Change rally of the presidential campaign tear-gassed by the police. That will not be the last time that we see that.

A lot can be done, so why are the Government still dragging their feet? It is not for the want of fine words.

. . . the Prime Minister said in his great "I will mend the world" speech that he delivered to the Labour party conference in October.

. . . ..

"no tolerance of . . . the activities of Mr. Mugabe's henchmen in Zimbabwe".

. . . . "No tolerance". Strong words, but what did they mean? From the inaction that we have seen, they were not worth the breath with which they were uttered.

. . . .The Foreign Secretary goes to central Africa, where he is today, but he does not go anywhere near Zimbabwe.

. . . . .The Prime Minister--the man who spoke of "no tolerance"--goes to Africa later this month or early next month and we are told that he too will give Zimbabwe a wide berth.