Britain tells Zimbabwe the world is watching- full debate | The Insider

Britain on Friday called for reforms in Zimbabwe ahead of elections due in July or August next year, which the world was watching.

Several colleagues asked what the United Kingdom government was doing to ensure that Zimbabwe had free and fair elections next year, given the continued detention of opposition politicians such as Job Sikhala, as well as harassment of journalists.

Below is the full question-and-answer session in the House of Lords, at the time the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front was holding its Congress, which endorsed President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the party’s sole candidate for the election.

Lord Oates Liberal Democrat: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they discuss with the Government of Zimbabwe regarding the continued detention of opposition members of the Zimbabwean Parliament Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole and other opposition activists.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office): My Lords, UK The government critics in Zimbabwe are concerned about the trend of prolonged pre-trial detentions. We are monitoring the ongoing detention of MPs Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole. As publicly stated by the ambassador on 2 October, the UK remains committed to the fundamental right to peaceful assembly and association, as enshrined in Zimbabwe’s constitution. The former African minister had also raised the issue with the Zimbabwean foreign minister on June 30.

Lord Oates Liberal Democrat: My Lords, Minister would know that opposition MPs Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole have now been detained without bail for 142 days in Chikurubi maximum security prison and paraded before the court at Leg Iron; that only a week earlier, Bulawayo MP Jasmine Tofa was violently attacked as part of an attack on CCC workers; And that political violence is raging across Zimbabwe in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections. Will he join me in calling on the Zimbabwean government to end this political violence now? Will she join me in making it clear to ZANU-PF officers and ministers, members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwean prison authorities that the world is watching and holds them accountable for the safety and security of all Zimbabweans?

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office): I thank the great Lord for raising this very important issue. She is right: the world is watching and of course the UK is deeply concerned by the challenging human rights situation in Zimbabwe. Political parties, journalists and opponents should be able to function without any form of harassment. We regularly call on Zimbabwe to respect the rights of freedom of assembly and association, as well as the rule of law and due process, in line with Zimbabwe’s own constitution. We supervise all personal matters, including those he mentioned, such as Jasmine Tofa MP. All political violence is related and violence against women in politics is of particular concern, especially in Zimbabwe.

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Lord St. John of the Bletso Crossbench: My Lords, what are the chances of a free and fair election in Zimbabwe in July following the continuing violence against opposition supporters and candidates in last weekend’s Matabeleland election and the Electoral Commission’s refusal to release voter lists?

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office): The great lord is right to raise this issue as well. The UK is working closely with international partners to encourage the Zimbabwean government to commit to its own constitution and electoral reform, including implementing the recommendations of the 2018 Electoral Monitoring Report. We believe that there has been very limited progress so far on the electoral reforms recommended in the 2018 paper. Major outstanding areas include a transparent voter registration process, publication of an accurate electoral roll, transparent use of state-owned resources and greater efforts to demonstrate the independence of the Election Commission. This continues to be a priority in our discussions not only with Zimbabwe but also with neighboring countries.

Bishop of Southwark: The Diocese of My Lords, Southwark is associated with the neighboring Diocese of Rochester with Harare, the four and fifth of five Anglican dioceses in Zimbabwe. Do ministers agree that systemic corruption and chronically poor governance levels in Zimbabwe continue to undermine civil society and undermine the well-being of its people and all institutions, including the Church?

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office): My lords, Zimbabwe is a country with extraordinary potential and extraordinary history, and it is certainly true that the current political outlook harbors that potential. The UK is a long-term partner of Zimbabwe and we provide significant levels of ODA. However, I want to make it clear to the House that we do this in a way that avoids government-to-government bilateral financial assistance. In other words, none of the money we provide goes through the government. Instead, we work through multilateral organizations, and wherever possible we can support civil society and NGOs in the private sector.

Lord Collins of Highbury Opposition Whip (Lords), Shadow Spokesperson (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and International Development), Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords: My lords, to raise that issue, I have on several occasions with ministers raised the continuing repression of civil society in Zimbabwe, including trade unionists. Can ministers tell us the latest FCDO assessment of the passage of the Private Voluntary Organizations Amendment Bill, which ministers have acknowledged could be used to restrict civilian space? Can he also tell us how we are working with allies, global civil society and interreligious groups to ensure that it is his voice that is heard in Zimbabwe and not just government voices?

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office): Sarkar very much agrees with the great lord’s initial comments. We are concerned that the Private Voluntary Organizations Amendment Bill, if it becomes law and is enacted, could too easily be used to undermine the ability of civil society to operate effectively in Zimbabwe. . It also jeopardizes its ability to provide development and humanitarian aid. We engage widely not only with civil society within Zimbabwe and through our foreign development assistance, which I mentioned earlier, but, importantly, with South Africa as well. As the Noble Lords will know, we have deep and longstanding ties with South Africa, acknowledging the important role of the African Union and the Southern African Development Community in relation to Zimbabwe. UK officials very often speak on a wide range of issues, including of course in Zimbabwe.

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Lord Hayward Conservative: My Lords, 2018 elections have already been referenced; At that time I, along with the great Baroness, Lady J, was one of the observers of this country on behalf of the Commonwealth. The report was very damaging especially with respect to the events after the general election in 2018. Can my great friend ensure that the Election Commission is given very strong representation, as it has been regrettable in any action? This was before the 2018 election, and there is no indication that it will implement any kind of free and fair elections next year.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office): My Lords, we will use whatever leverage we can to maximize the chances of a free and fair election. I make a broad point: we know that President Mnangagwa wants more engagement with the UK – which is clear – and in many ways we want him to do the same. However, deeper re-engagement with the UK will require meaningful political and economic reform and respect for human rights and the rule of law when the president took office. The former Africa minister reinforced that message when she met the president at the COP last year.

Lord Purvis of Tweed Liberal Democrat Lord’s Spokesperson (International Business), Liberal Democrat Lord’s Spokesperson (International Development), Liberal Democrat Lord’s Spokesperson (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs): My lords, I admire the consistency of my great friend on this issue. I am afraid that this consistency is not visible among the ministers of Africa; Now we will be in our sixth place in just three years. I heard the Minister referring to the welcome participation of the officers with our SADC friends. However, have there been any ministerial meetings with SADC allies on regional solutions to ensure that those most pressing for an end to political violence and holding free and fair elections?

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office): My lords, I cannot give details of ministerial meetings; That doesn’t mean they haven’t happened – I don’t have the details of specific meetings. However, I am aware that at many international fora the then Africa Minister, as well as other ministers including myself, have discussed with neighboring countries in the region where this and other issues have been raised. However, I will provide details of specific meetings with SADC after this question.

Baroness Hoe Non-affiliated: My Lords, Noble Lord, Lord Oates, has outlined the shocking violence by Zanu-PF and Mnangagwa on anyone, in fact, who opposes the regime. The economic situation is dire, and hunger is being used against anyone who opposes the regime. Doesn’t the President’s visit to South Africa – the first state visit under His Majesty the King – give the government a wonderful opportunity to work with the South African government and talk to them about how they and other countries in Africa together can affect . How to ensure that Zimbabwe will have truly free and fair elections next year?

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office):The noble baroness has been the champion of Zimbabwe for many years and for this I pay tribute to her. He is right to recognize this upcoming trip as an opportunity. There is no doubt that South Africa and indeed Southern African countries, at least through SADC, have a special ability to influence Zimbabwe as much as we can. I am sure that the topic we are discussing today will be on the agenda during the visit.

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