Letter to the Clerk from the Head of Parliamentary
Relations and Devolution Department, Foreign and Commonwealth
Office
The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee
had a brief word with the Foreign Secretary about Zimbabwe on
22 August. The Foreign Secretary agreed to write to the Committee
about the situation in the country, and the Nigerian initiative
for Commonwealth engagement with Zimbabwe.
The Foreign Secretary is deeply concerned about
the situation in Zimbabwe, where the breakdown in law and order
has led to an increase in violence, especially in rural areas.
We have repeatedly urged the Government of Zimbabwe to restore
the rule of law, provide police protection for those being threatened,
and to bring to justice the perpetrators of crime, regardless
of the colour of their skin or their political affiliation. Following
the latest violence in Chinhoyi, a British national was among
a number of farmers being held by the police following a violent
incident on a neighbouring farm. Staff from the British High Commission
in Harare visited the area several times and offered full consular
assistance.
The EU has expressed serious concerns about
developments in Zimbabwe. On 25 June, the General Affairs Council
concluded that the EU critical dialogue with Zimbabwe, which began
in March within the framework of Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement,
should be extended for a further two months and progress reviewed
again in September. In August, the EU Troika in Harare expressed
its deep misgivings about the violence preceding the Bindura by-election
in July; the continued harassment, including arrests, of journalists
working for independent media; and the upsurge of violence in
commercial farming areas. The Troika pressed the Zimbabwean authorities
to grant formal accreditation to EU diplomats based in Harare
to observe the two by-elections in September and to invite international
monitors to observe the presidential election in Spring 2002.
The Commonwealth is also actively engaged in
trying to influence events in Zimbabwe. A group of Commonwealth
Foreign Ministers will meet in Abuja on 6 September under the
chairmanship of the Nigerian Foreign Minister, Sule Lamido, to
discuss Zimbabwe. The Foreign Secretary, accompanied by the Minister
for Africa, will attend, along with representatives from Australia,
Canada, Jamaica, Kenya and Zimbabwe. The Commonwealth Secretary
General will also participate.
The Nigerians have assured us that there will
be an open discussion in which all issues of international concern
can be aired. The Zimbabweans are likely to raise the question
of land reform and it's funding by the UK and the international
community. We recognise the importance of land reform, and have
consistently said that we would be prepared to support a land
reform programme that was in line with the principles agreed by
donors and the Government of Zimbabwe at the 1998 Land Conference.
The Government's current fast-track programme does not conform
to those principles.
The Foreign Secretary will aim to focus discussion
on the core reasons for Zimbabwe's political and economic decline—the
breakdown in the rule of law and governance issues. He will underline
the need for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe, including the
central role of international election observers. He will also
make clear our concerns about the deteriorating economic situation
in Zimbabwe.
We hope the Abuja meeting will be the beginning
of a Commonwealth dialogue with the Zimbabwe Government which
will help to influence, and moderate, President Mugabe's behaviour.
But we must be realistic. President Mugabe is intent on winning
the presidential election in Spring next year. His actions are
very much geared to that end. Much will therefore depend on how
Zimbabwe approaches the Abuja meeting and whether it is inclined
to begin addressing international concerns. I will write again
after the meeting.
Parliamentary Relations and Devolution Department,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
4 September 2001
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