Letter to the Clerk of the Committee from
the Parliamentary Relations and Devolution Department, Foreign
and Commonwealth Office, 10 September 2004
ZIMBABWE
Thank you for your letters of 22 July and 25
August covering a number of questions from the Committee on Zimbabwe.
In this letter I cover your questions on pensions and students
from Matabeleland. I am writing separately on your queries about
independent broadcasters and Mugabe's knighthood.
Pensions
The 1979 Lancaster House Agreement stipulated
that the constitution of an independent Zimbabwe would contain
provisions entitling former employees to pensions, and that pension
benefits would continue to be paid to those no longer resident
in Zimbabwe. However, there was no undertaking in the Lancaster
House Agreement that the British Government would assume responsibility
for these payments. The reason for this was that the former Southern
Rhodesia's civil and public servants were appointed on local terms.
The British Government therefore had no responsibility for matters
connected with the public administration, including the recruitment
of staff, the formulation of their terms and conditions of employment,
or their pension arrangements.
The British Government gave good notice that
it would not, in the event of a settlement on the future of Zimbabwe,
guarantee the pensions of former Rhodesian public servants. Through
1977, 1978 and 1979, the Government made this clear to the Rhodesian
authorities. This was acknowledged in a public statement by the
Secretary to the Rhodesian Cabinet, Mr Jack Gaylard, on 21 January
1979. Nor was there any provision in the Agreement either to guarantee
the purchasing power of pensions, or protect the value of externally
paid pensions against the effects of fluctuating exchange rates.
Responsibility for payment of these pensions
therefore rests with the Zimbabwe Government. But we are not deaf
to the concerns of the pensioners involved. Our Consul in Harare
sends an average of six emails and three letters a week to Mr
Kasere, the Director of Government Pensions. Mr Kasere has assured
our Consul that he regularly reminds his Minister of the need
to pay pensions in full and on time. The disastrous state of the
Zimbabwe economy means that the Zimbabwe government does not make
the necessary foreign exchange available to pay pensions to those
living outside Zimbabwe. I regret to say that this situation is
unlikely to improve in the foreseeable future.
Students from Matabeleland
Your letter of 25 August referred to representations
made to the FCO about students from Matabeleland wishing to study
in the UK. These representations were made by the Matabeleland
Gukurahundi Victims Defence Association. They proposed the establishment
of a scholarships programme for 100 students to study in the UK,
and 200 per year to study in Zambia. The Government is not in
a position to finance such a programme, which would be of a similar
size to the Chevening Scholarship programme for the whole of Africa.
This is not to say that the people of Matabeleland
do not benefit from UK Government assistance. Through the Chevening
Scholarship programme, we have supported 35 Zimbabwean students'
study in the UK this year, including some from Matabeleland. This
reflects the fact that in Zimbabwe Chevening scholars are drawn
from right across the country, including Matabeleland. Scholars
are chosen because they have been identified as future leaders,
decision-makers and opinion-formers.
The UK also gives considerable aid to the people
of Matabeleland. Over the last year, DFID has spent approximately
£20 million on its country-wide feeding programmes. This
assistance is distributed according to need and without provincial
quotas. However, we estimate that 38%, or £7.6 million, has
gone to help the people of Matabeleland. In addition, we have
given assistance for, among other things, water projects, schools
and clinics in Matabeleland.
The UK also gives considerable aid to the people
of Matabeleland. Over the last year, DFID has spent approximately
£20 million on its country-wide feeding programmes. This
assistance is distributed according to need and without provincial
quotas. However, we estimate that 38%, or £7.6 million, has
gone to help the people of Matabeleland. In addition, we have
given assistance for, among other things, water projects, schools
and clinics in Matabeleland.
Mathew Hamlyn
Parliamentary Relations and Devolution Department
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
10 September 2004
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