Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Selous Excerpts
Tuesday 17th January 2012

(12 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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In view of the huge interest, brevity is vital.

Andrew Selous Portrait Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)
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T9. What progress is being made on the forthcoming constitutional referendum in Zimbabwe, which will be a prerequisite for free and fair elections in a country that has had more than its fair share of violence and intimidation in elections in the past.

Lord Bellingham Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Henry Bellingham)
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I certainly share my hon. Friend’s concern about continuing persecution, particularly of Movement for Democratic Reform MPs. There was the dreadful case of the recent arrest of Lynette Karenyi allegedly for insulting the President. Obviously, the immediate priority for Zimbabwe is preparation for the referendum on the constitution and making sure that the road map to credible free and fair elections is in place.