Oral Answers to Questions

Laura Sandys Excerpts

Tuesday 6th July 2010 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con)]

1. What his most recent assessment is of the state of UK-Zimbabwe relations.

[Jessica Lee (Erewash) (Con)]

4. What his most recent assessment is of the state of UK-Zimbabwe relations.

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr William Hague)]

We want to do all that we can to support the aspirations of the Zimbabwean people for a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Zimbabwe. We will work with reformers in Zimbabwe and the region to maximise the prospects for achieving the reforms necessary for properly conducted elections.

[Laura Sandys]

What can the British Government do for British nationals who were born in Zimbabwe whose property has been expropriated by the Zimbabwe Government, some of whom live in South Thanet?

[Mr Hague]

We condemn illegal farm and property seizures, which contravene the global political agreement and a Southern African Development Community decision, and which do nothing to advance Zimbabwe’s economy —we should make that very clear. Economic regeneration in Zimbabwe depends on respect for the rule of law, and we urge the Zimbabwean Government to respect the rule of law and to end such seizures.