Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Zimbabwean counterpart on ensuring that the 2018 elections in that country are conducted in a peaceful, inclusive, credible and transparent manner.

Former Minister for Africa Rory Stewart met President Mnangagwa on 24 November and discussed the need for transparent, free and fair elections in Zimbabwe, in line with Zimbabwe's constitutional requirements. We welcome President Mnangagwa's recent statements on his desire to hold free and fair elections, including indications that international observers will be welcomed. We hope that the necessary invitations will be forthcoming. I reinforced this message during my visit to Harare on February 1st and 2nd 2018.