Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to government of Zimbabwe about the detention of Hopewell Chin’ono.

The UK is deeply concerned by the continued prosecution of Hopewell Chin'ono. Media freedom is an essential quality of any open society. People must be allowed to discuss and debate issues freely, to challenge their governments, and to make decisions informed by a strong and robust media. Zimbabwe is one of the UK's Media Freedom Focus Countries: we have called on the Government of Zimbabwe to end the harassment of journalists, improve legislation and work with the international community to protect media freedom.

Our Embassy in Harare are closely following developments on Mr Chin'ono's case, including through attendance at court. They continue to raise our concerns directly with the Government of Zimbabwe. Most recently, the Minister for Africa tweeted on 13 November and 23 July to express his concern; reiterating that the UK is committed to defending media freedom and human rights in Zimbabwe. When the Minister for Africa spoke to Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Moyo on 8 June, he urged the Government of Zimbabwe to make concrete progress on human rights and respect the rule of law. The British Ambassador to Harare also met with the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister on 14 August and raised our concerns.