Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the governments of countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regarding the continued detention of Zimbabwe opposition Members of Parliament (1) Job Sikhala, and (2) Godfrey Sithole.

The UK is monitoring the ongoing detention of opposition Members of Parliament Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole in Zimbabwe. The former Minister for Africa met with the Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe on 30 June and reiterated the importance of all political parties respecting the rule of law, refraining from violence and respecting the right of others' to campaign freely ahead of upcoming elections in 2023.