Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the political and social situation in Zimbabwe.

I refer to the statement made by the Minister for Africa to the House on 3 September, Official report, volume 664, column 11. The UK is seriously concerned about the increasing numbers of abductions, arrests and assault of civil society, trade union and opposition activists and the banning of protests in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe remains one of the UK’s 30 Human Rights Priority Countries globally. The UK Ambassador met the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister on 18 October and discussed the economic crisis and political situation in Zimbabwe, reinforcing the need for comprehensive political and economic reform and the protection of the poorest.

The UK is providing £128 million of aid to Zimbabwe in 2019/20 focusing on poverty reduction, humanitarian assistance and standing up for human rights and the rule of law. No money is channelled directly through the government. After the United Nations Flash Appeal, DFID has committed £49 million through a new Zimbabwe Humanitarian and Resilience Programme (ZHARP) to support people who do not have access to the food they need.