Impala Car Rental

(asked on 5th October 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports (1) that state agents and Impala car rental in Zimbabwe colluded to abduct and torture political opponents, and (2) that Impala car rental has not complied with an order of the High Court in Bulawayo to hand over information about (a) the identity of those who hired the vehicle used to abduct Tawanda Muchehiwa on 30 July, and (b) the route that vehicle travelled on that day; and what discussions they have had with the government of Zimbabwe about imposing economic measures on Impala car rental and its directors.


Answered by
Baroness Sugg Portrait
Baroness Sugg
This question was answered on 19th October 2020

We are aware of reports that a car hired from Impala Car Hire was used in the abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa, and that the matter is subject to a high court order. HMG has been clear, including in an international statement on 28 August, that the Government of Zimbabwe has a responsibility to investigate and prosecute those responsible for violating human rights. The Minister for Africa regularly engages with the Government of Zimbabwe to raise serious concerns about the political, economic and human rights situation in Zimbabwe and reinforce the need for accountability. He clearly conveyed our views when he spoke to Foreign Minister Moyo on 8 June, and in a letter to the Foreign Minister on 12 August.

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