Zimbabwe

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — International Development – in the House of Commons am 11:30 am ar 13 Mai 2009.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Ivan Lewis Ivan Lewis The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development 11:30, 13 Mai 2009

Of course, it is not for me to arrange my right hon. Friend's travel itinerary. However, my serious response is that he recently met the Finance Minister, in whom we have a lot of confidence, and he has also met the Prime Minister in the past. My noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown, the Minister for Africa, was at the inauguration of the new President of South Africa and recently met Morgan Tsvangirai and the new Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe. There is constant engagement and dialogue with the Government of Zimbabwe. We are clear about the support that we stand ready to provide and we have announced the resources that I mentioned in my earlier response. However, there can be no slacking in the message about the importance of political and economic as well as human rights reform. We remain concerned that, for example, political prisoners have recently been returned to prison. In those circumstances, we need to send strong messages about the pace of reform.