Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Baroness Jay of Paddington (Labour). It was answered on Thursday, 24 April 2008.

Zimbabwe

Question: My Lords, is my noble friend satisfied with the actions and the words of the South African Government in relation to this crisis?

Answer: My Lords, as I have said before in this House, President Mbeki deserves credit for having created the conditions in which this election took place, which has begun the process that will lead to the departure from power of President Mugabe. The people of Zimbabwe have voted and the putting of ballot tallies on the doors of the polling stations, a reform for which President Mbeki pressed, means that it has been impossible to hide the result. Obviously, we would have wished for clearer public statements since the election from the leaders of the region that this stalemate cannot be allowed to last. We are impressed by a number of private statements that are being made, but the time has come for ever clearer public statements by the leaders of the region, including President Mbeki, that this election stalemate must be ended in favour of the people of the country.

Secondary information