Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Blaker (Conservative). It was answered on Wednesday, 22 October 2008.

Zimbabwe

Question: My Lords, noble Lords will agree that the proposed allocation is wrong, unfair and leading to deadlock. Is not Botswana, as a neighbour, one of the countries which has suffered most from Mugabe’s rule? Has not the President of Botswana recently suggested that there should be a rerun of the presidential election under international supervision? Might not this suggestion be of interest to other neighbouring countries such as the members of SADC and of the African Union?

Answer: My Lords, the noble Lord is right that the President of Botswana has several times made this suggestion. It is for the neighbours to determine first whether this is the way ahead. I remind the noble Lord that there was extraordinary violence during the second round and we do not want to recreate a circumstance where Mugabe and his butchers again start to slaughter the civilian volunteers of the MDC.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 704 c1127
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Elections Politics and government Zimbabwe ZANU-PF Movement for Democratic Change
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk