Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Wednesday, 24 February 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 March 1999. It was answered by Tony Lloyd (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 March 1999 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received about the cost to Zimbabwe of the miliary expedition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and about the sources of the finance for the operation.

Answer: Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received about the cost to Zimbabwe of the military expedition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and about the sources of the finance for the operation. [73954] Mr. Tony Lloyd: We are concerned about the impact on the Zimbabwe economy of its involvement in the DRC. Zimbabwe's defence budget is one of the highest in the region. The cost of sustaining the conflict could put the region's long-term development at risk. The Government of Zimbabwe has said that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is funding the direct costs of its intervention, and that the Government of Angola is providing logistics support.

Secondary information