Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to the Zimbabwean Government on human rights issues since the recent election in that country; and if he will make a statement.

I released statements on 4 and 9 August highlighting our concern at the violence and human rights violations which took place after the elections, particularly the deaths of at least six people on 1 August. I spoke to Foreign Minister Moyo and MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa on 10 August to urge calm, and for all sides uphold the rule of law and the Constitution.

We welcome President Mangagwa's creation of the Commission of Inquiry into the violence and human rights abuses after the elections. We are pressing for this to be conducted quickly, credibly and in a transparent manner.