Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Zimbabwe on the reported failure of law enforcement agencies in that country to act to bring to justice perpetrators of violence and intimidation in electoral contests in Zimbabwe.

​The UK condemns the use of violence and intimidation in elections. We have been concerned by recent reports of police violence, both during by-elections and in response to civil protests. We regularly urge the government of Zimbabwe to end human rights abuses and restore internationally accepted standards. British officials visited Norton, the location of the most recent by-election, on two occasions, as part of a ‘Diplomatic Watch’ observation mission with Australian, US and EU colleagues. They spoke to the candidates, urging calm. The group will now write to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, outlining its observations. We frequently urge the government of Zimbabwe to implement the provisions of the 2013 constitution, including those that relate to electoral reform.