Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had this year with the government of Zimbabwe about pension arrears owed to former Crown servants; and what was the outcome of those discussions.

While we have received repeated assurances from the Government of Zimbabwe that they will resume payment of pensions when the economic situation allows, we remain concerned. The Government of Zimbabwe is facing an array of challenges economically, which have been exacerbated by COVID-19. Regrettably, we therefore do not see these pensions being paid in the near future. We will, however, continue to raise the matter with the Government of Zimbabwe and the UK's Ambassador to Harare raised the issue with senior Ministry of Finance officials on 2 June.