Lord Oates – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Oates on 2016-09-13.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria they consider the government of Zimbabwe would need to fulfil, in terms of demonstrating sustained adherence to the constitution of Zimbabwe and a sustained commitment to protecting the human rights of Zimbabwe citizens, before they would provide financial support for a land reform programme.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

Land reform in Zimbabwe is essential for improving agricultural productivity and broader economic development. The British Government has consistently said that it would be ready to join international partners in supporting a land reform programme in Zimbabwe that is transparent, fair, legal and within the context of a broad range of reforms. Separately, we continue to call, both bilaterally and in partnership with others, for an end to human rights abuses and the restoration of internationally accepted standards.