Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Zimbabwe

Tuesday 12 December 2023 · 1 question

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ruth Jones asked the minister about recent discussions with Commonwealth counterparts on Zimbabwe's readmittance to the Commonwealth.
  • The minister met the Commonwealth secretary-general in Dubai on the previous Sunday.
  • The minister noted that Zimbabwe has a productive and vibrant diaspora in the United Kingdom, including many living in south Wales and working in the NHS.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ruth Jones Lab Newport West and Islwyn
NHS Wales Foreign Affairs
Context

Discussions about the readmittance of Zimbabwe to the Commonwealth, given recent electoral developments and concerns raised by the diaspora community.

Question

Whether he has had recent discussions with his Commonwealth counterparts on the proposed readmittance of Zimbabwe to the Commonwealth. Given the recent enlargement of the Commonwealth, more than 100,000 Zimbabweans live in the UK, many in south Wales, and thousands work all year round in our NHS. What engagement has the Minister had with the Zimbabwean diaspora?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

I regularly discuss a broad range of issues, including Zimbabwe, with Commonwealth counterparts, most recently on Sunday in Dubai when I met the Commonwealth secretary-general, Baroness Scotland. The hon. Lady is right that Zimbabwe has a productive and vibrant diaspora in the United Kingdom, and we hear their views many times. Britain warned that the election needed to be violence-free and fair, and it was certainly violence-free.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific engagement with the Zimbabwean diaspora regarding Commonwealth membership and other challenges.

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