Baroness Amos: Visiting Zimbabwe

As a Foreign Office minister prepares to visit Zimbabwe, the government has admitted the country has failed to honour its obligations to end political violence.

Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, international development secretary Clare Short admitted that the Zimbabwe government had made no progress in ending political violence.

Short's admission came as Baroness Amos prepared to fly out on Wednesday night for the first ministerial visit to the African state since the controversy over land reform began four years ago. The visit, part of a Commonwealth mission to the country, also coincides with a new report that says state-sponsored repression, political killings and torture are continuing to worsen.

Clare Short told the Commons that the ministers visiting the country would discuss the failure of the Zimbabwe government to meet its obligations. Describing the on-going situation as a "complete tragedy" she said her department was now drawing up plans to deliver food aid to the country, despite its previously strong agricultural sector.

"There's no doubt that there is a strong case for land redistribution in Zimbabwe," she said, but it shouldn't be about "political cronyism".

The Committee of Commonwealth Foreign Ministers on Zimbabwe will visit the country for two days, taking up an invitation of the government made during the committee's meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, on September 6, 2001.

The Committee comprises ministers from Australia, Canada, Jamaica, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe. Along with the Commonwealth secretary-general, Don McKinnon, it plans to meet president Mugabe and other members of Government, opposition leaders and representatives of civil society.

Speaking ahead of the visit, McKinnon said the visit was an important step towards implementation of the Abuja Agreement.

Reached at the beginning of September, the Nigerian-brokered Agreement recognises the need for land reform but called for it to be "carried out with due regard to human rights, rule of law, transparency and democratic principles". Zimbabwe promised to halt the farm occupations, restore the rule of law and "take firm action against violence and intimidation".

But as the ministers prepare for their visit, an Amnesty International report says the agreement has not been honoured by the Zimbabwe government.

The human rights organisation reports that there have been up to 50 politically motivated killings since early 2000 and more political killings took place during by-elections in September 2001. Amnesty says the situation could deteriorate if the international community does not take preventive action.

"A pattern of political repression by the ruling party in the run-up to elections has been repeated last month, and will likely be repeated again in the months ahead," the organisation said.