17-12-02

“We must pick up pieces of broken country, Zimbabwe” – Barrett

John Barrett, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West and Member of the International Development Select Committee, today attacked Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe for creating a 'broken country'.

During a parliamentary debate, Mr Barrett said:

"It is important to remember that the ongoing problems in Zimbabwe have had repercussions which have extended far beyond its own borders. Zimbabwe has traditionally been a net food exporter to its country neighbours but now has the highest food aid requirement of any country in Southern Africa.

"By removing so many white commercial farmers, Mugabe has only contributed to reducing his country's maize production and has in effect only added to the numbers now starving in countries like Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.

"Zimbabwe is also caught in the stranglehold which the HIV/aids disease has on the region as a whole, with the country now the third most infected country in the entire world.

"As if it wasn't difficult enough, there is now increasing evidence that those who are infected with HIV/aids are finding it even more difficult to access food aid, because of stigma, impaired mobility and ostracism.

"The tale of Zimbabwe is a tragic one. President Mugabe has created a broken country and has left the international community to pick up the pieces. This is a challenge which we can and must to respond to."

ENDS