26-06-03

Barrett given key role in new cross party Zimbabwe group

John Barrett, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West and Member of the International Development Select Committee, was today elected Secretary of the influential new all-party parliamentary group on Zimbabwe.

The group, which is made up from Members of Parliament from all the major political parties will seek to raise the awareness of Zimbabwe both in and out of Westminster.

In a statement, John Barrett said:

"Thanks to Robert Mugabe and his regime, Zimbabwe remains one of great tragedies in Africa.
       
"Zimbabwe is not only caught in the stranglehold which the HIV/aids disease, with 33% of its population infected but over one in ten of children now die before reaching their 5th birthday.

"Whilst Zimbabwe has traditionally been a net food exporter to its country neighbours, the land reforms pursued by Mugabe have left his country with the highest food aid requirement of any country in Southern Africa.  The Department for International Development now estimates that despite the Zimbabwean harvest, some 1 million metric tonnes of maize will still be required in aid for that country alone.

"Zimbabwe is a broken country containing suffering which the international community cannot shy away from.  Hopefully, this new parliamentary group can put further pressure on the Government to take decisive action."
                                                                                                            
ENDS