Are Britain and South Africa discussing Mugabe’s successor?

A British Member of Parliament, who has had a special interest in Zimbabwe for years, yesterday asked a very interesting question in the House of Commons yesterday.

Kate Hoey, chair of the All-Party Group on Zimbabwe in the United Kingdom Parliament, asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts and discussions ministers and officials in his department had had with the African National Congress regarding a possible successor to President Robert Mugabe.

Mark Simmonds, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, said the issue of Mugabe’s successor was a matter for Zimbabweans to decide in line with their country’s constitution.

“We have regular dialogue with South Africa on a range of issues, including regional interests, at both ministerial and official level,” he said.

“The issue of political transition and that of successors to President Mugabe is a matter for the Zimbabwean people in line with the constitution of Zimbabwe. The UK remains keen to see a Zimbabwean Government that delivers for its people and we will continue to do all we can to support a more democratic, stable and prosperous Zimbabwe.”

The issue of Mugabe’s succession has been a hot potato for more than a decade and was rekindled at the weekend when Mugabe blasted Information Minister Jonathan Moyo for dividing the party.

Q & A:

Kate Hoey (Vauxhall, Labour) : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts and discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with the African National Congress regarding a possible successor to President Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

Mark Simmonds (The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; Boston and Skegness, Conservative): We have regular dialogue with South Africa on a range of issues, including regional interests, at both ministerial and official level. The issue of political transition and that of successors to President Mugabe is a matter for the Zimbabwean people in line with the constitution of Zimbabwe. The UK remains keen to see a Zimbabwean Government that delivers for its people and we will continue to do all we can to support a more democratic, stable and prosperous Zimbabwe.

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