Tories seek boycott of Zimbabwean delegates

The Tory Party is seeking guarantees from the government that it will not meet with Zimbabwean delegates at the Commonwealth Science Council conference this week.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram has written to Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt calling for zero contact with Zimbabwean officials at the meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, which is scheduled to being today and run until Friday.

Mr Ancram said: "I should like to point out that Mrs Olivia Muchena, the Zimbabwean Minister of State for Science and Technology Development, has indicated that she will attend, despite Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth.

"I understand that she has been invited by the South African Science and Technology Minister, Mr Ben Ngubane. Whilst bilateral meetings between South Africa and Zimbabwe are beyond your jurisdiction, I do seek a guarantee that no British Minister or official will attend any part of the Commonwealth meetings if Mrs Muchena attends.

"I would hope that any British representative would have your full support in objecting to any Zimbabwean attendance at this series of meetings."

The crisis in Zimbabwe has deepened in recent weeks following a series of mass strikes, civil unrest and government crackdowns on opposition elements.

Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, was arrested during last week's five-day national strike and charge with treason.

According to the humanitarian organisation, Human Rights Watch, not only have the army and police personnel failed to protect people from human rights abuses, but they are now carrying out abuses themselves.

Peter Takirambudde, executive director of the Africa Division at Human Rights Watch, said: "In addition, recent legislation has drastically curtailed citizens' rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association."

Human Rights Watch has called on the Zimbabwean government to re-establish the rule of law, disband youth militia, withdraw military personnel from residential areas, and revise legislation that runs contrary to international human rights law.

Despite growing pressure on the ageing president, Robert Mugabe, to stand down, he has signalled that may groom a successor but he has no plans to leave office in the short term.

(GMcG)