Government Of Zambia

EDM number 968 in 1995-96, proposed by Diane Abbott on 07/06/1996.

That this House notes that Zambia's Government, headed by President Chiluba of the Movement for Multi Party Democracy, has once again tried to thwart the democratic process in that country by arresting leading members of the Zambian opposition party - UNIP - including Dr Kenneth Kaunda's closest advisor, Mr Rabbison Chongo; joins the United States administration in deploring the unconstitutional manner in which President Chiluba's government has forced through constitutional amendments to rule out candidates likely to challenge his government at forthcoming elections; further notes that the British Government has provided substantial aid to President Chiluba's government, in particular by helping Zambia pay its debts to the IMF and the World Bank; believes that the British Government cannot now stand by and tolerate the suppression of democracy in a country so closely linked to other emerging democracies in Southern Africa; and calls therefore on the Foreign Secretary to prevail on President Chiluba's government to end the harassment of Dr Kaunda and his colleagues and to free those currently charged with treason unless and until reasonable evidence of treasonable acts can be provided to the courts.

This motion has been signed by a total of 27 MPs.