EIGHT British MPs from the House of Commons International Development Committee arrived in Zimbabwe on 1 February for a four day visit to review the effectiveness of the United Kingdom’s aid programme.

The Chairman of the Committee, Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP, said:

“My colleagues and I are delighted to be in Zimbabwe to see first hand how Britain’s substantial aid programme – at $100 million our largest ever in Zimbabwe – is helping improve the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.

We are looking forward to visiting a number of projects in Harare and Bulawayo covering areas, such as health, HIV/AIDS and education, where the UK Department for International Development’s work with local partners is delivering real benefits to thousands of Zimbabweans.”

Bruce added that there was no significance in the timing of the visit, which takes place just before the European Union decides whether to renew its restrictive measures.

“Our role is to provide independent parliamentary oversight of how the British Government spends its aid. We are not here to advise on political developments. The British Government has already made clear that the key to having the EU’s restrictive measures lifted is for those blocking progress in Zimbabwe to implement the commitments they signed up to the Global Political Agreement and to stop using sanctions as an excuse.”.

1. The visiting members of the International Development Committee (IDC) are:

Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP (Liberal Democrat – Chair)

Hugh Bayley MP (Labour)

Nigel Evans MP (Conservative)

Richard Burden MP (Labour)

Rt Hon John Battle MP (Labour)

Andrew Stunell MP (Liberal Democrats)

Daniel Kawcynski MP (Conservative)

Mark Lancaster MP (Conservative)