Lib Dems Support People of Zimbabwe

The Woking Liberal Democrats are bringing this motion to the Council to highlight and condemn the current political situation in Zimbabwe, as the strongest legal action we can take in support of the people of Zimbabwe, Zimbabweans in Woking and the UK, against the illegitimate government of Robert Mugabe.

In light of the inability of the UN Security Council to act, following the veto by Russia and China of the recent resolution in the UN Security Council concerning Zimbabwe, we believe that grass roots action at a local and individual level may be the best method available to safeguard human rights and offer our protection to the people of Zimbabwe.

We condemn:

• The lack of Free, fair and transparent elections, accompanied by peaceful transition to power;

• The economic mismanagement of the nations assets for the benefit of the ruling party;

• Repeated human rights abuses and harassment of the democratic opposition;

• The organised reprisals against voters, suspected of not voting for the ruling Zanu-PF party;

• Totally unacceptable perpetration of violence of a regime against its own citizens;

Our motion (amending the motion tabled on Thursday 10th July) is as follows:

This Council resolves to:

i) condemn in the strongest terms the human rights and other abuses

perpetrated by or in association with the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe;

ii) express its recognition, support and respect for the human rights of

individuals and to actively promote human rights;

iii) ask the Chief Executive to write to the Trustees of the Surrey

County Council Pension Fund and encourage their adoption of an ethical

investment policy, so far as is consistent with proper financial

stewardship and securing the best return for its beneficiaries.

(iv) write an open letter to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State

for Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon. Hazel Blears MP,

requesting enablement through statutory instrument to permit a

preference for doing business with companies that have no involvement

with the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe.