Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

However, I am disappointed no room was found in the motion to commend the efforts of ordinary workers in South Africa and Mozambique on their actions in support of human rights in Zimbabwe. Dock workers in the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union refused to unload a weapons shipment bound for Zimbabwe at the end of April and the International Transport Workers Federation was decisive in preventing Mozambique being used as an alternate destination. More than 3 million rounds of ammunition and thousands of rockets and mortar bombs contained on a Chinese container ship would have ended up on the streets of Harare and other towns being used against members of the political opposition or innocent civilians. Knowing this, low paid dock workers chose to take a stand in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe and they should be recognised for it.

I support the call by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for the immediate release of the president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Mr. Lovemore Motombo, and the secretary general, Mr. Wellington Chibebe. The release of all people who have been imprisoned for non-violent political activity should be part of what the Dáil demands. The attempted arms delivery is all the more ominous in the context of increasing levels of violence and oppression.

In recent weeks raids were carried out on the headquarters of the Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, and the Zimbabwe Elections Support Network, which deployed local observers during the recent elections. Children aged as young as 11 were caught up in the raids. The MDC stated 32 of its supporters have been killed in post-election violence, with eight dying in the past few days. The UN stated earlier this week that "incidences of violence are occurring in the communal, farming and urban areas and there are indications that the level of violence is escalating in all these areas and could reach crisis levels". Yesterday diplomats from a number of countries were stopped by police at a roadblock on the edge of the capital, Harare, on their way to visit hospitals where victims of the violence were receiving medical treatment. Police threatened diplomatic staff during the stand-off.

We need to provide what support we can to the African Union and the other organisations mentioned in the motion to ensure a peaceful outcome. I welcome the acknowledgment in the motion of the work being done by Irish Aid in Zimbabwe. Sinn Féin particularly welcomes the suggestion that we should look to aid the reconstruction of Zimbabwe's institutions and the protection of its economic assets. I recall Deputy Barry Andrews, who has since been appointed a Minister of State, making a similar point a number of weeks ago at an event in Dublin to mark Zimbabwean independence. He stated, "The EU needs to have some sort of Marshall Plan ready for Zimbabwe" once the political situation is calmer.

I agree with him but I would like to sound a note of warning. We have witnessed in recent years examples of aid being distributed by wealthier nations in the aftermath of both natural and man made disasters. In a number of cases, for example, in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami in 2004 and the rebuilding of Lebanon following the defeated Israeli invasion in 2006, these disasters were used to push an economic agenda. IMF aid to Lebanon was dependent on changes to the country's social security and energy sectors. All parties in the House will agree we have no wish for strings like this to be attached to any aid to Zimbabwe.

The human rights violations highlighted in the motion take place against a backdrop of extreme economic hardship for ordinary working class Zimbabweans. Credible estimates put inflation at 14,000% at the end of 2007. Compulsory school fees have been increased a number of times, thus denying children their right to education. Underfunded health services were struggling to deal with demand long before the latest outbreaks of violence. Staple foods such as rice and maize are in short supply and the World Food Programme estimates 4 million Zimbabweans are in need of food aid, which is almost the equivalent to the population of this State. This estimate was made prior to recent rapid increases in food prices in the developing world. There have also been reports of food being used as a political weapon by Mugabe supporters. In the run up to the first round of elections, areas perceived to be supporting the opposition were discriminated against in accessing cheaper maize controlled by the state-run grain marketing board.

I pay tribute to the actions of organisations in Zimbabwe such as Women of Zimbabwe Arise, which have peacefully taken to the streets to protest against these kinds of economic hardships and the political chaos that contributes to it. Men and women in Zimbabwe who stand up for their political and economic rights in the face of a brutal police force and a controlled media display a rare courage in doing so. I regret that, in applauding the work of governments and NGOs in opposing human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, no space could be found to commend those Zimbabweans who face these human rights abuses every day of their lives and continue to stand up for their people. Many lose their liberty for it and all too many lose their lives.

The Government and Irish Aid will continue to play the positive role they have played to date but more could be done. For example, there would be merit in taking the cross-party consensus we have achieved in the House on the motion to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. I propose the committee give serious consideration to inviting human rights organisations such as Amnesty International or representatives from Irish Aid or other aid organisations on the ground in Zimbabwe to give us the benefit of their advice on what we can practically do to assist the people of Zimbabwe. Perhaps the new Minister for Foreign Affairs would undertake to consider the report of such a meeting. With the support of all parties here today, this motion will undoubtedly pass. However, I am sure those here with me will agree that fine speeches and the passing of motions should be accompanied by action and I suggest that action is needed now.

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