Peter Kelly (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

This is a sad occasion in that we are talking about the situation in Zimbabwe, the lack of democracy in that country and the brutal regime which governs it. I note the report today of the issue of a new Zimbabwean dollar banknote of Z$500 million by the Zimbabwean central bank with a value of US$2. This is an attempt to ease cash shortages in an economy with the highest rate of inflation in the world. The previous highest denomination note was for Z$250 million, issued ten days ago. The annual inflation rate is 165,000% and one economist said prices now double every week. The move comes as Zimbabwe waits for a date to be announced for a run-off in the presidential election between Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai. Mr. Tsvangirai's opposition Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, has condemned the government's move to delay the election, possibly until July.

It is part of a programme to give Mugabe and his ruling party, Zanu-PF, time to torment and continue a campaign of violence on the MDC. It is difficult to believe in this day and age that the people who run Zimbabwe cannot look into their own hearts, have a conscience and realise that we all have to live with the three plain principles of faith, hope and charity, of which they have none. There must surely be somebody in the Zimbabwean Cabinet who has some compassion, charity or love in them. I am reminded of the saying: "Do unto others as you would like to be done to yourself".

Amid the economic crisis, Mr. Tsvangirai gained more votes than President Mugabe but, according to the official results, did not pass the 50% threshold to be elected. At this stage nobody believes anything coming out of there. Mr. Tsvangirai says he was cheated of victory. Prices are now doubling every week. It is difficult to see how anyone or the country can survive even to the end of June or how an election will be feasible at all if things continue to deteriorate at this pace.

This is the fourth set of new banknotes to be introduced this year. In 1980, one Zimbabwe dollar was worth more than US$1. There has been a sad decline from independence in 1980 to the present day. Few people can live off the fat of the land. Just one in five of the adult population is believed to have a formal job and some three million people have left the country for a new life in South Africa. The economy has been in trouble for several years, with supplies of basic foodstuffs, cooking oil and petrol all running low.

The election run-off was due to be held by 23 May, 21 days after the results of the first round were announced, but the government has issued an emergency law to give it 90 days to organise the new poll. The electoral commission said it was not possible to hold the run-off so quickly. These people might be fooling somebody but I think they are only fooling themselves. Any government has a duty and responsibility to its people and this situation should not be allowed continue. How can people say it is not possible to hold a run-off so quickly?

The MDC says about 30 of its activists have been killed in a campaign of violence around the country aimed at securing victory for Mr. Mugabe. Meanwhile, the justice minister has proposed establishing cross-party teams to probe acts of political violence. He said that whenever there is a claim of an act of politically motivated violence being committed, they should form joint teams made up of Zanu-PF and MDC in order to establish the veracity of these claims. The MDC had threatened to boycott the second round of voting after accusing Zanu-PF of trying to rig it but over the weekend Mr. Tsvangirai said he would take part. He has been in neighbouring countries since the first round because of alleged threats to his life, but the MDC says Mr. Tsvangirai will return to address a rally in Bulawayo on Sunday. I wish him well.

Yesterday, when speaking on the Defamation Bill, I said that freedom of the press is the very essence of our democracy. Sadly, this is not the case in Zimbabwe where all media is controlled by the government. Broadcasters transmitting from Zimbabwean soil, as well as the main newspapers, are state-run and toe the government line. The press is dominated by two pro-government dailies, the Harare-based The Herald and the Bulawayo-based The Chronicle, both tightly controlled by the information ministry. To control the press to such an extent is wrong and they know it. Everybody is entitled to know what is happening. They are doing this because they are up to no good. If they were honest, decent people running a government, they would not mind letting the world know and letting their own people know what way they were running it. Private publications, which are relatively vigorous in their criticism of the government, have come under severe pressure. A leading private daily. The Daily News, was banned after a legal battle. The remaining independent press is largely confined to two weeklies, The Standard and The Zimbabwe Independent. Another weekly, The Zimbabwean, is produced in London and distributed in Zimbabwe as an international publication. As a result of rampant inflation, cover prices have spiralled and are beyond the reach of many Zimbabweans.

Publishers have been hit by escalating printing and newsprint costs. A range of draconian laws and institutions, along with prison sentences for publishing "false" news, are used to clamp down on critical comment. Journalists who fail to register with a government body risk imprisonment. The state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation operates the country's only TV and radio stations. ZBC formerly had two TV channels; its second network was leased to private station, Joy TV, which closed in 2002. Some of its programmes were said to have ruffled government feathers. Radio is the main source of information for many Zimbabweans. Although there are no private stations, the country is targeted by overseas-based operations. The Voice of the People, set up by former ZBC staff with funding from the Soros Foundation and a Dutch organisation, operates using a leased shortwave transmitter in Madagascar. Another station, the UK based SW Radio Africa, aims to give listeners in Zimbabwe unbiased information. From the US, the government-funded Voice of America operates studio 7, a twice daily service for listeners in Zimbabwe which aims to be a source of objective and balanced news. Radio broadcasts by foreign stations are deemed hostile to the Government and have been jammed.

The army is behind the new wave of violence. Mr. Mugabe is leaving a history of only violence. Somebody, somewhere, will have to do something. I appeal to his neighbours to try to do something. The UN proposal bans the importation of all arms into Zimbabwe. Anybody connected with bringing arms into Zimbabwe should be charged because it is not right. It is wrong and is causing too many problems for decent people. We would like to see an embargo on arms all over the place but particularly in Zimbabwe.

See this speech in context