Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contacts he is maintaining in a respect of the worsening situation in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45830/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The worsening situation in Zimbabwe is a cause of grave concern. For several years, the people of Zimbabwe have been the victims of state violence, economic chaos and the collapse of basic social services such as health and education. Most recently, due to the mismanagement of water and sewerage facilities, a major cholera epidemic has developed. With almost 14,000 cases of cholera reported since 1 August and nearly 600 deaths from the disease, the Zimbabwean health system has no resources to cope. In addition, as a result of drought, the disruption caused by violence and a lack of basic agricultural inputs which farmers can no longer afford, many Zimbabweans are facing a catastrophic food shortage. The UN believes that the number dependent on food aid will reach 5 million, more than half the population, in January 2009.

The international community is responding to these crises by supporting the UN and non-governmental organisations in work aimed at improving conditions for the Zimbabwean people. In response to the outbreak of cholera, the European Commission has allocated more than €9 million to the UN and NGOs active in Zimbabwe to support water and sanitation initiatives and the provision of essential medicines. In total the EU Commission has provided more than €500 million in direct support to the population of Zimbabwe since 2002. Ireland has contributed approximately €25 million in aid to the affected people in the period 2006 to 2008 (to date). In recent weeks, Irish Aid has contributed a further €500,000 to the UN in respect of humanitarian work in Zimbabwe, and €100,000 to Goal to support its work in response to the cholera outbreak.

Substantial political change is urgently needed to bring Zimbabwe back on to a path to stability, peace and economic growth. Despite the appalling violence against supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) since the relatively free elections of March 2008, Morgan Tsvangirai has maintained his willingness to work with Zanu-PF in a unity government. However almost three months after the 15 September power-sharing deal was signed, there is little or no hope that a new unity government will be in place soon. The MDC can only represent the interests of Zimbabwe's people effectively in government if Zanu-PF honours its commitments under the power-sharing agreement. The refusal of Zanu-PF to allocate the two key Ministries which are most crucial for reform — Finance and Home Affairs –to the MDC is a clear demonstration of bad faith on the part of Robert Mugabe.

The failure of regional leaders to press Mugabe to take the necessary steps to make a unity government workable is extremely disappointing. While recent talks in South Africa between ZANU-PF and the MDC agreed on a constitutional amendment , it is clear that constitutional change will not be enough to allow a unity government to tackle the serious problems facing Zimbabwe if the political will is still lacking.

The Government continues to engage with our European partners in formulating a response to the current crisis in Zimbabwe. Earlier this week, I attended a meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), which reiterated that the EU is ready to support economic and social recovery in Zimbabwe once a government reflecting the will of the Zimbabwean people is formed, and demonstrates its respect for human rights and the rule of law and its willingness to take meaningful steps towards macroeconomic stabilisation. The Council also updated the list of persons subject to EU restrictive measures by adding the names of additional persons actively engaged in violence or human rights infringements in Zimbabwe.

Ireland has also conveyed our concerns about the situation in Zimbabwe directly to our partner countries in Africa through bilateral contacts. The countries of the southern Africa region, as well as organisations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU), have a key role to play in encouraging the two sides in Zimbabwe to come to a workable agreement which reflects the democratic verdict of the Zimbabwean people, and Ireland has emphasised this point to them. Our Ambassadors in SADC countries have conveyed our concerns directly to the governments of our partner countries in southern Africa. The Irish Ambassador to Zimbabwe, who is based in Pretoria, has communicated Ireland's strong views to the Zimbabwean Ambassador there. In addition, African embassies based in Dublin have been informed of Ireland's position.