Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:612;Page:8869] 
1. LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN (NZ Labour—Mana) 
 to the  
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
: What view has New Zealand expressed on the attendance of Zimbabwe at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja in December and on the continuing suspension of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth? 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade) 
: 
 New Zealand strongly opposes the presence of Mr Mugabe at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Abuja. I have registered that view with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth and indeed formally and individually with every member country in the Commonwealth. New Zealand supports the continued suspension of Zimbabwe for as long as it continues to abuse human rights and undermine the rule of law the freedom of the media and the democratic process in breach of the values of the Harare Commonwealth Declaration agreed to collectively by the Commonwealth in 1991. 
Luamanuvao Winnie Laban 
: What information does he have on the likelihood of Mr Mugabe attending the Commonwealth meeting in Abuja? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: The information I have is that President Obasanjo of Nigeria has not issued and will not be issuing an invitation to Mr Mugabe to go to Abuja. President Obasanjo will be aware that the leaders of a number of countries including New Zealand would likely not attend CHOGM if Mr Mugabe were present. The question of Zimbabwe’s suspension will almost certainly arise at Abuja. Our position is that we must treat Zimbabwe consistently with the other countries that have been suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth. Those countries must stay suspended until they come back within the values agreed to and endorsed in the Harare Commonwealth Declaration. 
Keith Locke 
: Does the Minister agree that we can best promote strong Commonwealth action against the Mugabe regime if we do not imitate Mr Mugabe and detain politicians for months at a time in poor conditions without specific charges as we are currently doing with Ahmed Zaoui and if we do not subject them to secret trials based on secret evidence from intelligence agencies as we are also doing with Mr Zaoui? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: The difference between New Zealand and Zimbabwe is that the Government in this country operates within the rule of law; Zimbabwe operates outside the rule of law. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: What is the Government’s reaction to reported claims from Zimbabwe that the opposition to its continued membership of the Commonwealth and its pariah status have been inspired by the current Secretary-General thus leading to its calls for his replacement and will New Zealand be not only supporting Mr McKinnon’s reappointment but also lobbying actively with other countries to ensure that he is reappointed? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: The decision to suspend Zimbabwe was made by the troika consisting of the President of Nigeria the Prime Minister of Australia and the President of South Africa. I think the secretary-general has carried out his responsibilities appropriately. Certainly New Zealand supports the re-election of Don McKinnon as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. I put that to the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Auckland and it was endorsed unanimously by the leaders at the forum. That same forum also unanimously endorsed the need for Zimbabwe to remain suspended while it continues to suppress human rights and work outside the rule of law.