Anderton Jim: Motions — Zimbabwe—Presidential Election 
Anderton Jim: Motions — Zimbabwe—Presidential Election 
[Volume:648;Page:16806] 
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Leader—Progressive) 
: 
 The Progressive party has no hesitation in supporting the Prime Minister’s motion and no hesitation in standing alongside human rights and democracy. On Saturday I joined others in Christchurch on a vigil in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe. Among us were some of the 7000 former Zimbabweans who have made their homes here in New Zealand. Many who would have been there were not because they were fearful of their families being brutally targeted back in Zimbabwe. My sympathy and my support go out to them as they look at the shocking violence in the country of their birth. They are watching as the world watches the political violence and killing the intimidation the strangling of the Zimbabwean economy and the crushing of democratic freedom. They are watching as Mr Mugabe has the breathtaking gall to show up at a global conference on food in Rome which I attended a few weeks ago to lecture the rest of the world. I had no difficulty in choosing to skip that outrage. 
Last year one of the most notable books about global poverty ever written was released. It was written by an Oxford University academic and former World Bank economist Paul Collier. He looked closely at the causes of extreme poverty around the world. He found very clear patterns. The poorest people in the world invariably live in countries that are cut off from trade with the rest of the world countries that are devastated by violence particularly war and countries where corruption is rampant. Mr Mugabe has done a tragically good job of importing all of those conditions to Zimbabwe. The use of violence to shore up his faltering authority tears at the fabric of the country and his corrupt vote-rigging has destroyed the opportunity for Zimbabwe to change course. Land confiscations and poorly designed price controls led the economy to contract and exports to falter. Mr Mugabe’s Government responded by printing money which has led to hyperinflation and the economy is imploding isolating it still further. 
Paul Collier also identified that the world can make a huge difference to the fortunes of countries like Zimbabwe. He showed that pressure from the outside can lead countries towards the sunlight of democratic freedom. So I want to express my disappointment that the United Nations has not made a stronger statement of condemnation about Mr Mugabe and could not call on him to stand down. I am disappointed also at Zimbabwe’s southern neighbour. Those who under pressure stood alongside South Africa’s repressed majority and helped to bring freedom to that country and end apartheid now look to Thabo Mbeki to display some moral leadership and call for change in Zimbabwe. 
This whole episode shows the need for the world to agree on a standard of behaviour and a process for intervening when countries go rogue. In recent years international law has extended to look through sovereign immunity and hold to account former leaders for criminal behaviour. It is logical therefore that the world should intervene against dreadful Governments when they cling to power. This motion in Parliament condemning Robert Mugabe’s regime and calling for change is a beginning because if we want to rid the world of dreadful Governments we have to speak out. We have to be a beacon for Zimbabwe’s people in the dark hours of this nightmare they are going through. We are telling them that they are not alone and they are not forgotten. We stand alongside them because I think we in New Zealand have the strength to care for people like Zimbabweans just as we should be strong enough to care for each other here at home. So we say from this Parliament to Zimbabwe’s people: as you try under almost impossible odds to march towards democracy and towards being a free country we in New Zealand will stand with you. 
Motion agreed to.