Key John: Motions — Zimbabwe—Presidential Election 
Key John: Motions — Zimbabwe—Presidential Election 
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JOHN KEY (Leader of the Opposition) 
: 
 I rise to support the motion moved by the Prime Minister that places on record the grave concerns of this Parliament regarding the situation in Zimbabwe and calls upon the nations of southern Africa to intensify their efforts to find a solution. 
Over recent weeks New Zealanders have witnessed on their television screens and in other media the appalling atrocities unleashed on the Zimbabwe people by the Mugabe Government. The ever-escalating level of violence has led to the decision of the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change Morgan Tsvangirai in the last 2 days to withdraw from the presidential contest. It is unlikely that Mr Tsvangirai had much choice about that in an environment where he his colleagues their supporters and their families were being targeted by thugs licensed by the Mugabe regime where ballot rigging had become widespread and where the current regime had made it clear that it would not relinquish power whatever the outcome of the election. In the words of a former judge of the Zimbabwe High Court on New Zealand television last night this regime has declared war on its own people. 
For us in this country the terrible scenes of violence have additional meaning. New Zealand is now home to over 8000 Zimbabweans people who have moved here to escape an imploding economy and serious risk to their personal safety. Many of those new New Zealanders have friends and families remaining in Zimbabwe. For them these are gut-wrenching times and our hearts go out to them today. 
For me there is only one word that encapsulates the disaster that Zimbabwe has become. That word is “tragedy”. That one of the most prosperous fertile productive countries in Africa could be reduced through the deliberate actions of its Government to being the total basket case that Zimbabwe has become today is surely both an economic and a humanitarian tragedy. That a nation that has enjoyed a democratically elected Parliament independent courts and all of the trappings of a parliamentary democracy should sink to becoming one of the most repressive violent regimes on Earth is surely a human tragedy of serious proportions. 
There is a sense of powerlessness felt by those of us in this part of the world that we can so easily see pictures of such appalling brutality on our screens yet be so incapable of doing anything meaningful to stop it. For those of us in this Chamber today it is sobering to be reminded that it is those whose crime has been to stand for parliamentary office and their families who have been the targets of some of the worst atrocities. 
It has been disappointing to say the least that some of Zimbabwe’s African neighbours and other nations like China have been prepared to provide cover for the Mugabe regime in the face of mounting international concern. Today we must send a clear message to the Mugabe regime that its contempt for the rule of law its abuse of the democratic process and its brutality against its own people are totally abhorrent utterly despicable and absolutely unacceptable to all decent civilised citizens of the world. What we have seen on our television screens in recent days is the result of nothing less than State-sanctioned butchery and murder. 
Today we must also send a clear message to those other nations that have been prepared to run interference and provide support for the Mugabe regime both in Africa and on the councils of international bodies like the United Nations. For them to continue to provide cover for this disgraceful regime is to share responsibility for the situation that now ensues. To President Mbeki of South Africa in particular we would send the clearest of messages: the time has come to stop pretending and to stop defending. Alone amongst the Governments of the world South Africa has the capacity—if it has the will—to bring the ugly stand-off in Zimbabwe to an end. That is what the world now expects and demands. 
These days are sad for Africa. These days are a tragedy for Zimbabwe. So today the National Party joins other political parties in condemning the outrageous actions of Robert Mugabe and his henchmen and in calling on those who have it within their power to bring change to now face up to their responsibilities.