Mr Benyon spoke in Parliament yesterday to call on the Foreign Office to persuade South Africa to “pull the plug” on President Robert Mugabe.

South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki has so far blocked UN proposals for a humanitarian mission to Zimbabwe, and Mr Benyon echoed Conservative colleagues in demanding a firmer line from Britain.

He said: “The British Government's efforts in the coming weeks must focus on trying to persuade President Mbeki to do the same to Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwean Government as a previous Government in South Africa—an apartheid Government—did to the Government of Rhodesia, by pulling the plug on them? The South Africans have that in their power and the Government must put pressure on President Mbeki.

Foreign minister Alan Pearson said: “The Government is putting pressure on President Mbeki. He is very much aware of our views and we will continue to have dialogue with the South African Government about the pressure they can bring to bear on the Zimbabwean regime. I agree with the hon. Gentleman that they have influence in those matters and we are making every effort to encourage them to use it.

He added: “We should not allow Zimbabwe to get in the way of helping other countries, particularly those that have made great strides in terms of democracy and better governance and whose children and adults are still living in appalling poverty. I believe that that is very much the right policy.”

To read the full debate:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2005-06-27.1112.0&s=speaker%3A11727#g1126.0