ylum seekers back to Zimbabwe because their lives would be at risk, the Home Office continues to petition the Court of Appeals to reverse the AIT judgements.
The Home Office appears to be pursuing a ‘wait and see’ strategy, hoping perhaps that Zimbos will give up their fresh appeals the situation changes in Zimbabwe, and the Home Office can begin deporting Zimbabweans once more.
Some Parliamentarians are trying help. Kate Hoey, MP Vauxhall, put forward motion EDM1293 in November 2005. This argues for the right to work for failed asylum seekers. So far it has been signed by 63 MPs from all political parties. When enough MPs have signed, the motion will be debated in Parliament. Please ask your MP to sign EDM 1293 if s/he hasn’t already done so.
The MPs have joined clergy led by the Archbishop of York and the Refugee Council to plead a change for failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers who cannot return home but are being forced into destitution by the Home Office ruling.
“There are Zimbabweans I know personally who have been reduced to destitution within the past few weeks even though they have skills we really need in this country such as teaching and nursing. We can’t send them back to Mugabe’s tyranny, so it is common sense they should be allowed to work for their living,” said Hoey.
Harris Nyatsanza, a secondary school Geography teacher from Zimbabwe who has been refused asylum, was interviewed this week on SW Radio Africa. He spoke passionately for the doctors, nurses, teachers and many other highly trained professionals from Zimbabwe who wanted to work.
“Asylum seekers would love to work and support themselves whilst waiting for decision on their cases. We don’t want to be a burden on the economy or the state, that’s the simple argument we are making. If the state is finding it difficult to support us then give us the right to work and support ourselves,” he said.
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