He is due to be deported to Malawi today – 15th January 2009 – on KQ101 Kenya Airlines leaving at 7pm.
But well-known Zimbabwean activists in the UK fear Phiri will be sent back to Zimbabwe by the Malawian authorities where he is likely to face serious abuse by the Zimbabwean authorities because he is a high profile activist.
Phiri arrived in the UK on 5 April 2003 and claimed asylum.
He was still bandaged from the torture inflicted on him in Zimbabwe. He was fleeing for his life, unable to renew his Zimbabwe passport speedily and forced into purchasing a Malawi passport to escape.
A senior official at the Malawi Immigration Office told Nyasa Times on condition of anonymity that the Zimbabwean would be arrested in Malawi and prosecuted for obtaining the country's passport fraudulently.
Due to overcrowding in Malawi prisons, we will hand him to the Zimbabwe authorities, said the official on condition of anonymity.
Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika enjoys excellent relations with Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe.
According to the group London Without Borders, Phiri is being sent to Malawi against his will and will be very distressed and likely to cause distress to other passengers.
Phiri produced documents to prove his Zimbabwean nationality including his original Zimbabwe metal national registration ID card; original Zimbabwe birth certificate; original school certificates; original MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) Zimbabwean card; original Zimbabwean court summons to answer charges under POSA+; original apprenticeship contracts only given to Zimbabwean citizens.
His brothers and sisters provided certified copies of their Zimbabwean passports and National Registration cards (all are Zimbabwean citizens). All these documents show that Luka is, and remains, a Zimbabwean citizen.
Two different UK Immigration Judges found that Luka Phiri was Malawian because he travelled on a Malawian passport. No attention seems to have been given to his many other documents proving his Zimbabwean citizenship.   – Nyasa Times
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