Zim asylum needs reality check

Admittedly, in the last 12 months progress has been made through the co-operation of the GPA Unity Government of Zimbabwe. However, the political situation is far from viable for anyone who rallies as opposition to the ruling party in Zimbabwe, and there is little to look forward too if being forcibly returned to Zimbabwe at this time.

With an excess of 300 Zimbabwean citizens escaping into South Africa on a daily basis, it is impossible to understand how the British Foreign Office can tell asylum seekers in the UK that it is now safe to return to Zimbabwe, and there is no grounds for asylum seekers to remain in the UK.

In a case of forced return recently, Roselyn Mujaranji attempted to take her own life when the British Boarder Agency arrested and detained her saying she has no grounds to remain in the UK. Having been detained at the Yarls Wood detention centre, Roselyn called her representative at the Norwich Justice and Peace Group whos been campaigning for her leave to remain to say shed just taken an overdose of pain killers. She was rushed to Bedford hospital where she remains unable to return to the detention centre.

Roselyn fled Zimbabwe when her family were rounded up and tortured by supporters of the Zanu (PF) ruling party, which resulted in the death of her mother. Acts of these are common place in Zimbabwe, a place where the rule of law and human rights are subject to which side of the political divide you fall on.

Just this week, Job Sikhala, the leader of the recent breakaway MDC-99 was arrested and detained until it was determined hed be charged with insulting Robert Mugabe at a meeting and being found in possession of weapons of war, charges that are familiar to any leader of an opposition party.

There is a massive move in opinion and membership towards MDC-99 which is of major concern to the Zanu (PF) regime who are currently looking at facing a general election within the next two to three years. Speculation reigns supreme in Zimbabwe that an election will be called next year although this is unclear as a program of reform stagnates under continual sticking points between the Zanu (PF) and MDC-M and MDC-T factions. However, this has not stopped a roll out of the Green Bombers youth brigade notorious in Zimbabwe for carrying out acts of violence in the name of ZANU PF against anyone believed to be an opposition supporter.

A number of members of the opposition parties that fled Zimbabwe in the last 10 years have expressed their concern at the latest British stance on repatriation to Zimbabwe for asylum seekers in Zimbabwe. With some having received emailed threats regarding returning to Zimbabwe, and others fearful of their safety when they are returned, we seriously ask ourselves if the current stance on British asylum towards Zimbabweans is based on reality or wonder if it is in fact the cowards way out of dealing with an issue that was a hot potato in the recent British general election campaign.

With the GPA agreement falling apart in Zimbabwe, and a nation heavily dependent on food aid, with little hope in terms of education, health or employment how can the British Government seriously make the claim that there is no reason for Zimbabweans to remain here in the UK?

For many Zimbabweans allowed to work here in the UK, the funds they send home religiously each month support their family back home. Break that chain and the effect on Zimbabwean families will be far more serious than just deporting a few people back home.

1 Million Zimbabwean Voices campaigns for the rights of Zimbabwean Refugees worldwide, and find that the current situation is critical and in desperate need of re-examination of the facts on a realistic basis. We will continue to campaign for the cases brought to our attention, and on a wider scale for the rights of Zimbabwean refugees who are very often forgotten about and swept under the carpet in convenience.