Leading Zimbabwean Organisation in the UK condemns resumption of enforced returns

damian_green_minister_.jpegIn response to the statement by the Minister of Immigration, Damian Green, (Pictured) concerning the UKBA intention to end the current suspension of enforced returns of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe, Sarah Harland, Coordinator of the Zimbabwe Association says:


ZA remains keen to work with the UK government around a sustainable and stable voluntary return programme, as most Zimbabweans wish to go home and rebuild their country when the time is right.

ZA does not believe that this is the right time for enforced returns, with control of the state security forces (police, army, CIO) remaining in the hands of the perpetrators of violence. A recent international report on the state of the rule of law in Zimbabwe after the Global Political Agreement (GPA), recognises: there has been no improvement and quite possibly a further decline in respect for the rule of law since the signing of the GPA.*

It is important that the government has conceded that:

There are some Zimbabweans who continue to have a well-founded fear of persecution; we continue to grant protection to those people.

and that the UKBA:

will not enforce the first returns until the IAC (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) has delivered its determination, (in the forthcoming Country Guidance Case on Zimbabwe)

Post published in: Politics

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