I am writing in relation to PAXINA MUCHENGI a Zimbabwean who is booked on your Flight with the following details: ET873 HARARE ZIMBABWE VIA ADDIS ABABA ETHIOPIAN AIRWAYS.
She entered UK in November, 2004 and is detained at Yarl's Wood Immigration Centre. She received removal directions and is due to be deported on Thursday 29th November 2012. Her Home Office reference number is M1388096 and her Appeal No is AA/07190/2009.
Paxina’s asylum claim was refused in July 2009. She made further submissions in November, 2010 and these were refused without right of appeal in the same month. She was detained on 15th November, 2012 when she had gone to UKBA at Waterside reporting centre in Leeds in line with her reporting conditions and has now ended up at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Centre facing deportation.
Over the years, in the UK, Paxina Muchengi has been a human rights activist and participated in the activities of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe, in their Yorkshire branch.
She has also participated at the Zimbabwe Vigil (a protest vigil outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London every Saturday from 14.00 – 18.00 since October 2002.) on a number of occasions.
The subsisting situation in Zimbabwe regarding human rights defenders is captured in the following reports by respectable international bodies;-
Amnesty International Report on Zimbabwe, 2012
http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/zimbabwe/report-2012
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Publication of an International fact-finding mission report
http://www.omct.org/files/2012/11/22036/zimbabwe_mission_report.pdf
The BBC recently reported on 'the menacing cloud hanging over Zimbabwe', saying that 'concern is mounting about the forthcoming elections, following the imprisonment of supporters of the Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai.'
I am asking you to refuse to take Paxina Muchengi on your flight because she is being forcibly removed against her will and that she is likely to face persecution upon arrival in Zimbabwe.
At the time of her detention, she was in the process of compiling material for submitting a fresh claim of asylum and seeking legal assistance, but this was proving difficult due to the scarcity of legal aid.
Paxina’s fear of being returned to Zimbabwe is based on the persecution she faced before she left Zimbabwe and on the fact that her activism in human rights and at the Zimbabwe Vigil in the UK would make her a perfect candidate for persecution by ZANU-PF and state agents back in Zimbabwe especially so as Zimbabwe is said to be due to hold elections within the coming few months.
It is with this in mind that, on behalf of Paxima, I am kindly asking for your assistance in fighting against her imminent deportation.
I hope you will respond favourable to my request with the knowledge that your airline will not shoulder any damaging reputation by continuing as one of UKBA's deportation airlines.
Yours Sincerely
Pythias Makonese
Post published in: News