No deportation until there is change: MDC UK

Statements — By on October 26, 2010 1:45 pm

Zimbabwean exiles in the UK are to stage a demonstration against repression going on in Zimbabwe and calling on the Her Majesty’s Government not to deport Zimbabweans to a country where others are running away from.

The latest to run away from Zimbabwe is Roy Bennett who is back in the safety of South Africa after attempts by the Mugabe junta to arrest him for a civil matter before they had even served him with the papers.

Senior Home Office officials will be meeting Zimbabweans at Lancaster House in London on Wednesday, 27th October and a demonstration will be held outside the meeting demanding that Zimbabweans not be deported to a cruel dictatorship where there is no rule of law.

Ironically it was at Lancaster House that the Independence Constitution was agreed under which Mugabe came to power in 1980. The current violence sweeping through Zimbabwe are a result of the failure of the Unity Government to craft a new constitution which would guarantee free and fair elections next year.

The MDC UK and Ireland external assembly is alarmed by the British government’s sudden ending of the moratorium on sending home failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers – even though statements coming out of MDC national leadership and Zanu (PF) clearly show that we are heading for possibly a worse violent showdown than what was witnessed in 2008.

The MDC national treasurer, Roy Bennett, is reported to have been advised by colleagues in the party, not to return to Zimbabwe until the political situation changes.

The demonstrators will present a petition to Mr. Phil Douglas, the UK Border Agency’s Director of Appeals and Removals, who is addressing a meeting at Lancaster House from 5 – 6 pm to discuss the resumption of enforced returns to Zimbabwe.

Speaking on behalf of MDC UK and Ireland, Jeff Sango, who is MDC Chairman for the South East District, said:

“It is unbelievable that we can even talk about a positive change in Zimbabwe. The British government knows too well what is at stake and how Mugabe has vowed that his party will not be defeated by a mere vote that the gun will always prevail.

The British government must not fail to see these flashing red lights, just as what we had before the Rwanda massacre. Zimbabwean civil society including Sokwanele, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network, Zimbabwe Human Rights Association and others, have all warned of a resurgence of violence.

The Foreign Office had advised British travelers to Zimbabwe that the volatile situation remains unpredictable. A recent international report on the state of rule of law in Zimbabwe after the Global Political Agreement(GPA) clearly states that there has been no improvement in respect of rule of law.’’

The latest report is by Sokwanele which also confirms the rising violence.

The MDC UK and Ireland calls upon Movement for Democratic Change members, civic organizations, Zimbabweans at large and sympathizers to attend this historic demonstration and to also sign the petition.

The petition reads: ‘Petition to the Home Secretary, the Honourable Theresa May: We the undersigned, members of the Zimbabwean Diaspora in the UK and sympathisers, express our grave disquiet at the UK government’s announcement that failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers are to be deported – even before the hearing of a test (country guidance) case is concluded.

Our view is that the situation in Zimbabwean is not suitable for the return of exiled Zimbabweans, especially those who have shown their rejection of the Zimbabwean regime by applying for asylum in the UK. In particular, we are aware of continuing widespread acts of political violence by Zanu PF agents who enjoy immunity from prosecution. We fear the situation is likely to worsen given plans to hold new elections next year.’

Date: Wednesday 27th October 2010 from 2 – 6 pm.

Venue: Lancaster House, Stable Yard, St James, London SW1A 1BB

Contacts: Jeff Sango, Chair, MDC UK South East District (07776271436

To attend the meeting at Lancaster House registration is required. If you wish to attend, please e-mail Sandra.Goppy@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk  with your full name, affiliation and questions.

Entry to the event will be refused to those who have not registered. To ensure as many questions are dealt with on the day, the organisers welcome questions in advance.

But everybody is welcome and indeed invited to the demonstration, starting at 2pm.

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