By ZHRO |  The Home Office appear to have ‘changed’ policy with respect to Zimbabwean nationals in the UK.

As far as we know 150 Zimbabweans have been detained and awaiting a chartered
flight to Harare, Zimbabwe on 21st July – in three days.

Therefore, a working group with members from ZHRO, ROHR, MDC-A and ZAPU was put together on 14 July 2021 and mandated by its members, other Zimbabweans living in the UK and various organisations to coordinate efforts to stop the deportation of people back to Zimbabwe – ‘Fight the Flight.’ This will be done through the courts, advocacy and lobbying of various groups and entities.

The Home Office assessment of the conditions in Zimbabwe that removals will face is predominantly based on the situation in 2016 plus a few minor updates. In practice the situation in Zimbabwe is far worse that they have considered.

Such bodies as the US Embassy in Harare, Amnesty International and our own MP’s have made it abundantly clear that Zimbabwe is in the grip of several concurrent crises – political violence perpetrated by the ruling Zanu PF party, economic crisis, medical chaos caused by looting of funds and resources and judicial corruption which mainly favours the ruling elite and their looting/land grabbing.

Our question is “HOW, given the information below, are the Home Office, able to assert that those removed will be catered for, or simply be abused on arrival?” It would appear that the ruling Zanu PF have claimed that these removals will be helped on arrival. But the Home Office appear to have accepted this [false] promise at face value – whereas others are citing proven and regular abuses.