UK asylum tribunal still considering evidence in ‘A&A’ test case

By Lance Guma
03 July 2006

Professor Terence Ranger took centre stage Monday at the Immigration and asylum tribunal at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. He is giving evidence in the ‘A&A’ asylum test case which is meant to determine whether it is safe to return failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers back home. Harris Nyatsanza from the United Network of Detained Zimbabweans attended the hearing and told Newsreel it was an exhausting day for Professor Ranger who faced a grilling from UK Home Office lawyers. The subject of the exchanges involved statements by Zimbabwean government ministers who have in the past threatened those wishing to go back home as British spies. The Home Office is said to have offered evidence that it is safe to return and wanted Ranger to acknowledge that there have been government ministers who have invited people to come back, including Mugabe himself.

Ranger however told the tribunal that those statements were not to be trusted as they were part of the usual politicking by the government. Nyatsanza says it will be some time before the tribunal makes a decision because there, ‘is thrice as much evidence to go through than last time.’ He estimates that a decision will either be made around Friday or even take two more weeks. He says the Home Office lawyers told the hearing that their clients have employed a full time member of staff at the British Embassy in Harare to monitor the welfare of returnees and that this will also ensure their safety. The International Office for Migration (IOM) is also said to have submitted guarantees from the Zimbabwean government on the safety of those who will be returned.

A university lecturer based in London Dr Bloch, and three former Central Intelligence Operatives are still to give evidence in the hearings.