UK home secretary wins Zimbabwean asylum case appeal

By Tererai Karimakwenda
12 April 2006

Zimbabweans in the UK say they are disappointed by the Court of Appeals decision Wednesday to send 2 Zimbabwean test cases back to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) to be reconsidered. In October 2005 the AIT ruled that it was not safe to return failed Zimbabwean asylum-seekers because they faced interrogation and possible torture by state agents. The Home Office disagreed with this ruling and launched an appeal. On Wednesday 3 justices ruling in the case decided the AIT had made a mistake in blocking removals. What this means is that Zimbabwean asylum seekers are safe for now, but each case will have to fight harder to prove they are truly victims of political persecution and not just economic refugees.
The Reverend Dr Martine Stemerick told us the courtroom was packed with observers not just from Zimbabwe. Human rights organisations, dozens of cameras from international media and Zimbabwean activists all descended upon The Royal Courts of Justice in London.
The main issue for the Refugee Council was the fact that nothing has changed in Zimbabwe. They argued that the country is still a dangerous place and called on the UK government to continue its current policy of not returning failed asylum seekers until the courts decide on a definite policy on Zimbabwe. The home secretary Charles Clarke said: "I cannot emphasise strongly enough that we would not enforce the return of a failed asylum seeker to Zimbabwe if we believed that they were at real risk of mistreatment."