US government to deport children of Zanu PF officials

By Lance Guma
16 July 2007

A campaign by online news site ZimDaily, to expose the children of senior government and Zanu PF officials living outside the country, received a major boost last week. Outgoing United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell told the weekly Standard newspaper that his government will this year deport all the children of senior figures in Mugabe’s regime, who are living in the United States. Dell said once the legislation is signed by President George Bush the deportations will begin. He added that the processing was already at an ‘advanced stage.’

Ambassador Dell told the paper; ‘watch out in the next few weeks.’ Zim Daily launched what they called the ‘Fair Deal’ campaign using the catch phrase ‘send the little devils home’. They urged their readers to send details of any children of government officials living in countries like Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US. The site argued that if the parents were running the country properly there would be no need for the children to be in foreign lands enjoying first world health and educational standards.

Within months the site had published the pictures, passport numbers and addresses of most of the children and relatives living outside the country. They even listed the universities some of them were enrolled in. Some of those exposed include Masimba Hungwe the son of former Masvingo governor Josiah Hungwe, living in Australia. Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi, Agriculture Minister Sylvester Nguni and Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa all have children in living in western capitals. Australia alone has over 11 such children.

It remains to be seen whether the US government can push through any such legislation. Journalist Itayi Garande says the biggest hurdle is that most of the individuals under the spotlight have already taken up citizenship in their respective host countries. In the case of the US, he said citizenship could only be revoked on the grounds of national security.

Meanwhile Ambassador Dell left Zimbabwe on Sunday after serving his tour of duty. It’s reported that news crews from state broadcaster ZBC followed him as he left the country via Harare International Airport. The outspoken diplomat told ZBC journalists, ‘keep the faith. Things will change soon.’ Reporter Judith Makwanya predictably said in her report that Dell’s mission to bring down Mugabe had been left unaccomplished.