Lawyers seek to have Zimbabwe declared unsafe for deportees
By Tichaona Sibanda
25 July 2007

Defence lawyers in an asylum and immigration tribunal in London are hearing arguments on the a case that is being referred to as the HS case. They want to have deportations to Zimbabwe halted indefinitely, in response to the deteriorating human rights situation in the country.
The asylum and immigration tribunal decided to drop another case known as AA, the initials of the asylum claimant, as a test case for Zimbabwe following marathon appeals and counter-appeals.
Isaac Dziya, a former Assistant Commissioner with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, said judges in the tribunal case have been hearing submissions in camera from former intelligence operatives, on the dangers likely to be faced by failed asylum seekers if they are deported to Zimbabwe.
‘By sending failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe, the British government would be sending them to their deaths. There are special units within the intelligence organisations that operate from every entry point into Zimbabwe. These guys know their business and never underestimate them,’ Dziya said.
The crackdown on political activists in the country has worsened in the last year. Authorities have killed, arrested, abducted, and tortured hundreds since the 11th March beating of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
According to Tsvangirai’s faction more than six hundred of its members were arrested or abducted in March and April. Three-hundred were hospitalised and three were killed. Recent political developments in the last month, including reports of a failed coup plot have also heightened tension and defence lawyers hope the judges will extend protection to failed asylum seekers and declare Zimbabwe unsafe for deportees.
A legal representative from the Refugee Legal Centre said the HS appeal will deal with refugee status and consider risk of ill-treatment and humanitarian conditions and what deterioration has occurred since last year.
Dziya said he was also hopeful that the British government will realise it has taken a long time to deal with failed asylum seekers from Zimbabwe, and that over 15 000 Zimbabweans are pinning their hopes on the outcome of the tribunal hearing.
The MDC says according to Home Office records 16 145 Zimbabweans applied for asylum in the United Kingdom between 2000 and 2004. A majority of the claims remain unresolved or have been dismissed.