Zim exiles in SA face deportation after protesting at Chinese Embassy

By Tererai Karimakwenda
25 April, 2008

It has been reported that the group of 129 Zimbabwean exiles who were arrested during a demonstration at the Chinese Embassy in Pretoria on Friday, were separated and taken to various police stations. Some were released over the weekend, 4 appeared in court Tuesday morning and 99 are still in detention at the notorious Lindela Centre, facing deportation.

The Friday protests were organised by the Revolutionary Youth Movement of Zimbabwe (RYMZ) and the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF). Gabriel Shumba, executive director of the Exiles Forum, said the demonstrations had proceeded without the required 7-day notification to the police, because the issues at stake were imminent and could not wait.

He explained that the protestors wanted to hand over a petition to Zhong Jianhua, the Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, and could not wait for the bureaucracy required while people are dying in Zimbabwe. The petition calls on China to stop their support of the Mugabe regime in the face of a violent post-election campaign of retribution against opposition supporters. It also urged the Chinese government not to sell arms to Zimbabwe, because there is no war in the country.

Shumba said the group that was bailed Tuesday includes the President of the Youth Movement Simon Mudekwa, General Secretary John Chikwari, organising secretary Max Gatakaca and the Pretoria branch chairman Farai Chimanikire. They paid 500 Rand bail each and are due back in court on May 29, facing charges of participating in an illegal gathering.

Shumba said: “These laws have no place in a democratic society such as South Africa. It is ironic that we have to ask for permission for a demonstration as though we were in Zimbabwe.”

Shumba described the Lindela Detentiona Centre as a “notoriously filthy” place where residents contract life-threatening illnesses. Most of this group face charges relating to their legal status in South Africa and may be deported back to Zimbabwe. In view of the current government crackdown, Shumba fears their lives would be in grave danger.

Shumba said Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa, Simon Khaya Moyo, went to Sunnyside Police Station on Friday and apparently obtained the names of those who had been arrested. It is not clear what he intends to do with that list. Out of concern, Shumba said they have engaged the Solidarity Peace Trust, Lawyers for Human Rights and Crisis Coalition to assist with those facing deportation.