News / International
MDC member found dead in UK's Thames river
23 Jul 2012 at 12:59hrs | Views
An MDC member in the United Kingdom has been found dead in the Thames river.
London Police recovered Mr Bernard Hukwa's body in the Thames river early in July and an autopsy is yet to be announced.
Hukwa was known for several weekend protests at the Zimbabwean as well as the Swazi embassy.
He had been missing for several days and when diaspora community leader Mr Jeff Sango went to Stratford police he was later surprised after finding out that the police had information of his fate.
Reports show that Hukwa's body was discovered in the Thames on the 9th July.
Described as a gentle, thoughtful and caring person, Mr Hukwa, unemployed as he was still awaiting the processing of his asylum claim, was continuously worried that he was failing to provide for his family in Zimbabwe. Asylum seekers are not allowed to work and if found in employment, they risk imprisonment and subsequent deportation.
It was only last week Wednesday that friends found out from the police that he had died.
Vigil leaders have concurred in saying that what they found most distressing about Bernard's death was that he did not talk about his problems to the organizations that could have supported him: Vigil, Zimbabwe Association, ROHR and MDC.
The Vigil issued a press release stating:
It is with great sadness that the Vigil reports the death of Bernard Hukwa, a faithful supporter who was also a member of our sister organization ROHR and the MDC. We were horrified to hear his body was found in the Thames. Bernard was a gentle, thoughtful and caring person and all who knew him are grieving at the loss of such a good friend. He was living on his own in accommodation provided by the Home Office while his asylum case was being processed and we know he was worried about being unable to support his family in Zimbabwe. We hope to have more information later but at the next Vigil we will take a collection towards the cost of repatriating his body to Zimbabwe.
It was important that people shared their difficulties with others before they became really desperate, the statement further stated.
London Police recovered Mr Bernard Hukwa's body in the Thames river early in July and an autopsy is yet to be announced.
Hukwa was known for several weekend protests at the Zimbabwean as well as the Swazi embassy.
He had been missing for several days and when diaspora community leader Mr Jeff Sango went to Stratford police he was later surprised after finding out that the police had information of his fate.
Reports show that Hukwa's body was discovered in the Thames on the 9th July.
Described as a gentle, thoughtful and caring person, Mr Hukwa, unemployed as he was still awaiting the processing of his asylum claim, was continuously worried that he was failing to provide for his family in Zimbabwe. Asylum seekers are not allowed to work and if found in employment, they risk imprisonment and subsequent deportation.
It was only last week Wednesday that friends found out from the police that he had died.
Vigil leaders have concurred in saying that what they found most distressing about Bernard's death was that he did not talk about his problems to the organizations that could have supported him: Vigil, Zimbabwe Association, ROHR and MDC.
The Vigil issued a press release stating:
It is with great sadness that the Vigil reports the death of Bernard Hukwa, a faithful supporter who was also a member of our sister organization ROHR and the MDC. We were horrified to hear his body was found in the Thames. Bernard was a gentle, thoughtful and caring person and all who knew him are grieving at the loss of such a good friend. He was living on his own in accommodation provided by the Home Office while his asylum case was being processed and we know he was worried about being unable to support his family in Zimbabwe. We hope to have more information later but at the next Vigil we will take a collection towards the cost of repatriating his body to Zimbabwe.
It was important that people shared their difficulties with others before they became really desperate, the statement further stated.
Source - zimvigil
