News / National
Muzariri's children cannot enjoy both worlds, deport them: Activists
09 May 2011 at 08:06hrs | Views
HARARE - Human rights activists and political commentators have demanded the deportation from the United Kingdom of four children of the late deputy director general of the Central Intelligence Organisation, (CIO) Menard Muzariri, where they are political refugees.
Muzariri's four children sought political asylum in the UK and did not attend their father's burial the National Heroes Acre.
A family uncle read a condolence message from the four children during Muzariri's burial last month.
Professor John Makumbe said the UK must deport the children to face the same problems that every other ordinary citizen is facing in Zimbabwe.
"I am sure the late Muzariri knew his kids had sought asylum in the UK. They must come here and face the music," Makumbe said.
"They must come back and face the problems that were created by their parents here. It gives a bad image to the Mugabe regime that their children are running away from this country. These are the children of a former top government official. Who is going to harm them here?"
Political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya echoed the same sentiments saying Muzariri's children must come back to Zimbabwe. "If it is true that these kids have sought political asylum in UK, it is double standards.
They cannot enjoy both worlds.
They were living pretty in Zimbabwe and now want to enjoy more comfort in the UK. This is not acceptable; children of top Zanu PF leaders must be brought back here. You cannot expect children of these leaders to be accommodated in the UK," said Ruhanya.
The British Embassy's First secretary for political and communication affairs, Keith Scott said the embassy does not comment on individual asylum cases.
"We do not comment on individual asylum cases. The restrictions imposed by the EU apply only to those individuals and entities on the list. It does not extend to family members or dependents. Mr Muzariri was not on the list of individuals covered by the EU restrictive measures," said Scott.
Muzariri's four children sought political asylum in the UK and did not attend their father's burial the National Heroes Acre.
A family uncle read a condolence message from the four children during Muzariri's burial last month.
Professor John Makumbe said the UK must deport the children to face the same problems that every other ordinary citizen is facing in Zimbabwe.
"I am sure the late Muzariri knew his kids had sought asylum in the UK. They must come here and face the music," Makumbe said.
"They must come back and face the problems that were created by their parents here. It gives a bad image to the Mugabe regime that their children are running away from this country. These are the children of a former top government official. Who is going to harm them here?"
Political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya echoed the same sentiments saying Muzariri's children must come back to Zimbabwe. "If it is true that these kids have sought political asylum in UK, it is double standards.
They cannot enjoy both worlds.
They were living pretty in Zimbabwe and now want to enjoy more comfort in the UK. This is not acceptable; children of top Zanu PF leaders must be brought back here. You cannot expect children of these leaders to be accommodated in the UK," said Ruhanya.
The British Embassy's First secretary for political and communication affairs, Keith Scott said the embassy does not comment on individual asylum cases.
"We do not comment on individual asylum cases. The restrictions imposed by the EU apply only to those individuals and entities on the list. It does not extend to family members or dependents. Mr Muzariri was not on the list of individuals covered by the EU restrictive measures," said Scott.
Source - Daily News
