News / National
Zimbabwean man to be deported from UK tonight
19 Sep 2013 at 16:10hrs | Views
Campaigners are rallying for a last minute push to stop the deportation of a promising Zimbabwean rugby player tonight from the UK.
Moses Mazomba, 24, is set to be forcibly removed from the UK aboard Ethiopian Airlines. "Moses really needs you to phone Ethiopian Airlines to ask them not to fly him tonight. Get busy please people," said one campaigner.
Overwhelming an airline with phone calls and emails has worked many times before and campaigners hope that would be the case with Moses. Moses came to Glasgow in 2009 and became a well-known member of his community in Springburn and a well-liked member of Cartha Queen's Park Rugby Club.
He is currently being held by immigration officials from the Home Office after his visa expired.
He originally came to the UK for medical treatment for an eye condition, but when his visa ran out he was told he had to leave.
But Mr Mazomba's lawyer, Fraser Latta, is preparing a last-minute appeal in a hope to get the UK Government to think again.
Mr Latta said: "We are in the process of compiling a substantial amount of additional evidence in his case. I've received a lot of supporting letters for him. He's due to be removed to Zimbabwe on Thursday. He is extremely concerned about any proposed removal."
A Home Office spokesman said: "We only return individuals if both we and the courts are satisfied they have no legal basis to remain in the country.
"Mr Mazomba was first refused asylum in September 2008. This decision was upheld by an independent High Court judge at appeal. He has been in the country without valid leave since 2009.
"When someone is found not to have a right to be here, we expect them to leave voluntarily. If they fail to do so, we will seek to remove them."
Moses Mazomba, 24, is set to be forcibly removed from the UK aboard Ethiopian Airlines. "Moses really needs you to phone Ethiopian Airlines to ask them not to fly him tonight. Get busy please people," said one campaigner.
Overwhelming an airline with phone calls and emails has worked many times before and campaigners hope that would be the case with Moses. Moses came to Glasgow in 2009 and became a well-known member of his community in Springburn and a well-liked member of Cartha Queen's Park Rugby Club.
He is currently being held by immigration officials from the Home Office after his visa expired.
He originally came to the UK for medical treatment for an eye condition, but when his visa ran out he was told he had to leave.
But Mr Mazomba's lawyer, Fraser Latta, is preparing a last-minute appeal in a hope to get the UK Government to think again.
Mr Latta said: "We are in the process of compiling a substantial amount of additional evidence in his case. I've received a lot of supporting letters for him. He's due to be removed to Zimbabwe on Thursday. He is extremely concerned about any proposed removal."
A Home Office spokesman said: "We only return individuals if both we and the courts are satisfied they have no legal basis to remain in the country.
"Mr Mazomba was first refused asylum in September 2008. This decision was upheld by an independent High Court judge at appeal. He has been in the country without valid leave since 2009.
"When someone is found not to have a right to be here, we expect them to leave voluntarily. If they fail to do so, we will seek to remove them."
Source - Herald Scotland
