Chombo taken to court by 16 year old Nigerian

A 16 year old boy has taken the principal director of immigration and Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo to court, in a battle to stop the deportation of his Nigerian father who is languishing in jail awaiting deportation.

The boy is fighting for the reversal of his father, Bright Jerry Efe's looming deportation.

Notwithstanding his application to regularise his stay, Efe has since been arrested, convicted and sentenced to immediate deportation.

He is at Harare Remand Prison pending deportation. As the natural guardian of the boy, Mr Efe is empowered at law to bring such an application in his name.

In the court application filed in the High Court recently, Efe is seeking an order declaring that Bright Jerry Efe (Junior) being a Zimbabwean citizen is entitled to have his father Bright Jerry Efe, reside with him in Zimbabwe.

In his affidavit, Efe argued the boy's mother, who is now late, was Zimbabwean. He claimed that the civil union between him and the boy's mother entitled him to remain in Zimbabwe pursuant to the country's immigration law.

"Upon the death of his mother, his father was given residence permits on the basis of compassion and to be able to provide financial support for himself and for applicant so he could reside in Zimbabwe," read the court papers.

After the expiry of 10 years, Mr Efe applied for a permanent residence permit. The application is still pending in the immigration office. Mr Efe also argued that he qualified for permanent residence since he has been in Zimbabwe for more than 18 years.

He now considers Zimbabwe his permanent home. "Any decision otherwise would have serious irreparable consequences on applicant (boy)," he argued. Mr Efe said deportation was unlawful .