News / International
Zimbabwean asylum seeker to be released from UK detention center
08 May 2012 at 10:38hrs | Views
Regis Manyanya, Chairman of the Zimbabwe Community Network
DETAINED Zimbabwean asylum seeker Trevor Chanetsa facing removal from the United Kingdom has had a last minute reprieve after lawyers strenuously fought for his release, The ZimDiaspora reported.
He was detained when he had gone to report at the Loughborough Reporting Centre more than a week ago. The reason for his detention, according to UK Border Agency officials was that his case had been exhausted.
He was due to be deported to Zimbabwe.
Chanetsa's solicitors, Sean and Company have been fighting for his release. This reporter understands that Chanetsa will be granted bail on condition that he finds two guarantors who are British citizens and each one of them is expected to have at least $500 in their bank accounts and must be employed.
Chanetsa who spoke on telephone interview from the detention centre said he could be released sometime this week, that is, if all the paper work is completed.
"I am deeply disappointed with MDC for not standing up for me, I have been an active member of MDC attending all the rallies and was involved in a lot of programmes" said Chanetsa
"When my life is in danger, they turn their backs on me, I have been traumatised and am still in shock," he added.
Chairman of the Zimbabwe Community Network, Regis Manyanya expressed disappointment at the MDC-UK's betrayal of Chanetsa. "There is evendence in MDC newsletters that their supporters are openly harassed and tortured, but how come they are failing to protect people like Chanetsa?"
Manyanya also took a swipe at the UK Border Agency for treating Chanetsa unfairly. "Many people who are in the same situation can easily abscond, but Chanetsa complied with the British law requiring him to report each time, yet they detained him" said the visibly irate Chairman.
Manyanya added that Chanetsa had been critical about President Mugabe's regime, hence his deportation could have put him in danger.
Another Zimbabwean, Frazer Muzondo, who was detained under similar circumstances, claimed that the British government was targeting asylum seekers whose passports are about to expire. "It appears they are looking at passports and not the cases" claimed Muzondo.
Muzondo suspects that this could be due to the fact that it was difficult to obtain emergency travel documents as respective embassies and governments were not cooperating with them in issuing emergency travel documents.
He was detained when he had gone to report at the Loughborough Reporting Centre more than a week ago. The reason for his detention, according to UK Border Agency officials was that his case had been exhausted.
He was due to be deported to Zimbabwe.
Chanetsa's solicitors, Sean and Company have been fighting for his release. This reporter understands that Chanetsa will be granted bail on condition that he finds two guarantors who are British citizens and each one of them is expected to have at least $500 in their bank accounts and must be employed.
Chanetsa who spoke on telephone interview from the detention centre said he could be released sometime this week, that is, if all the paper work is completed.
"I am deeply disappointed with MDC for not standing up for me, I have been an active member of MDC attending all the rallies and was involved in a lot of programmes" said Chanetsa
Chairman of the Zimbabwe Community Network, Regis Manyanya expressed disappointment at the MDC-UK's betrayal of Chanetsa. "There is evendence in MDC newsletters that their supporters are openly harassed and tortured, but how come they are failing to protect people like Chanetsa?"
Manyanya also took a swipe at the UK Border Agency for treating Chanetsa unfairly. "Many people who are in the same situation can easily abscond, but Chanetsa complied with the British law requiring him to report each time, yet they detained him" said the visibly irate Chairman.
Manyanya added that Chanetsa had been critical about President Mugabe's regime, hence his deportation could have put him in danger.
Another Zimbabwean, Frazer Muzondo, who was detained under similar circumstances, claimed that the British government was targeting asylum seekers whose passports are about to expire. "It appears they are looking at passports and not the cases" claimed Muzondo.
Muzondo suspects that this could be due to the fact that it was difficult to obtain emergency travel documents as respective embassies and governments were not cooperating with them in issuing emergency travel documents.
Source - ZimDiaspora
