News / International
Zimbabwean granny survives UK deportation for now
25 Oct 2013 at 07:57hrs | Views
Too late to be deported - Evenia Mawongera
Family and friends have voiced their relief after Evenia Mawongera did not board a deportation flight to Zimbabwe last night.
After months of campaigning to persuade Home Secretary Teresa May to allow her to stay, she was due to board an Ethiopia Airlines flight from Heathrow at 9pm.
However campaigners were relieved to hear that she was "too late" to board the plane which had delayed its take off.
Campaigner Jan Wild-Grant said: "We do not understand why the airline said she was too late to board the plane. We know she was in the departure area in plenty of time."
Ms Mawongera, 55, who has made Leicester her home and has children and grandchildren in the UK, is said to haves been an outspoken critic of the Mugabe regime and fears for her life if she goes back in Zimbabwe.
She fled the country 10 years ago. More than 2,000 people from Leicester, including the majority of city council members, have signed copies of a petition calling on the Home Secretary and Immigration Minister Mark Harper to let her stay. All three city MPs also supported the campaign.
Ms Wild-Grant said they were hoping to find out what would be happening to Ms Mawongera today.
On Thursday her lawyers failed in securing a judicial review into the deportation order. They are thought to be considering an appeal.
Campaigner Ambrose Musiyiwa said last night: "Her removal to Zimbabwe is not in the best interest of her grandchildren, who are British citizens, and for whose care she shares parental responsibility.
"More seriously, when she arrives at Harare International Airport, she will be arrested by agents of the Mugabe regime and subjected to extremely serious ill-treatment."
After months of campaigning to persuade Home Secretary Teresa May to allow her to stay, she was due to board an Ethiopia Airlines flight from Heathrow at 9pm.
However campaigners were relieved to hear that she was "too late" to board the plane which had delayed its take off.
Campaigner Jan Wild-Grant said: "We do not understand why the airline said she was too late to board the plane. We know she was in the departure area in plenty of time."
Ms Mawongera, 55, who has made Leicester her home and has children and grandchildren in the UK, is said to haves been an outspoken critic of the Mugabe regime and fears for her life if she goes back in Zimbabwe.
Ms Wild-Grant said they were hoping to find out what would be happening to Ms Mawongera today.
On Thursday her lawyers failed in securing a judicial review into the deportation order. They are thought to be considering an appeal.
Campaigner Ambrose Musiyiwa said last night: "Her removal to Zimbabwe is not in the best interest of her grandchildren, who are British citizens, and for whose care she shares parental responsibility.
"More seriously, when she arrives at Harare International Airport, she will be arrested by agents of the Mugabe regime and subjected to extremely serious ill-treatment."
Source - online
