News / National
Deported Zim granny vanishes
30 Oct 2013 at 03:37hrs | Views
Friends say they fear for the safety of grandmother Evenia Mawongera, who has been deported to Zimbabwe.
The 55-year-old was put on a Kenyan Airways flight from Heathrow on Friday night, after attempts to stay in Leicester with her children and grandchildren were rejected by the Home Office.
He friends said they had not been able to make contact with her since her departure. Ms Mawongera's daughter, Loreen, who was at the airport when her mother was deported, was too distressed to speak yesterday.
University student Ambrose Musiyiwa, who has helped organise the campaign to keep Ms Mawongera in the UK, said: "As of Friday, we have lost contact with Evenia.
"We understood she was flying from Heathrow to Nairobi and then on to Harare. But we have not heard anything."
Ms Mawongera was an outspoken critic of the Mugabe regime and previously told the Mercury she feared for her life should she be deported back to Zimbabwe.
Mr Musiyiwa said: "It is because Evenia was an outspoken critic of the Government that we also fear for her safety. All flights are monitored by the security forces and they would have been waiting for her at the airport when her plane landed."
Jan Wild-Grant, another campaigner, said: "We have not heard anything and are extremely concerned we do not know what has happened to Evenia."
More than 4,000 people signed petitions urging Home Secretary Teresa May to allow Ms Mawongera, who fled to Britain 10 years ago, to remain in this country.
Her cause was backed by MP Liz Kendall, as well as Leicester's two other MPs, Keith Vaz and Jon Ashworth.
Ms Kendall said: "I am very concerned we have not heard anything.
"My office will continue to support the family and campaigners during this difficult time."
Ms Mawongera had originally been due to board a flight from Heathrow on Thursday at 9pm.
However, according the airline, she did not get to the departure gate in time.
She was detained until she could be booked on to another flight, which she boarded on Friday evening.
No-one from the Zimbabwean Embassy in London was available for comment last night.
The 55-year-old was put on a Kenyan Airways flight from Heathrow on Friday night, after attempts to stay in Leicester with her children and grandchildren were rejected by the Home Office.
He friends said they had not been able to make contact with her since her departure. Ms Mawongera's daughter, Loreen, who was at the airport when her mother was deported, was too distressed to speak yesterday.
University student Ambrose Musiyiwa, who has helped organise the campaign to keep Ms Mawongera in the UK, said: "As of Friday, we have lost contact with Evenia.
"We understood she was flying from Heathrow to Nairobi and then on to Harare. But we have not heard anything."
Ms Mawongera was an outspoken critic of the Mugabe regime and previously told the Mercury she feared for her life should she be deported back to Zimbabwe.
Mr Musiyiwa said: "It is because Evenia was an outspoken critic of the Government that we also fear for her safety. All flights are monitored by the security forces and they would have been waiting for her at the airport when her plane landed."
Jan Wild-Grant, another campaigner, said: "We have not heard anything and are extremely concerned we do not know what has happened to Evenia."
Her cause was backed by MP Liz Kendall, as well as Leicester's two other MPs, Keith Vaz and Jon Ashworth.
Ms Kendall said: "I am very concerned we have not heard anything.
"My office will continue to support the family and campaigners during this difficult time."
Ms Mawongera had originally been due to board a flight from Heathrow on Thursday at 9pm.
However, according the airline, she did not get to the departure gate in time.
She was detained until she could be booked on to another flight, which she boarded on Friday evening.
No-one from the Zimbabwean Embassy in London was available for comment last night.
Source - leicestermercury
