Britain stops Zimbabwe deportations

Britain stops Zimbabwe deportations

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By Staff Reporter

BRITAIN has frozen all removals of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced Thursday.
Unrest after the disputed June 27 presidential elections made deportation impossible, the PM told MPs.

He added: "They are prevented from leaving through no fault of their own."

Zimbabweans unable to work in the UK because of their failed asylum status will get accommodation and vouchers to ensure they are not destitute, Brown said.

The Prime Minister spoke as Zimbabweans gathered in London on Friday for a church service and march to press for asylum seekers “to be allowed to work and acquire skills”.

The march, held under the banner of ‘Free UK Zimbabweans From Limbo’ and ‘Strangers Into Citizens’ is supported by several MPs and the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu.

The march started at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey, where Archbishop Sentamu conducted a church service. The marchers, including Labour MP Kate Hoey and trade unionist Jack Dromey, then went up to the Home Office in Parliament Square to present a petition.

“Britain can best help Zimbabwe in its dark hour by enabling its future leaders to acquire the skills to rebuild the country when the opportunity comes,” campaigners said in a statement. “Instead, thousands of Zimbabwean exiles in the UK live in limbo – de-motivated and de-skilled.”

They called on the Home Office to allow Zimbabweans temporary access to work and job placement and training.

Dr Sentamu told BBC News: "The government finds itself between a rock and a hard place because of the rules they've made themselves.

"Whilst they've removed the rule of exceptional leave to remain, it means that people find themselves in this kind of limbo.

"The home secretary has given us an undertaking that those people who are facing destitution should present themselves and then the government may try and give them some kind of aid and support.

"My view would be that if people are qualified and have got jobs why not give them leave so they can work and continue to keep their skills going."

He added: "I would rather they earned their own money instead of depending on the taxpayers but with very clear rules that say that 'we will determine when we feel the time is right for you to go back'."

"We need a bit of pragmatism rather than simply sticking to rules and regulations."

Campaigners say between 11,000 and 15,000 Zimbabweans are affected.

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