'MDC chairman' a lying identity crook

'MDC chairman' a lying identity crook

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By Staff Reporter

A ZIMBABWEAN man may face a review of his asylum case in Britain after his lies about the extent of his political activism came out during his wife's trial last week.

Identity crook Tendai Matambanadzo, whose wife Dadirai was on trial for trying to buy a false British passport, was claimed by defence lawyers to be the former chairman of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

A check with the opposition party, however, reveals that the party has never had a chairman by that name.

The revelations could now spark a review of Matambanadzo's asylum claim.

The Reading Crown Court last week heard defence lawyers describing Matambanadzo as "a leading opponent to ruthless Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe."

The court was also told that Matambanadzo -- whose 35-year-old wife paid £750 for the bogus passport so she could visit her two children in Zimbabwe -- was a former chairman of the MDC.

Defence lawyers also told a court that he worked for the British gold mining company Lonrho, "which Mugabe claimed was stealing from Zimbabwe".

Checks with the MDC on Tendai Matambanadzo drew blanks.

Officials said the party -- now riven by internal divisions -- had never had a chairman of that name. In fact, the party's first chairman was Isaac Matongo who remains in that position, although now with a faction of the feuding opposition party.

Matambanadzo's wife got a suspended sentence last week after she was arrested when Home Office officials realised a passport she was trying to use was registered to a white British woman.

The 35-year-old claimed she was trying to use the passport to visit her two children after being forced to flee Zimbabwe because of her husband's links with the MDC.

After uncovering the passport scam, police raided the couple's home in Keel Drive, Cippenham, where they discovered passport claim forms on July 9 this year.

Her fictitious application was made under the name of Rebecca Richardson, a white woman who was born in Tooting.

Matambanadzo, a black African, had accidentally written 'ooting' as her place of birth.

Judge Bruce McIntyre was told at Matambanadzo's trial, that she was attacked in her homeland, forcing her to flee to Britain.

"She was targeted by the authorities because of her husband," said David Harounoff, defending.

"After many months of harassment she was attacked, which caused her great distress and made her fear for her safety.

"Her family were able to find a fast-track way for her to get to the UK."

The defendant, who said she was ashamed at being brought to court, arrived in Britain in 2001. But she failed in her attempts to gain asylum.

Her husband arrived a year later, the court was told.

"Desperation was what led Matambandzo to buy this passport," explained Harounoff.

"The object was not to deceive the British authorities but the Zimbabwean authorities, so she could see her children.

"She entered a guilty plea straight away and is ashamed at being here in court today."

Before sentencing the Zimbabwean, Judge McIntyre was told that Tendai Matambanadzo had received a suspended sentence for possessing forged identity papers at an earlier hearing.

"The appropriate sentence is something of the order of 12 to 18 months imprisonment," he said.

"But I have been told by the prosecution that your husband was given a suspended sentence for possessing forged identity papers so it would be wrong for me to send you to prison.

"For that reason I am going to do the same to you."

Dadirai Matambanadzo was given a 51-week sentence, suspended for two years. She admitted a charge of attempting to obtain a British passport dishonestly.

"I am not indicating that you will be staying in this country for two years," Judge McIntyre added.

"It is subject to what the immigration authorities in this country decide to do.

"It is a matter for them whether or not you are to be deported."

Additional reporting Reading Chronicle

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