Ex-Zimbabwe diplomat faces UK jail

Ex-Zimbabwe diplomat faces UK jail

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By Staff Reporter

DR OSWALD Ndanga, the former Zimbabwean ambassador to the Soviet Union (Russia) and defeated parliamentary candidate for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) faces jail in Britain after admitting he ripped off asylum seekers.

Ndanga, the MDC’s district chairman for Luton district was told by a judge at the Luton Crown Court last week that he faced a jail term after admitting to eight counts of deception by posing as an immigration advisor.

The 63-year-old former Zimsec director masqueraded as a professional immigration consultant and took money in exchange for legal help when he was not qualified to do so.

On Wednesday last week, Luton Crown Court heard Ndanga plead guilty to eight charges of deception, one of providing immigration services when not qualified and one charge of fraudulent trading.

He ran ON Legal Consultants Ltd from his home in Wodecroft Road, Luton, with the charges covering a period between July 2003 and November 2004.

Ndanga, who has previous convictions, had been due to stand trial later this month, but pleaded guilty to some of the charges he faced after discussions.
Stuart Alford, prosecuting, said the pleas were acceptable and trial would not be necessary.

The charges involved receiving money from various people by claiming he was a professional immigration consultant who would progress their asylum applications in a timely and professional manner.

Ndanga, who was sentenced for similar offences at Luton Magistrates' court in 2003, was remanded on bail to be sentenced at the end of the month, when the full facts will be revealed.

He must report twice daily to police and must not apply for travel documents.
Judge John Bevan told Ndanga, who has a surety of £ 10 000: "There is very likelihood of a prison sentence for these offences."

ON Legal Consultants Ltd’s website states that the firm has “over 5 years experience of helping immigration and asylum difficulties (sic) and general legal advice.”

The website goes on to disclose Dr. Ndanga is a former Ambassador extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Zimbabwe to the then Soviet Union, and a Professor of Political Science, Sociology and History.

“He is a distinguished Scholar and a career diplomat. He holds 5 University degrees; B.A, M.A, Ph.D from The American University in Washington D.C. USA, and LLB (Cert HE) Honours, PGD-Law, London,” it said.

Ndanga stood against Zanu PF’s Bernard Makokove in a parliamentary by-election in Chikomba following the death of war veterans’ leader Chenjerai Hunzvi in 2000. Ndanga polled 5 207 to Makokove’s 15 570 votes.
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