Zimbabwe

As the world watches the elections in Zimbabwe, none watch as closely and with such attention as the Zimbabwean community in the UK. As Zimbabweans await the results, which seem to be taking an interminable amount of time, they also need to know what impact the results will hold for their families and friends still in the country, and fo themselves who continue to distrust a safe return.



It has been such a very difficult time for Zimbabweans. Many have been held in detention as they await the outcome of Court decisions about how safe is Zimbabwe for those who have fled to the UK. Many women held in detention centres have been on hunger strikes towards the end of last year, to draw attention to the desparate situation that they have been in - guilty of no crime, but held in detention centres.



People in Zimbabwe have suffered as the cost of basic goods soar to unaffordable prices. Homes have been demolished as Mugabe made life impossibable for his opponants.



Bloggers for democracy are writing about their feelings as they suffer undue waiting time for the announcement of the winner of the elections.

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/date/2008/04



Others have suffered in the country for daring to ask questions about womens rights to sanitary wear read the Dignity Period Campaign here. http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/407



On Thursday, 3 April 2008 04:39 UK the Foreign Secretary, David Milliband spoke at the Lord Mayor's Easter banquet, at Mansion House in London and said that the "UK will stand with the Zimbabweans".



William Haigh , shadow Foreign Secretary stated: Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said "yars of brutality and repression" in Zimbabwe had turned it into a "political pressure-cooker".
It would take more than Mr Mugabe's departure for the country to recover from years of corruption and economic decline" (BBC News 24 3rd April 2008)



Yet, as we have seen in the case of Burundian citizens seeking asylum in the UK, whoever wins the election in Zimbabwe may cause an immediate impact upon the asylum claims of Zimbabweans witing for news in the UK. Women and men who have been subjected to dreadful acts of cruelty in their country of origin, whose cases for asylum are accepted by the Immigration Courts or the Home Office,without question about authenticity or honesty (so rare) may find themselves sent back to a country that still poses significant threat to their own personal safety.



Dspite William Hagues comments, despite what many might see as plain common sense, a signed peace agreement, a change in Government that is approved of by the West, and people will be returned to their country if they do not have a permanent or temporary right to remain in the UK. Yet attitudes do not change at the same pace as a change in Government. Old regimes still continue to have support. As Mugabe and his supporters hold onto power post election, the pressure on those who have been made destitute as a result of asylum policies in this country, continues to mount.


N.B. this entry was composed on 3 rd April but published on 14 th April - hence it also contains references to the post election wait.