The Leadership of the MDC-T in the United Kingdom and Ireland are returning to Zimbabwe, The Zimbabwe Observer has learnt. Contacted for comment Mr Jonathan Chawora, the chair person confirmed that he and other members of the leadership were travelling to Zimbabwe tonight to consult with the national leadership on policy issues and the way forward.
Other members that are travelling to Zimbabwe with the chairperson include the secretary Mr Sakile Mtombeni and the information and publicity Officer Mr Mathew Nyashanu. Asked by The Zimbabwe Observer if their return was permanent and the possible dangers of their return, Mr Chawora said they were only travelling there for a two week period and they plan to return to the United Kingdom after this period. "We are taking a risk going to Zimbabwe and we do not know how we are going to be received by the authorities there".
The return to Zimbabwe of the MDC-UK Leadership follows in the heels of the return of the MDC UK & Ireland Chief Representative Mr Hebson Makuvise, who is currently in Zimbabwe since the formation of the all inclusive government in February this year. The return of the MDC-UK leadership may introduce a new dimension to the approach by the British Home Office to asylum applications from Zimbabwe.
The bulk of the applications made by Zimbabwean asylum seekers are based on the fear of persecution for being members of the MDC. The return of the MDC -UK leadership may send signals that Zimbabwe is now a safe destination following the formation of the Inclusive government.
The United Kingdom policy towards asylum seekers from Zimbabwe -and especially towards returning to Zimbabwe those whose applications have been refused - has for a number of years proved contentious.
For nearly three years from 2002 the UK did not return failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe. This policy was revoked in November 2004 and, in 2005, 260 Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK. In the summer of 2005, dozens of Zimbabwean asylum seekers in the UK staged a hunger strike and their cases were considered in the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) and the High Court. The Government stated that it would not change its policy on removals, but the Home Office confirmed on 14 July 2005 that removals would be suspended pending a judicial review hearing in the High Court.
At that hearing, on 4 August 2005, Mr Justice Collins adjourned three test cases on the legality of returning failed asylum-seekers so that the AIT could look at new evidence of conditions in Zimbabwe. In the light of the court's decision, enforced removals of failed asylum-seekers continued to be deferred and detention was reconsidered individually.
The Government says that each asylum application is dealt with on its own merits; the most recent figures (for 2007) indicate that 19% of initial decisions on asylum claims from Zimbabweans resulted in the applicant being allowed to stay in the UK, either as a refugee or with discretionary leave. The leading case on returns to Zimbabwe is now that of RN (promulgated in November 2008), in which the AIT concluded that the risk of persecution on account of imputed political opinion was no longer restricted to those perceived to be members or supporters of the MDC.
The Government has recently (February 2009) indicated that there is 'no barrier to restarting returns for failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe and that 'those found not to be in need of protection and who have not left the UK voluntarily can expect to be returned'. The return of the MDC-UK leadership which served as a buffer in the past for failed asylum may see the government actively returning Zimbabweans who have failed to convince the british government of their need for protection in their asylum applications.-The Zimbabwe Observer
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