The Zimbabwean Diaspora Focus Group made up of British-based Zimbabwean political parties and non-governmental organizations has convinced the British Home Affairs Office to take a second look at its decision to deport failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers, arguing that human rights abuses persist in Zimbabwe despite the unity government in place.
The Home Affairs Office last month ruled that failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers should be sent home to Zimbabwe because conditions there had become more than two years after the formation of a government of national unity. In that government, power is shared by the ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe, the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, and a smaller MDC wing.
Zenzo Ncube, European spokesman for the Zimbabwe African People's Union, a party not in the Harare government, and a Focus Group member, told VOA reporter Sithandekile Mhlanga that although the UK deportation ruling still stands, the Home Office is taking evidence from his group to determine if rights abuses persist in Zimbabwe.
