UK TO RETURN FAILED ASYLUM SEEKERS TO ZIMBABWE
Oct 30th, 2009 by admin
The United Kingdom’s Home Office has declared it plans to resume the enforced return of failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers to their home country. No date has been set yet, but immigration minister Phil Woolas said the returns would start “as and when the political situation develops”. Around 28,000 Zimbabweans have sought asylum in the UK over the past ten years. The enforced repatriation of failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers has been suspended since 2006 because of legal rulings regarding the safety of the country. The Home Office said it believes the situation has improved and a repatriation package of up to 6,000 British pounds (9,900 US dollars) should encourage failed asylum seekers to return voluntarily to Zimbabwe. Refugee groups condemned the announcement, arguing the country is still too volatile.
