South Africa April 2005 |
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| Zimbabwean official to decide who gets deported, (ZWNEWS.com, 2005-04-22):-Lindela Detention Centre in South Africa holds a large number of Zimbabwean refugees. In a disturbing development, the South African government has appointed a Zimbabwean government official to interview refugees who are seeking asylum. The appointment lends support to claims that Thabo Mbeki is collaborating in human rights abuses against Zimbabweans who oppose the regime of Zanu PF. Lindela The Zimbabwean government official is to decide who deserves to be allowed to stay and who gets deported and sent back to Zimbabwe. Civic groups and human rights organizations are already up in arms over the appointment. They fear the Zimbabwean official will discriminate against opposition supporters and give confidential information about them to state agents. The MDC announced that they severed ties with the South African government this week, and the Lindela situation may actually prove their decision was a good one. South Africa has from the very beginning not crafted any policies that help Zimbabwean refugees who cross the border looking for help. The success rate of asylum cases is very low, and the suffering of Zimbabweans living in South Africa is well-documented. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |