Concern for Zim acivist facing second UK deportation attempt

http://www.swradioafrica.com

By Alex Bell
03 July 2012

Concern has once again been raised for the safety of a UK based Zimbabwean 
activist, facing a second deportation threat by the British authorities this 
week.

Nottingham based Trevor Chanetsa is set to be forcibly removed Wednesday 
night on a Kenya Airways flight from London’s Heathrow Airport. He insists 
that as an activist who openly opposes ZANU PF he faces serious danger if he 
is returned to Zimbabwe.

Chanetsa arrived in the UK in 2002 and has been trying to secure asylum ever 
since. In May this year he was arrested during his routine reporting as an 
asylum seeker to the UK Border Agency and detained for two weeks. He only 
escaped deportation following the last minute intervention by his 
solicitors.

Chanetsa told SW Radio Africa last month that he believed he was being 
deliberately targeted because his Zimbabwean passport was about to expire. 
He accused the UK authorities of fast tracking his case deliberately, to 
ensure his deportation before his passport expired.

One of Trevor’s supporters is Regis Manyanya, from the Nottingham Zimbabwean 
Community Network. Manyanya told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that this 
“victimisation” is now continuing.

“This is victimisation because it is not safe to return to Zimbabwe 
especially towards forth coming elections. The British government talks 
about human rights and equal rights and condemnation of violence so why do 
they want to deport this young man who will obviously be targeted on his 
return to Zimbabwe as he is an activist and strong member of the MDC party,” 
Manyanya said.
He added that the authorities are fast tracking Chanetsa’s case because of a 
key legal development late last month, which saw the latest country guidance 
case laws on Zimbabwe overturned. The laws, set down in a judgement last 
year, significantly narrowed the definitions under which Zimbabweans could 
apply for asylum in the UK.

That case was quashed last month in what was described as a ‘victory’ for 
Zim asylum seekers. But it is understood the decision is being appealed, and 
Manyanya said Tuesday that Chanetsa is being targeted because of this.

“The case has an impact on Trevor’s asylum case so it appears that they (the 
UK authorities) are trying to deport him as soon as possible while the 
country guidance issue is being appealed,” Manyanya said.

The public is now being urged to try and delay Chanetsa’s Kenya Airways 
flight, by urging the airline not to take part in the unwilling, forced 
removal of a human rights activist.