Government's Zimbabwe deportation policy criticised

10.00.00am GMT Sat 15th Oct 2005

The Government's policy on deportation to Zimbabwe was severely criticised today in a court ruling which found that a failed asylum seeker had a "well-founded fear of persecution" if he was sent home.

The asylum and immigration tribunal said the lack of interest of Charles Clarke the Home Secretary in how Zimbabwean authorities dealt with returned nationals was "rather alarming".

The tribunal criticised the home secretary for his department's research into conditions in Zimbabwe and for the lack of evidence uncovered by a fact-finding delegation sent by the government last month. Most people are aware of the situation in Zimbabwe, the Government could have asked me I know what it was like when I visited in 1998 and from talking to Zimbabweans since and also from what appears in the news! But it would appear the Government didn't know how bad it was! The Court's decision will hopefully mean the Government has to rethink its deportations policy.