UK 'failing' Zimbabwe refugees

MDF supporters are scrutinised by Zimbabwean police

Zimbabwean refugees who face persecution if they return home are being failed by UK asylum laws, shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin has said.

Members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who are opposed to President Mugabe's governing Zanu-PF party, are reportedly being forced to return to their homeland to face certain death.

The purpose of our asylum system is to provide a safe haven for people who are subject to persecution

Oliver Letwin

Just last week there were reports that a man deported from the UK was beheaded upon his return to Zimbabwe.

Mr Letwin said it was a "ghastly irony" that on one hand Home Secretary David Blunkett was detaining refugees from other countries who he considered to be a danger, while people from Zimbabwe were being forced back to face serious persecution.

'Desperate'

He said: "This is a desperate situation.

"The purpose of our asylum system is to provide a safe haven for people who are subject to persecution.

"The general principle is that if people are genuine refugees then we grant them asylum and clearly people from this country are awfully likely to be persecuted."

One Zimbabwean refugee, who is currently living at a holding centre in London and has been refused the right to pursue an asylum claim, says he will be beaten and persecuted and possibly killed if he returns to Zimbabwe.

'Imminent death'

The man, who wanted to remain anonymous, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I left home because I was being persecuted because of my political opinions.

"I know if I return home it will be imminent death.

"The secret police are watching for anybody who is from the opposition and I believe they are getting information about people while they are in this country."

The man's deportation has been temporarily postponed to allow his solicitor to discuss the matter further with the Home Office.

The Liberal Democrats have called for a end to returning people to the troubled African state until further notice.