Zimbabwe Ayslum network exposed

Zimbabwe Ayslum network exposed

An illegal network has channelled hundreds of members of Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF party into Britain, a BBC investigation has found.
Birmingham-based Zimbabwean Community UK is thought to have given fake documents to party members and coached them on how to falsely claim asylum.

Undercover reporters for Radio 5 Live were sold a Home Office letter granting asylum and a national insurance number.

But the chairman of the organisation said the allegations were false.

Albert Matapo said his group provided support and medical help for Zimbabweans in Britain.

He said: "Whatever the BBC is saying is absolutely false.

"Most of our people here, what they come for is traditional help. We offer traditional assistance."

The Home Office has said it will be investigating the BBC's evidence.

Zimbabwean Community UK was created last year with an initial £5,000 grant of lottery money.

Director Albert Matapo claimed to have smuggled in the adult children of several members of Zimbabwe's cabinet by saying they were members of the opposition MDC party.

Talking politics

The organisation's ledger book showed Mr Matapo had processed more than 1,000 clients.

Radio 5 Live sent along an undercover reporter who had been told he would be able to con his way into Britain.

In an interview re-recorded using actors Mr Matapo's wife is heard to stop the reporter speaking until he shows her the payment for the deal.

After that Mr Matapo comes in and explains how to fool the Home Office.


The government blames drought for food shortages

He says: "For the purpose of winning, we advise you to tell the white man that you are a member of the MDC. How can you tell the white man that you are Zanu PF when you want to stay in this country?

"We will teach you the one, two, threes of the MDC so that when you are asked who the president is you can immediately say Morgan Tsvangirai.

"But we are not teaching you to be an MDC supporter. Do you get what I am saying? So when we start talking about politics, don't assume that we want you to be in politics. All we are telling you is what the white man will ask you, what he wants to hear."


People are bringing the Zimbabwean corruption and fraudulent system into this country.

Head of the MDC party in Britain Washington Ali

Head of the opposition MDC party in Britain Washington Ali told Radio 5 Live: "It's a very worrisome situation where people are bringing the Zimbabwean corruption and fraudulent system into this country.

"What's worrying is that we've got a number of genuine asylum seekers, including some of our senior membership who are failing to get these claims and then the fake people are getting claims like this.

"I think it's really a challenge to the British Government to deal with these people."

The revelation comes amid evidence that increasing numbers of prominent Zanu PF members are coming to Britain to escape the deteriorating situation in their homeland.

Members of President Robert Mugabe's government and senior members of Zanu PF are banned from entering the European Union.

Three months ago, the bankers responsible for the Zanu PF's finances relocated to this country, the investigation found.

Zimbabwe is grappling with an economy in tatters and severe food shortages, which led to fears of famine in 2003.

Aid agencies and critics partly blamed the shortages on a controversial land reform programme; the government blamed a long-running drought.

and your point is Harper

F*ck, I might be bored, but not bored enuf to read all that :spangled:

our ayslum system is totaly flawed !

people are taking the piss out of it and running it like a buisness!

It's getting old. Very old.

take notice, dont just dismiss it as being old news.

Out of curiosity... would you ever post a positive asylum story?

A) The Government constantly say the numbers of asylum seekers coming to the UK is down. They always seem to be creating another get tough policy or a new hardline stance to asylum.

B) After being in London last week most fast food outlets seemed to be well staffed

wot worries me the amount that are sneeking in, in lorries, in trains, ferries etc. Once they are here they are here to stay, they have the law on there side and the government and blind blunkett cant touch them. I mean how can a blind man be in a job wot hes got?

Why shouldn't he be?

He is the Minster @ The Home Office, not the night-watchman @ Euro Tunnel.

cos he cant see wots goin on. he can only guess

I knew u would say that.

And your response sums you up perfectly, me thinks.

When Jack Straw was home office minster he could SEE all the problems but he couldn't stop them. Blunkett is there for policy making not enforcement

How can someone be in charge of the police, the courts, and things like ayslum when he cant see??? baffles me

Are we living in the 15th Century? Should we burn Blunkett for being a witch with funny eyes?