City volunteer faces being deported to native Zimbabwe
A SHEFFIELD MP has called on Home Secretary Sajid Javid to halt the deportation of an awardwinning volunteer from the city who faces being sent back to his native Zimbabwe against his will.
A campaign has been launched to prevent the deportation of Victor Mujakachi, an outspoken critic of successive Zimbabwean governments, who has been detained at the Vulcan House immigration reporting centre in Sheffield city centre.
A warrant for his arrest was issued by the Zimbabwean authorities in 2008, following critical online comments he made about the re-election of Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwe’s then Prime Minister. His subsequent application for asylum in the UK was turned down, as were two further bids.
He arrived in Sheffield as a postgraduate student in 2003 and despite uncertainty surrounding his future in the city he has now spent 15 years carrying out community, voluntary and church work for a number of groups.
He is described a ‘well respected’ and ‘indispensable’ volunteer
at ASSIST Sheffield, a charity which helps destitute asylum seekers by providing accommodation, advice and other support.
Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough MP Gill Furniss said in a statement that she was “extremely concerned” about the detention of her constituent.
She said: “He is a respected, active and dedicated member of the community and long standing volunteer for many community groups in Sheffield. Having spoken to Victor and his family, my team and I are working hard to do all we can to offer assistance to Victor.
“I have now written to the Home Secretary, with an urgent request to release Victor and halt his looming deportation immediately.”
Detention centres are used for foreign nationals who the Government says do not have leave to remain in the UK.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need our protection.
“Where a decision has been made that a person does not require international protection removal is only enforced when we and the courts conclude that it is safe to do so, with a safe route of return.”
A respected, active and dedicated member of the community.
MP Gill Furniss describes Sheffield volunteer Victor Mujakachi