Deportation or death?

October 05, 2005

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DROWNED: Edmore gwenya.

A MAN who drowned in Salford Quays was a failed asylum seeker who may have been fleeing oppression in Zimbabwe.

Edmore Ngwenya, 26, appeared to commit suicide last month by stepping into the Manchester Ship Canal.

It has now emerged he was a former soldier in the Zimbabwean Army and had moved to Britain in 2002.

Mr Ngwenya was told in March this year his application for asylum had been refused and he was facing deportation.

It is thought he may have deserted from the Army or was linked to opposition parties campaigning against the ruling regime of Robert Mugabe.

After coming to Britain Mr Ngwenya lived in Yorkshire, before moving to Salford.

It is understood Mr Ngwenya was aware of a case due to be heard in the High Court today which will have a bearing on whether Zimbabwean asylum seekers can stay in Britain.

In July the Government's policy of deporting failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers was questioned when a High Court judge called for a halt to removals until possible dangers they feared in their country were assessed.

According to his friends, Mr Ngwenya was aware of the case and it was playing on his mind.

Canal

He died after stepping into the Manchester Ship Canal near Exchange Quay. Police have referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission after officers tried in vain to rescue him.

An inquest into Mr Ngwenya's death was opened and adjourned on September 21. He had been living in Pembroke Street, Langworthy, Salford, but it is understood he had been ordered to leave the premises after his application failed.

He was spotted standing on chains attached to the side of the canal. Police were called and tried to coax him away. But he stepped into the water.

Officers tried save him and he remained on the surface for two minutes. As soon as he went under one officer went in and dived down twice to try and find him.

About 40 Zimbabweans detained across Britain went on hunger strike in protest at the decision to send them back to the country, claiming they would face oppression from the ruling regime.

The Government has temporarily frozen deportations until this month and today's case will have a bearing on whether deportations restart.

Emma Ginn, of the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns, said: "The asylum determination process is little more than a lottery."

Should we be deporting Zimbabweans back to an oppressive regime? Have your say.

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Les, Kent (05/10/2005 at 10:27)

Under no circumstances should anyone be forced to go back to Zimbabwe.
Mugabe and his cronies are evil,I am married to a Zimbabwe girl and have travelled there but at the moment there is no way I would go back. Such a beautiful country such an evil regime.
We need to show compassion to any person claiming asylum.

Steve W, South Manchester (05/10/2005 at 11:03)

It is sad and unfortunate that this man took his own life, but I do feel that we should not be feeling guilty of what has happened. The man in question has not been honest with our immigration authority and therefore, failed in his bid for asylum. It appears the he was simply on the run from his service in the army and there is no other evidence to suggest anything else. It is people like this that cause real heartache for people who are genuine asylum seekers.anything else.

blowerjustice, manchester (05/10/2005 at 11:04)

This tragic case highlights the government's disastrous policy of asylum. Here was a man who clearly had reasons to fear returning to his home country. What did our government do - refuse him asylum. How desperate he must have felt. My thoughts and condolescences go out to his family and friends.

Paul, Bury (05/10/2005 at 11:48)

Very biased piece of journalism, particularly the bit at the end with Ms Ginn's (whoever she is) rent-a-quote silly unsubstantiated assertion that it's "a lottery".
Also, nice loaded question "Should we deport Zimbabweans back to an oppressive regime?" Why not ask - There are a billion people in the world living under oppressive regimes, should we let a million in, 100 million, any limits at all?

des, manchester (05/10/2005 at 12:41)

les, kent
so what your saying is let everyone that wants to start a fresh life in britain do so!!
if all these people from zimbabwe came over then there would be an even more bigger strain on taxpayers paying for them to stay here.
Also if you married a zimbabwean why dont you live there. that way you could speak up against people like that

Peter, Kansa USA (05/10/2005 at 15:02)

Edmore Ngwenya is a test case that there is no peace in Zimbabwe. It disheartening to see and hear the so called civilized British government which perfectly well knows Mugabe to refuse those people asylum.
Those people should be given asylum inorder to show to the world that what you preach about human rights is true. It is better to die in Britain once than to be tortured in Zimbabwe, Edmore believed.

Brendan, Worcester (05/10/2005 at 15:07)

It is very sad if this man took his life, but it might have been an accident. We do however need to start taking a tougher stance against illegal immigrants, after all the politicians keep telling us that our state pension (for those of us who have contributed over many years) cannot be guaranteed in the future. Yet government cash is readily available to accommodate, cloth, feed and meet all household expenses of illegal immigrants. A lot of those people who do manage to settle make no attempt to integrate or speak english, in fact they are quite often anti-western and have the cheek to refer to us as being racist!
Getting back to Zimbabwe my understanding of the situation from the media is, that it is the white population and in particular white farmers who are oppressed and being driven from their land, not the black community.

Ms D, Manchester (05/10/2005 at 15:34)

A sad waste of life but ultimately it was his decision. We simply can't take everyone in, house them, clothe them and give them benefits. It has to stop.

Colin W, Manchester (05/10/2005 at 15:47)

Yet another asylum seeker sob story. Sorry but these kind of people are usually persecuted for their beliefs or status. The answer is simple change your beliefs. Using suicide as a tool to bend the law is not an option and the UK justice system was right to enforce the ruling.

anon, anon (05/10/2005 at 16:26)

this is a really sad case and goes to show how desperate people are to leave the countries, however these people are also passing through other safe European countries before they reach Britain. I have been told several times that Britain is the best country to live in and thats why they come. The government should do what the other countries do, give them a lump sum to live on until they can get a job make them find there own housing, instead of spoon feeding them a lifestyle they will never want to leave.

Angie, Singapore (05/10/2005 at 19:05)

It's very obvious that asylum seekers are taking advantage of the liberal UK policies - free healthcare for example. And knowing full well that the government will clothe and feed them all free of charge. Why they didn't consider other european countries like scandinavia where integration requirements are tough is anyone's guess - refusal to attend mandatory language or citizenship classes.

What gets my goat is Singaporeans who plan to work in the UK - especially young cows Chinese descent - going ape at the mere print: *free* healthcare. Yet they refuse to contribute or do their part to the very society that welcomes them to work and stay. Not to mention having the gall to whinge at the merest slight as "racism". Third-world ingrates, all of them.

delia, manchester (05/10/2005 at 19:20)

i am ashamed by people that think that all asylum seekers feed on gvt benefits just as much as it is wrong quite a lot of them do work and contribute towards the tax. at the same time these people should not be let into the country if they are not wanted because its even worse off for them when they come back after having been abroad esp britain.anyone who wants to comment on these issues should know how mugabe feels about this country and there of anyone who associates with it let alone someone who has tried to seek aslyum and been refused. if u dont want them dont let them in in the first place .there should be a system that somehow screens people before they come in rather than give them false hope and then shatter thier hopes .

Magda, Oldham (05/10/2005 at 19:28)

I am really sorry to see the harsh comments here. This man reached the lowest ebb of life where even hope for the future was gone. What upsets me the most is that many who hold the view that we should not welcome those fleeing persecution also tell me how welcoming and tolerant the UK has been over the years and how UK soldiers fought NAZIs, etc, and all the while they are proud to deny asylum applicaitons and hold views Hitler would have approved.

mrs j turnbull, newcastle (05/10/2005 at 21:21)

well having read some of the coments it makes me sick to learn tat there are people who think asylum seekers are sceoungers but let me tell you somthing never will we be scroungers what ever job we can be be given we do it and first of all we dont want the so caled benefits we are not handcappedwe are normal pipo who want to live normal life because of what ever probs we have dont take advantage on us

jane blair, washinton (05/10/2005 at 21:26)

its not a matter of who to take on this asylum issue but surely who does't know mugabe that evil cow soon we will be hearing there is war in zimbabwe recall what happened in rwanda dont let it happen in zimbabwe

todge, Salford (05/10/2005 at 23:10)

Condolences to the family but let`s get real,Asylum seekers travel through many " westernised,Demacratic" countries to land here, WHY?..Our Benifit system is the best and these people know it !!!.
They come through France Germany, Italy...All these countries have a good living and systems in place to help the needy, But still they come here because we give them , Houses,Money And free treatment,All the above mentioned only do a fraction of that untill the said person can be traced back to their country of origin...WE GIVE FIRST !! then try to establish Origin..TUT !!!....ENOUGH SAID !

vee, leeds (06/10/2005 at 05:37)

No Let them stay because for several reasons they will be tortured by tyrant Mugabe. Just give them an manesty.

agentorange, manc (06/10/2005 at 10:59)

Brendan, you're not very bright at maths are you? The reason we face a pensions defecit is that there are too few working age people to support the increasing retired population. We need more young people and if asylum seekers were allowed to work (rather than being forced to claim the benefits you begrudge them or face destitution), they would contribute a staggering amount. Note that the net contribution of legal migrant communities already exceeds the revenue of north sea oil. Get a calculator mate.

zelda, winchester (06/10/2005 at 11:06)

Have mercy on these people please!
Try to put yourself in their shoes and see what it possibly could be like living with and under 'Satan's' authority!
I believe that all people should be given a chance on a new life if they so choose to.
Is it simply a case of being the wrong colour in this case? What a shame!!!
I hope there is someone in authority reading this - THINK ABOUT IT - you are acting judge. What will you say or how will you plead when you oneday stand in front of the Judge of the world - Jesus?
What I will do is to pray for those in authority to re-look the Act of asylum, and to give them clear direction of how to move forward with such a huge issue - who stays and who has to go!
God bless

Dave Smith, manchester (06/10/2005 at 12:21)

How sad that British citizens should be so vindictive about asylum seekers. I doubt very much if any of those who want to send them back to their home countries - and to torture, prison and death - have ever met an asylum seeker.
I work with people like Edmore Ngwenya, who have been refused asylum here. Many are extremely depressed, and even suicidal because of their treatment in this country.
In my experience the vast majority have very good cases for asylum, but it is almost impossible to prove what happened to them several thousand miles away. Recent changes in the asylum system mean it is very difficult to find a decent solicitor, and legal aid has been slashed so much that those solicitors who still take on asylum cases cannot build an argument in time.
Some of those refused were never represented at court. One I know was never told when her hearing was - and the Home Office refused to allow an appeal. Emma Ginn is absolutely right when she says the system is a lottery - some asylum judges are so inept that they haven't even read their own country information correctly.
I personally feel ashamed at the way we, as a country, treat people who have fled torture, oppression and death. I would be delighted to introduce those who think we are a soft touch to my destitute friends, in the hope that their stories (and the marks of torture in their bodies) might melt some of those hard hearts.

Julia Ravenscroft, Refugee Action, Manchester (06/10/2005 at 14:25)

We should not deport Zimbabweans or a person of any nationality back to a regime where there is doubt about their safety. The tragic case of Edmore Ngwenya reflects the desperate situations of many Zimbabweans who have been refused asylum and fear being removed back to their homeland. According to Amnesty International's report 2005 torture, arbitrary detention and assault is still commonplace in Zimbabwe against those thought to oppose the regime, be they black or white. Many of the comments posted on this site argue that people like Mr Ngwenya and others who ask for protection from persecution in the UK are here for generous benefits and then avoid working. In fact, since 2002 asylum seekers have not allowed to work or claim mainstream benefits, and receive much less than an unemployed British person would. Once their claim has been rejected they are not entitled to support of any kind unless they take steps to leave, and are often forced into destitution. Many are educated and highly qualified and want desperately to make a contribution to the UK, often taking on voluntary work in our communities. Asylum seekers are not here illegally and they are not all 'scroungers'. The majority are men, women and children forced to leave their countries because they fear for their lives and this must not be forgotten. If readers of this site would like to find out more of the facts about asylum seekers and refugees you can go to our website which is www.refugee-action.org.uk.

Nicola, Fallowfield (06/10/2005 at 16:09)

I wonder how many of these comments have been made by those with vested interests, the type of people who like to spread myths about asylum seekers to bolster support for their own 'nationalist' organisations. It astounds me that people can believe what they read in ill-informed publications and condemn those whose experiences they know nothing about. The reason why a lot of asylum seekers come to this country is due to the fact that they were once part of the British empire/commonwealth - many African and Asia countries were subject to the whim of this nation and now have to pick up the pieces of a ravaged economy and political system. I don't think we should be allowed to forget our involvement in creating human rights issues right across the globe.

Ian Ferguson, Newcastle upon Tyne (06/10/2005 at 21:51)

The present Government has no social conscience when it deliberatly makes people destitute and they have no options other than death here at their own hands or death on their return to there home country or turn to a life of crime to survive

Phill, Moss Side (07/10/2005 at 13:49)

I am so sick of reading comments on here that all asylum seekers are scroungers. True, there are some which abuse the system but many many more who have very good reasons for being here. To those people who say that they are taking things off ordinary tax-paying British citizens, I'm an ordinary tax paying british citizen and would open my house up to people like Edmore Ngwenya. There are some things in life which are just plain wrong, and sending someone back to their almost certain imprisonment or death in Zimbabwe is definitely just plain wrong. Should we have sent all those Jewish refugees back to Hitler when they fled here in the 30s? I don't think so. That Mr Ngwenya took his own life is some indication of how desperate he was. To call it an act of blackmail is insulting to the extreme. Rather than a kniving young man testing the will of the nation it is far more likely that here was a man who saw no other way out. Frankly, with the stony reception from many Brits to someone fleeing persecution, I am saddened to the extreme he took his life but not surprised. I hope he rests in peace.

CHIZAWARI KRAAL MAGUNJE, USA (10/10/2005 at 01:17)

KO CHII CHATINGAITE KUTI HUDZVINYIRIRI HWANA MUGABE HUPERE? IT IS BOTHERSOME WHEN A FEW INDIVIDUALS DECIDE TO HOLD THE WHOLE COUNTRY TO RANSOME AND NO BODY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT

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