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Shamiso Kofi has not been deported  (Posted 20/10/11)
Thank you very much for your concern about Shamiso and for helping to campaign against her deportation to Zimbabwe. I am delighted to let you know that the second attempt to deport Shamiso Thursday 20th October, did not go ahead and she was not taken to the airport. I have spoken to Shamiso and her solicitor. Her solicitor says deportation order has been stopped and he is now working on getting her out of detention.

Regards
Rose Benton
Zimbabwe Vigil Co-ordinator / co-ordinator@zimvigil.co.uk


2nd attempt to remove Shamiso Kofi

Shamiso Kofi is a national of Zimbabwe. Seven years a resident of the UK, originally in Newcastle and was settled in Stevenage at the time of her capture by UKBA. She is currently detained in Yarl's Wood IRC and due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Virgin Atlantic flight VS 671 at 21:00 hrs on Thursday 20th October and then onwards to Zimbabwe by Kenyan Airways flight KQ700.

The UK Border Authority has already unsuccessfully attempted to forcibly remove Shamiso on 4th October on a Kenyan Airways flight. The experience was very traumatic and Shamiso is still in pain. She says she went through hell and feels like dying at the thought of another attempt to forcibly deport her.

It is puzzling that she is booked on a Virgin Atlantic flight given that the boss of that airline, Richard Branson has in recent reports in the media confirmed his involvement in 2007 in a plan to persuade Mugabe to step down from power as Zimbabwe's leader. Mr Branson must be aware that Zimbabwe is not a safe place to return nationals who have participated in activism against the human rights abuses in that country.

Shamiso is a regular supporter of the Zimbabwe Vigil which has been protesting outside tne Zimbabwe Embassy in London every Saturday since October 2002 against human rights abuse and for democracy in Zimbabwe. Shamiso is particularly noticeable at the Vigil because of her strong lead in the singing and dancing. This means that she features prominently in many of the photos of the Vigil and is therefore more at risk of being noticed by the authorities in Zimbabwe if returned.

The vigil is running the following petition on her behalf:

"To UKBA / Home Office: We, the undersigned, are worried about the proposed deportation of one of our regular supporters, Shamiso Kofi (also known as Caroline Shamiso Tagarira). She is one of our most passionate dancers and singers and is very noticeable at the Vigil because of this. There are many photos of the Vigil on the internet and in some of them Shamiso features prominently. We think there are serious concerns about her safety if she is returned to Zimbabwe because it is very likely she could be recognized and brutally treated. We appeal the UKBA / Home Office to halt this deportation on the grounds that Shamiso's safety is not certain if she is returned to Zimbabwe."

The Zimbabwean regime is known worldwide for denial of human rights and the arbitrary persecution of anyone who does not actively support President Mugabe. UK policy has in the past recognised that to seek asylum in UK is enough to endanger a Zimbabwean; returns have restarted but there is no evidence that the situation has become safer. No one knows what has happened to people who have been deported in the last few months.

Zimbabwe is a failed state, the 4th worst in the world: A failed state has little or no governance, endemic corruption, profiteering by ruling elites, very poor human rights, the government cannot/will not protect the population from others or itself, massive internal conflict, forced internal/external displacement, institutionalised political exclusion of significant numbers of the population, progressive deterioration of welfare infrastructure (hospitals, clinics, doctors, nurses) not adequate to meet health, needs, progressive economic decline of the country as a whole as measured by per capita income, debt, severe child mortality rates, poverty levels.

What you can do to help

Email/Fax/Phone, Richard Branson / Virgin Atlantic Airways
. Urge him not to carry out the forced removal of Shamiso who is to be forcibly removed from the UK on Virgin Atlantic flight VS 671 at 21:00 hrs on Thursday 20th October and then onwards to Zimbabwe by Kenyan Airways flight KQ700

Model letter Shamiso Kofi VAA.doc attached - you can copy/amend/compose your own.

Put as much pressure on this airline as you can, to make them consider if it's worth the damage to their reputation to continue as one of UKBA's deportation airlines.

Write: Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic Customer Relations, PO Box 747, Dunstable LU6 9AH
Phone Head Office: 0844 811 0000
Fax: 0844 209 8708
Email: customer.services@fly.virgin.com

2) Email/Faxing Theresa May, Home Secretary
Ask her to exercise her discretionary powers to stay the removal and release Shamiso Kofi from detention and to grant Khethiwe protection in the UK.

Model letter attached, Shamiso Kofi TM.doc or alternatively write your own one.

Rt. Hon Theresa May, MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office,
2 Marsham St, London SW1 4DF
Fax: 020 7035 4745

Emails:
mayt@parliament.uk
 Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
"CIT - Treat Official" <CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk>

3) Email/Fax Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister: Ask him to intervene with the Home Secretary Theresa May to stop the forced removal of Shamiso Kofi. due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Kenyan Airways flight KQ 101 at 20:00 hrs on Thursday 29th September, for onward transit on KQ 700 to Zimbzbwe.

Model letter Shamiso Kofi NC.doc attached. You can copy, amend or write your own version..

Nick Clegg - Deputy Prime Minister's Office
Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall, London SW1A 2AS

Correspondence Section: Tel: 020 7276 0527, Fax: 020 7276 0514
pscorrespondence@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

Please let the Campaign know of any actions taken:
Zimbabwe Vigil Co-ordinator
co-ordinator@zimvigil.co.uk


Shamiso Kofi - Still Here, Still Fighting    (Posted 06/10/11)
We spoke to our supporter Shamiso Kofi this morning, Thursday 6th October. She was not deported on Tuesday. She is still in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre. She is keen to publicise what happened to her but is taking legal advice before deciding how to go ahead. We will keep you informed as we get information.

Shamiso and Zimbabwe Vigil, give thanks to all who responded to the alert,

Background: <http://www.freemovement.org.uk/Media7-2011/ShamisoKofi.html>Shamiso Kofi - Belongs to Stevenage

Zimbabwe Vigil
The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00 to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The Vigil which started in October 2002 will continue until internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe. http://www.zimvigil.co.uk

From: "Zimvigil co-ordinator" <co-ordinator@zimvigil.co.uk>


Shamiso Kofi - Belongs to Stevenage     (Posted 03/10/11)

Shamiso Kofi (also known as Caroline Shamiso Tagarira) is a national of Zimbabwe. Seven years a resident of the UK, originally in Newcastle and was settled in Stevenage at the time of her capture by UKBA. She is currently detained in Yarl's Wood IRC and due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Kenyan Airways flight KQ 101 at 20:00 hrs on Tuesday 4th October. What is worrying is that she has no onward ticket to Zimbabwe and is unlikely to be allowed to stay in Kenya.

Shamiso is a regular supporter of the Zimbabwe Vigil which has been protesting outside tne Zimbabwe Embassy in London every Saturday since October 2002 against human rights abuse and for democracy in Zimbabwe. Shamiso is particularly noticeable at the Vigil because of her strong lead in the singing and dancing. This means that she features prominently in many of the photos of the Vigil and is therefore more at risk of being noticed by the authorities in Zimbabwe if returned. The vigil is running the following petition on her behalf:

"To the UKBA / Home Office
We, the undersigned, are worried about the proposed deportation of one of our regular supporters, Shamiso Kofi (also known as Caroline Shamiso Tagarira). She is one of our most passionate dancers and singers and is very noticeable at the Vigil because of this. There are many photos of the Vigil on the internet and in some of them Shamiso features prominently. We think there are serious concerns about her safety if she is returned to Zimbabwe because it is very likely she could be recognized and brutally treated. We appeal the UKBA / Home Office to halt this deportation on the grounds that Shamiso's safety is not certain if she is returned to Zimbabwe."

The Zimbabwean regime is known worldwide for denial of human rights and the arbitrary persecution of anyone who does not actively support President Mugabe. UK policy has in the past recognised that to seek asylum in UK is enough to endanger a Zimbabwean; returns have restarted but there is no evidence that the situation has become safer. No one knows what has happened to people who have been deported in the last few months.

Zimbabwe is a failed state, the 4th worst in the world: A failed state has little or no governance, endemic corruption, profiteering by ruling elites, very poor human rights, the government cannot/will not protect the population from others or itself, massive internal conflict, forced internal/external displacement, institutionalised political exclusion of significant numbers of the population, progressive deterioration of welfare infrastructure (hospitals, clinics, doctors, nurses) not adequate to meet health, needs, progressive economic decline of the country as a whole as measured by per capita income, debt, severe child mortality rates, poverty levels.

What you can do to help

1) Email/Fax/Phone, Sam Okwulehie, Group Area Manager Kenya Airways.
Urge him not to carry out the forced removal of Shamiso Kofi (also known as Caroline Shamiso Tagarira). Due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Kenyan Airways flight KQ 101 at 20:00 hrs on Tues 4th October.

Download model letter Shamiso Kofi KA.doc  – you can copy/amend/compose your own.

Put as much pressure on this airline as you can, to make them consider if it's worth the damage to their reputation to continue as one of UKBA's deportation airlines.

E-mail: contact@kenya-airways.com
Fax: 020 8745 5027 (Or from outside the UK + 44 20 8745

5027)
Phone: 020 8759 7366 (Or from outside the UK + 44 20 8759 7366)


2) Email/Faxing Theresa May, Home Secretary
Ask her to exercise her discretionary powers to stay the removal and release Shamiso Kofi from detention and to grant Khethiwe protection in the UK.

Download model letter, Shamiso Kofi TM.doc or alternatively write your own one.

Rt. Hon Theresa May, MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office,
2 Marsham St, London SW1 4DF
Fax: 020 7035 4745

Emails:
mayt@parliament.uk
Emails: Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
"CIT - Treat Official" <CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk>

3) Email/Fax Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister: Ask him to intervene with the Home Secretary Theresa May to stop the forced removal of Shamiso Kofi. due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Kenyan Airways flight KQ 101 at 20:00 hrs on Thursday 29th September, for onward transit on KQ 700 to Zimbzbwe.

Download model letter Shamiso Kofi NC.doc. You can copy, amend or write your own version..

Nick Clegg - Deputy Prime Minister's Office
Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall, London SW1A 2AS

Correspondence Section:  Tel: 020 7276 0527, Fax: 020 7276 0514
pscorrespondence@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

Please let the Campaign know of any actions taken:
Zimbabwe Vigil Co-ordinator
co-ordinator@zimvigil.co.uk

Last updated 8 November, 2011