Court denies Zim refugees audience :: Mmegi Online

The Zimbabwean refugees who were resisting repatriation after their refugee status was cancelled by the Botswana government have been denied a chance to argue their case before Court.

The five Zimbabweans lead by Terence Charuma, who didn’t want to be returned to their country of origin citing fear of persecution, had taken the government to court after the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security declared on January 2020 that they were no longer recognised as political refugees and therefore cancelled their status.

They had sought leave bringing a review application out of time against the government’s decision to cancel their status. When denying them the chance, Justice Michael Leburu of the Gaborone High Court said the refugees waited for two months even after the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) process was completed before approaching court. “No explanation for such a prolonged lull has been advanced by the refugees. Cumulatively, the delay of about a year and a half is unreasonable.

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