Zimbabwe/Canada: Whether the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has a branch office in Quebec or anywhere else in Canada; if so, its relationship with the MDC in Zimbabwe, the names of its leaders, their mandate and whether they are authorized to help MDC members in seeking refugee status in Canada
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 28 February 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZZZ38535.E |
| Reference | 1 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Zimbabwe/Canada: Whether the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has a branch office in Quebec or anywhere else in Canada; if so, its relationship with the MDC in Zimbabwe, the names of its leaders, their mandate and whether they are authorized to help MDC members in seeking refugee status in Canada, 28 February 2002, ZZZ38535.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4bed90.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No response to an 8 February 2002 letter to the MDC Secretary General in Zimbabwe about the existence of an MDC branch office in Quebec or anywhere else in Canada has been received to date. However, in its 6 July 2001 e-mail to the Research Directorate, the MDC Secretary General noted that:
The Bulawayo office or any other provincial or regional office of the party is not authorised to issue any letters or support to anyone seeking political asylum. Indeed, it is the policy of the party not to support any application for asylum, as we believe that all Zimbabweans must remain at home in the struggle for freedom and democracy.
Reacting to a report of connivance between an MDC employee and a Liberty Party of Zimbabwe (LPZ) official "to provide fake letters of recommendations for 'asylum seekers'", an MDC spokesperson declared the following:
[T]he MDC had no policy to assist asylum seekers, either officially or unofficially. He said none of the MDC MPs or national executive members had assisted any asylum seekers "either gratuitously or for personal gain."
[ ...]
"Any individuals who may purport to facilitate asylum status on behalf of the MDC should be reported to the party and to the police" (Daily News 8 June 2001).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
The Daily News [Harare]. 8 June 2001. "MDC Fires Worker."
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). 6 July 2001. Correspondence from the MDC Secretary General the Research Directorate.
