Campaign 2 to stop deportation of Shamiso Kofi - Home Office Ref No: T1142606 
The Zimbabwe Vigil is campaigning to prevent the deportation of one of its regular supporters, Shamiso Kofi. She is due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Virgin Atlantic flight VS 671 at 21:00 hrs on Thursday 20^th October and then onwards to Zimbabwe by Kenyan Airways flight KQ700. The UK Border Authority has already unsuccessfully attempted to forcibly remove Shamiso on 4^th 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. 

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 (selection attached) and therefore more at risk of being noticed by the authorities in Zimbabwe if returned.  

We are running the following petition at the Zimbabwe Vigil: “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.”  

What you can do to help
Contact Virgin Atlantic Airways, particularly by phone and fax as this ties up their phone lines and sends a strong message. Phone Head Office: 0844 811 0000 and fax: 0844 209 8708 and email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to urge them not to carry out the removal of Shamiso Kofi on Virgin flight VS 671 at 21:00 hrs on Thursday 20^th October from Heathrow UK to Nairobi, Kenya. Ask the airline to refuse to take Shamiso on their flight, explain that Shamiso is being forcibly removed against her will. If the person you speak to at the airline cannot help, ask to speak to someone in higher authority. 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.  

Ask why Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson is allowing his airline to forcibly remove Zimbabweans when reecent reports in the media state that he has confirmed his involvement in 2007 in a plan to persuade Mugabe to step down from power as Zimbabwe’s leader so he 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.

Please also contact MPs: Email or fax letters to Damian Green, Theresa May and Stephen McPartland to urge for the removal to be stopped. It is more important and powerful to write a simple letter in your own words. Please remember to include Shamiso's home office reference number in all your letters – H.O.Ref T1142606. The addresses to send to are:
Damian Green, Immigration Minister. Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Fax: 020 7219 0904
Theresa May, Home Secretary. Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Fax: 020 7035 4745
Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .