Zimbabwe: Situation of Asians
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 22 June 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZWE36820.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Zimbabwe: Situation of Asians, 22 June 2001, ZWE36820.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4becb24.html [accessed 17 September 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. |
According to The Observer, members of the Affirmative Action Group (AGG), which supports President Mugabe, illegally entered a vacant apartment block belonging to an Asian business man and allocated flats to their members (7 May 2000). The Observer further reports that a letter allegedly written by the AGG had circulated in Harare and Bulawayo warning the Asian business community that it will meet with "harsh measures" if it did not support Mugabe's Zimbabwe African Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) n the presidential election of 2000 (ibid.).
An Asian businessman was quoted in the The Independent as saying that, the letter had made Asian community in Zimbabwe apprehensive (10 Apr. 2000). "We are perceived as rich and well-established, so we are a visible target. People are getting quite worried and lots are leaving for Australia" (ibid).
According to The Independent, "the 20,000 people of Asian extraction in Zimbabwe represent the second-largest non-black ethnic group in the country. But in many towns they are more visible than the 80,000 whites because they run shops and factories, as opposed to farms" (ibid.).
Additional and or corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
The Independent [Harare]. 10 April 2000. "Zimbabwe Asians are Next to Face Race Threats." (NEXIS)
The Observer [Zimbabwe]. 7 May 2000. Andrew Meldrum. "Mugabe's Army Hands Out Guns" (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Research Bulletin.
Africa Confidential.
Keesing's Record of World Events.
IRB Databases. LEXIS/NEXIS.
Resource Centre. Country File. Zimbabwe.
Two oral sources consulted did not provide the requested information.
Internet sites including,
All Africa News.
Relief Web
Search engines including,
Lycos
Dogpile