Zimbabwe has the third highest number of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom, after Afghanistan and Iraq, according to figures released this week. The figures were for the 10 year period from 2001 to 2010.
According to the figures released by the Home Office in the House of Lords this week, a total of 29 850 Zimbabweans had sought asylum in the United Kingdom since 2001. Afghanistan stopped the list with 34 715 followed by Iraq with 34 215.
The highest number of asylum seekers from Zimbabwe was 7 655 in 2002 followed by 5 600 in 2009.
Britain is currently in the process of deporting all failed asylum seekers as it argues that the political situation in Zimbabwe has changed greatly since the formation of the inclusive government two years ago.
Although most of the asylum seekers claim they will be tortured on their return, it is believed most of those who have left Zimbabwe have done so for economic rather than political reasons.
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