BREAKING: Why we deported journalist David Hundeyin – Zimbabwean govt

 Zimbabwean government has provided clarity on the arrest and subsequent detention of Nigerian investigative journalist and activist, David Hundeyin, at Harare Airport on Wednesday. Nick Mangwana, the Zimbabwe Permanent Secretary in the Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Service, explained that Hundeyin, while holding a Nigerian passport, had sought asylum in Ghana and traveled to Zimbabwe with the same documents.

Due to Ghanaian nationals requiring visas to enter Zimbabwe, Hundeyin was promptly arrested, detained, and subsequently deported. The journalist had previously raised the alarm on social media, reporting that he had been detained for nearly seven hours in a locked room at Harare Airport.

Mangwana stated that Zimbabwe’s immigration laws apply to all prospective entrants, regardless of their profession or achievements. He clarified that Hundeyin arrived in Zimbabwe with Ghanaian refugee papers, claiming to be a Nigerian seeking asylum from persecution in his home country. This status necessitated a visa for entry, which Hundeyin had not obtained before arriving in Zimbabwe. Additionally, other aspects of his story were deemed unsatisfactory by immigration authorities, leading to his classification as ineligible for entry.

The Zimbabwean official acknowledged the strong bilateral relationship between Zimbabwe and Nigeria but emphasized that nationals of either country must adhere to visa requirements when traveling between the two nations. He also asserted that the ethical implications of discussing an individual’s live immigration case on social media prevented him from revealing further personal details. Mangwana recommended that Hundeyin’s case be addressed by the Nigerian Consulate, given the historical and current relations between the two nations.

“I am sorry that this journalist found himself in this situation. That said, we do have Immigration laws in our country that are obligatory to all prospective entrants, and no profession is immune to them. If someone’s travel document is such that they need a Visa, that law applies to everyone including “an award winning journalist”. Our laws are blind to social stations or attended achievements.

“Jaqui, since he has chosen to put all his issues out without making full disclosure, it forces us to give details we would have preferred not. But we realize this may affect how Zimbabweans are treated when they visit Nigeria so we are going give the information here.

“David came with Ghanaian Refuge papers claiming he was a Nigerian who was a refuge from his home country. His country of Asylum is Ghana after claiming to be running away from persecution in Nigeria. People in this category certainly need Visas to enter Zimbabwe. He wasn’t coming in to work as a journalist. He said he was just coming to visit but without getting a Visa in Ghana first. Other parts of his story were also unsatisfactory to the immigration authorities. He was considered not a candidate for entry into Zimbabwe.”