A Zimbabwean pastor is fighting to save 10 members of his church from being deported from Canada to Namibia. Their claims for asylum r...
A Zimbabwean pastor is fighting to save 10 members of his
church from being deported from Canada to Namibia.
Their claims for asylum rejected years ago, they are now
being ordered to leave the country by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
“If they are deported, we have lost a quarter of our
membership. There’s always this notion that Canada is open for immigrants. But
my argument is, why should we bring more people in the country if we have
people already in the country who are not being afforded the same opportunity?”
Pastor Chengetaimufaro Lovemore Bere said in an interview with CBC News.
Bere, who came to Canada from Zimbabwe in 2015, started
Empowerment Centre Church, based at Vanguard College in the north-central
Westwood community, shortly after his arrival.
Many people from Edmonton's Namibian community were the
first to join his ministry and they have been the backbone of the church ever
since, he said.
Three other members of Bere’s church, also originally from
Namibia, have already been deported from Canada.
Bere is now spearheading plans for a protest march to ask
Ottawa to hold off on deportations until all applications — humanitarian as
well as spousal sponsorships — are processed.
Bere said the plight of his Namibian church members goes
against Canada’s immigration programs which aim to reunite families.
“Their children are Canadians and taking them out of the
country, it’s kind of like we’re already breaking the families,” said Bere.
“Taking them outside the country, I don’t feel like it’s fair for them because
it’s emotionally draining.”
But the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has often
ruled the asylum seekers failed to provide evidence for their cases or they
have the expectation of protections in Namibia.
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