LAGOS Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Zimbabwe authorities have reacted to Journalist Hundeyin’s detention claim, indicating that he came into the country with Ghana refuge papers and no visa document.
This was revealed in a twitter post by the Permanent Secretary of the Zimbabwe Ministry of information, Publicity and broadcasting service, Nick Mangwana earlier today.
The post read: “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,” Mangwana wrote.
READ ALSO: Journalist Hundeyin Detained At Zimbabwe Airport, Tweeps Suspect He May Be Deported To Nigeria
Hundeyin has however, taken to his page to respond to the claims by the Zimbabwe authorities.
“I wasn’t aware that it is standard operating procedure in Zimbabwe for the country’s minister of information to tweet the asylum status of a foreigner, but since you’ve resorted to telling half truths, perhaps you should mention to your audience that I came into Zimbabwe with this valid Ghanaian refugee passport, which I have used to travel extensively over the world for 2 years.
“You might also want to share with your audience that I put a call through to the Zimbabwean embassy in Accra before I travelled to confirm that I did not need a visa, and that I was expressly advised that as long as the airline was happy to recognise the travel document, I would have no problem coming into Zimbabwe visa-free.
“I know this despicable Twitter stunt of yours does not represent the behaviour of the generality of Zimbabweans, many of whom I have had as dear friends since university 15 years ago, so I will not hold it against Zimbabwe. From experience, I know that it is possible for a great country to be held captive by a criminal political elite who lack legitimacy. Whatever you thought you achieved by doing this, I assure you that you should have completed the job yesterday because you will not like what happens next,” the post read.
Recall that Nigerian Investigative Journalist, David Hundeyin, had earlier raised the alarm over his detention at Harare Airport, Zimbabwe
