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Refugee family 'facing death'
A FAMILY from Sheffield facing deportation to Africa could be killed if they are forced back home, their supporters fear.
Privilege Thalambo, aged 48, and her two daughters Lorraine, 18, and Valerie, 19, were snatched from their home in Heavygate Road, Walkley, by immigration officers in the early hours of yesterday morning.
They were taken to Bridge Street police station in Sheffield city centre and were last night due to be taken on to a detention centre in Cambridgeshire.
From there they will be deported to Malawi - though supporters insist they are originally from Zimbabwe.
Helen Parr, who has been appointed spokeswoman for the group demanding that they stay, said: "Privilege fled from Zimbabwe eight years ago using a Malawian passport.
"She fled after her husband, who was an accountant working for Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, was beaten and tortured. He subsequently died from his injuries.
"Privilege's mother was also killed by supporters of the Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and her brother died after being forced to drink poison.
"If she hadn't fled she too would have been killed.
"The only way she was able to get out of Zimbabwe was to use a Malawian passport and, as such, the family are now being treated by the Home Office as being from Malawi.
"That means their application for asylum has been denied and they are to be deported."
Supporters are now lobbying local MPs to intervene and save the family.
Helen, a project manager from Ranmoor, added: "The family are now very settled in this country with the two girls having studied at Abbeydale Grange School and now at Sheffield College.
"I dread to think what will happen to them if they are forced to return.
"We will do whatever we can, speak to whoever we have to, make as much noise as we can, to ensure this family has the right to remain in this country."
A Home Office spokesperson said they could not comment on individual cases.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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