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BBC Correspondent Leaves Zimbabwe for London
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) correspondent Joseph Winter has left Harare for London hours before the Zimbabwean government declared him persona non grata, Zimbabwean official newspaper "The Herald" reported on Tuesday.
Winter together with Mercedes Sayagues from South Africa's Mail and Guardian are now prohibited immigrants in Zimbabwe, Chief Immigration Officer Elasto Mugwadi said.
Sayagues, who has reported from Zimbabwe for nine years, is believed to have gone into hiding, as her flat in Harare's Avenues appeared deserted Monday.
Winter had on Sunday been granted an order allowing him to stay in the country until Friday to allow him to wind up his affairs and his departure Monday, barely 24 hours after winning the reprieve, has heightened speculation in security circles that he was fleeing from something.
Reuters Monday quoted BBC officials as saying they had taken Winter out of Harare for his own safety.
Earlier Winter told Reuters in Harare that, although the High Court in Harare had on Sunday ordered the government to extend his stay until Friday, he was taking his wife and daughter home to Britain for their safety.
Winter had been in the country for the last four years and his work permit had expired. He obtained supporting documents fraudulently to have his work permit extended by a further two years, according to the report.
Minister of State of Information and Publicity of Zimbabwe Jonathan Moyo said Winter's deportation was merely an application of the rule of the law.
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