Watching the news channels would convince the average viewer that Zimbabawe is a country that treats its citizens badly. Intimidation, forced evictions demolition of housing it sounds a bit like Ireland or the Highlands Scotland in the 19th Century, ie an evil ruling class intent on consolidating power and wealth and crushing any potential opponents. So we can certainly construe that Mr Mugabe has learned a lot from his colonial masters.

Meanwhile Britain the now reformed former colonial masters have been intent on exposing Mugabe as a cruel and corrupt dictator for several years. Unfortunately everyone except the people who can take action have been convinced. None of Zimbabwe's neighbours are prepared to lift a hand against Mugabe. Unfortunately none of these states including South Africa has a particularly good record on civil and human rights so their inertia is no surprise.

What is a surprise is the news that Britain Mugabe's seemingly implacable opponents have started to send Zimbabwean asylums seekers back to potential incarceration and torture at the hands of Mugabe's regime. This is simply unacceptable, Britain cannot say with any confidence that the people being repatriated are in no danger.

The only way to oust Mugabe is to cut him off from the rest of the world including his Swiss bank accounts. Sending people back who done their utmost to escape is cruel and unworthy behaviour of which Tony Blair should be ashamed.