Chinese investor Haoxuan Song has urgently sought an interdict from the High Court to block his deportation from Zimbabwe, arguing that his detention and pending deportation are unlawful and violate his constitutional rights.
The case was heard before High Court Judge, Honorable Katiyo, who issued an interim court order suspending Song’s deportation until legal proceedings are resolved.
Song, who has lived in Zimbabwe since he was four years old, asserts that his detention and the deportation threat are an infringement on his personal liberty and protection from arbitrary deportation under Zimbabwe’s Constitution.
Song has invested over US$3 million in the country and argues that his continued presence is vital for his business operations.
On September 13, 2024, Song was detained by immigration officials and held at Harare Remand Prison, pending deportation to China. His legal team, represented by Tabana and Marwa, contends that the detention and deportation threats are without legal basis and violate his rights.
The matter was heard by High Court Judge Katiyo, who ruled as follows:
1. The case is postponed to September 17, 2024, at 14:30.
2. The deportation of Haoxuan Song is to be suspended until the 17th of September 2024.
3. No order as to costs.
Despite this court ruling, immigration authorities have reportedly refused to comply, allegedly avoiding legal service by switching off their phones to evade communication from Song’s legal team.
Song’s case has emerged in the context of a broader dispute involving business interests between his relative, Li Song, and Italian nationals Francesco and Alessandro Marconati. The Marconatis, who were convicted in 2024 of fraud, forgery, and theft, are accused of defrauding Li Song and unlawfully removing her from director positions in several companies. They allegedly used intimidation tactics, including brandishing firearms, to deny her access to her business premises and have been illegally extracting and selling gold from her plant since October 2021.
It is believed that Song’s detention and deportation are part of a scheme orchestrated by the Marconatis to consolidate control over Li Song’s business assets. Song’s legal team has also accused the immigration authorities of corruption, suggesting that senior officials have been bribed to facilitate his deportation and block legal proceedings.
The Chinese embassy has lodged a diplomatic protest with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, claiming that the Zimbabwean government violated the Vienna Convention by detaining Song without notifying the embassy and failing to provide necessary documentation.
As the legal battle continues, the tension between Song and immigration authorities remains high, with the court’s order yet to be fully enforced.
